We put a lot of time and effort into making our gardens beautiful and inviting places. Our choice and placement of garden furniture, lighting, and outdoor cooking equipment can help make it a space we want to spend even more time in and entertain others.
We offer advice and showcase some of the latest innovations in outdoor dining in our guide to turning your garden into an entertaining space.
Selecting Garden Furniture
The Right Furniture Size
The most important element of the entertaining space of your garden is furniture. You want enough space for everyone to comfortably gather, relax, and eat whether your needs are for a bistro set for two or an expansive modular sofa. Your furniture also needs to fit your patio, or another hard landscaped area. With dining tables, always consider the total dimensions needed when chairs are pulled out and sat on.
Positioning your Garden Furniture: Sun vs Shade
It is important to think about how the sun appears in your garden throughout the day when positioning furniture. A beautiful sofa in a spot that spends most of the day in deep shade may end up little used, while a dining area soaked by mid-day sun will require a good parasol!
Garden Furniture for Formal or Informal Use
There is also the question of formal vs informal. A combination of somewhere to dine along with somewhere to relax and admire your garden usually means you’ll gravitate outside more and more.
Five Outstanding Sets for Entertaining in your Garden
A Classic Bistro Set
Enhance the charm of your outdoor space with a bistro set a classic choice for smaller areas seeking an intimate touch. Consisting of a quaint table and two chairs, this set provides the perfect setting for relaxed moments, whether it’s a cosy breakfast or a tranquil tea break in nature.
Key points for bistro sets:
- Perfect for balconies, patios, or cosy garden corners.
- Consists of a small, elegant table and two chairs.
- Offers an intimate ambiance for relaxing moments.
- Versatile and easy to move around for optimal positioning.
- Available in a variety of elegant designs to suit your garden’s aesthetic.
An Elegant Corner Dining Set
For those with larger outdoor spaces who revel in entertaining, the corner dining set presents an ideal solution. Its clever L-shaped design maximises space while providing ample seating for guests, making it a sought-after choice for hosting outdoor gatherings and family meals in style.
Key points for corner dining sets:
- Ideal for spacious outdoor areas and social gatherings.
- L-shaped design optimises space utilisation.
- Provides generous seating capacity for guests.
- Enhanced comfort with plush cushions and spacious table.
- Promotes interaction, serving as a social hub during gatherings.
A Sophisticated Dining Set
Experience the height of outdoor eating with a sophisticated dining set, seamlessly blending elegance with functionality. Featuring a substantial table and matching chairs, it sets the stage for both formal dinners and casual brunches, creating a welcoming ambiance for cherished moments under the open sky.
Key points for dining sets:
- Timeless elegance for outdoor dining occasions.
- Large table and matching chairs for versatile use.
- Perfect for hosting outdoor parties or family gatherings.
- Customisable designs to complement your garden’s aesthetic.
- Provides a welcoming atmosphere for guests to savour.
A Luxurious Lounge Set
Indulge in luxurious relaxation amidst the serenity of your garden with a lounge set, designed to offer unparalleled comfort and style. With plush sofas, ottomans, and coffee tables, it transforms outdoor spaces into chic retreats, inviting you to unwind, entertain, and immerse yourself in alfresco living.
Key points for lounge sets:
- Ultimate comfort and style for outdoor relaxation.
- Features plush sofas, ottomans, and coffee tables.
- Blurs the boundary between indoor and outdoor living.
- Perfect for reading, napping, or socialising with friends.
- Available in a range of stylish designs to suit your taste.
Versatile Garden Benches
Add a touch of rustic charm and versatility to your garden with benches, offering a simple yet inviting seating option for outdoor relaxation. Whether nestled under a shady tree, along a garden path, or on a patio, benches provide tranquil spots to pause, unwind, and bask in the beauty of nature’s embrace.
Key points for garden benches:
- Rustic charm and versatility for any garden setting.
- Inviting seating option for outdoor relaxation.
- Suitable for placement in various outdoor locations.
- Ideal for creating serene spots to pause and unwind.
- Slim profile makes them perfect for small gardens or narrow spaces.
- Multipurpose usage for seating during gatherings or decorative display.
Garden Furniture FAQs
You can position garden furniture on real grass, but this does encounter some issues. If the furniture is left in one place, the sunlight will not reach the grass underneath, and this will cause it to die, leaving your lawn patchy.
Garden furniture, when placed on artificial grass, can have the appearance that it’s floating, and it works better if placed on a patio. Depending on the UV rating of your artificial grass, if you cover the same area over a long period, you could end up with a patch.
Garden benches work well on grass areas and are a great source of seating to enjoy the fragrance and colours of your garden.
Get Creative with Outdoor Cooking
Modern barbecues have revolutionised the art of outdoor cooking, empowering you to be every bit as creative as you would be in the kitchen, while still making time for your guests. Whether you’re drawn to a classic charcoal grill or a modern gas variant, paired with our selection of pizza ovens, you can host a culinary experience that will delight and impress even the most discerning palates.
Our Barbeque and Grill Selection
Our selection of modern barbeques and grills is carefully curated to offer you the best outdoor cooking experience. With a range of innovative designs on offer you can find the perfect tool to elevate your outdoor culinary adventures.
With features like adjustable racks, temperature gauges, and durable construction, our selection of barbecues and grills are built to withstand the rigor of outdoors. It doesn’t matter if you’re hosting a casual backyard gathering, or a lavish outdoor feast, our collection will enhance your cooking experience and leave your guests craving more.
Create Unforgettable Memories with a Pizza Oven
Step up your outdoor cooking adventures by adding a pizza oven to your outdoor culinary equipment. Crafted to replicate the authentic pizza experience, and available in either a gas or wood variant, our selection of pizza ovens are a must have.
You can turn any gathering into a memorable pizza party, where laughter, conversation, and delicious slices are not in short supply.
Add Atmosphere with Solar Lights
In midsummer, we’re all often lucky enough to sit outdoors until late in the still fading sunlight. However, the sunset shouldn’t indicate that your time in the garden needs to end, especially as the warmer months offer comfortable nighttime temperatures. By adding some lighting to your outdoor entertaining space you can ensure that the entertainment goes on until you decide.
Solar lights are a great choice, removing the need for an outdoor power source whilst also being environmentally friendlier than plugged in variants. Placed strategically you can use the lights to add to your garden design, highlighting select areas and leaving others purposefully dark.
Using Solar Lights Along Borders and Pathways
Try marking out borders and pathways with solar torches or light stakes. If you want to emulate the beauty of flickering flames, solar cool flame torches have a unique flame design.
This has the advantage of actively showing the border between usable space and flower beds, as well as providing light to most of your garden.
Add Height with Solar Hanging Lights
Hanging lights, or string lights, are ideal to create pools of illumination beneath trees, or in some cases can be fixed underneath parasols. You can choose what you highlight using these lights, even if you just run if along the top of your fencing to provide some ambience.
String lights with a styled together with your other garden elements can really bring your night garden to life. You could even get more use out of outdoor Christmas lights and use them to illuminate your parasol. Perhaps try attaching solar-powered spotlights to your hanging baskets to bring them to life after the sun falls.
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