5 Tips on How to Upgrade your Outdoor Dining Area

An outdoor dining area is essential for making the most out of the summer months. Whether it’s for morning coffees, al fresco dining or hosting barbecues, you are sure to get lots of use out of it. This article will discuss several ways you can upgrade your outdoor area to make it both a practical and stylish area for everyone to enjoy.

Furniture

When choosing your outdoor furniture, you need to think about what you want the primary function of your garden to be. If you want to make a casual, cosy area, you might want to go for two garden sofas or a corner sofa. You may decide to take things a step further and create the ultimate cosy/post-dinner area by setting up a couple of hammock stands and installing a luxury hammock for those relaxing summer evenings.

If you’d prefer the main function of your outdoor area to be dining, then you might want to go for a table and chairs dining set instead. Obviously, if you have the space (and money), you can do both! A cheaper and more sustainable option is refurbishing your old or second-hand garden furniture to give it a new lease of life. You could get new cushions made for your furniture or just choose new cushion covers from a material of your choice. Find out more about refurbishment options here.

Lighting

To spend long evenings outside, you will need sufficient lighting to be able to see and create some ambience. You want to bring the inside outside, so make sure the space is lit but the lighting isn’t too harsh. Soft lighting like fairy lights, lanterns and candles create a relaxing and cosy atmosphere. Choose citronella candles for the bonus of keeping mosquitos and other insects away! If citronella isn’t enough, consider hiring a mosquito control expert to resolve the issue quickly.

Cover

With the unpredictable English weather, some kind of cover will be a great addition to your outdoor area. Choose a gazebo or parasol to offer some protection from the wind, rain and sun. A pergola can be a nice option to provide some shade in the sun, while still giving a very outdoor feel.

Details

Adding some cushions and throws into the outdoor area will make it feel much more homely and provide some warmth when the evenings cool down. A selection of potted plants will give patios a Mediterranean vibe, and you can select the right pots to match your furniture and cushions. 

Outdoor Cooking

An outdoor kitchen is great for entertaining family and friends over the summer. As well as BBQs, pizza ovens are becoming increasingly popular with pizzas being a favourite among all ages. A fire pit is great for adding some warmth in the evening, and also for toasting marshmallows!