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Having somewhere inviting to enjoy food and drink outside with family and friends feels more important than ever in current times. Take a look at these tips to learn how to create the ideal dining space in your garden that suits you, your style and your needs.

Think About Purpose

Before you start designing and spending, it’s important to figure out exactly what you want to get out of your dining area. Do you want it to be used for family gatherings, socialising with small groups of friends, or larger parties? Do you need it to be accessible for your kids and able to keep them covered in the sun, or protected from bad weather if you live somewhere with frequent rain? You should also consider the space you have available, such as a balcony or larger garden, and how your new facilities will fit into it.

Create a Good Foundation

Choosing the right flooring is more important than you think; it sets the scene, makes sure everything is safe for little ones running around and needs to be stable enough to support all of your new furniture! Decking is a great, robust option that can mimic kitchen flooring if you have laminate in your home, while stone paving can bring a natural feel and can be found in a range of colours.

Fabulous Furniture

There are many avenues to explore when it comes to garden furniture and it can be key in expressing style. You might consider rattan for simplicity, wooden for a classic look, or metal for durability. Whatever you pick, make sure that your furniture helps to build that perfect space by meeting your needs and understand how to care for it so you can enjoy eating outdoors for years to come.

Ambience and Personalisation

Set up your dining area with the right touches to create somewhere that everyone loves to spend time. Lighting can really lend atmosphere – why not look into fairy lights, solar lights, candles or lanterns to illuminate autumn and winter nights? Plus, keep your guests warm with a fire pit or outdoor heater, or even a covering structure like a shade sail or gazebo. Soft furnishings can help you to add unique touches, such as colourful rugs or cushions, but make sure to consider UV and water resistant products so you don’t have to worry about them wearing due to the weather! Tableware and table linen finish off the setting nicely to portray the comfortable, casual or elegant style that you dream of.

Consider the Rest of Your Garden

Most people like their outdoor space to be multipurpose, so ensure that your dining area fits in with the other activities you enjoy doing there. If you like your exercise, you might want to distance new furniture from any outdoor gym equipment or areas where you play sports like badminton or padel. And, if you’re a budding gardener, you should set a good balance between the two functions and ensure that plants and vegetable patches aren’t shaded by gazebos or umbrellas.

Utilise Your Plants

Plants can also be fantastic additions to outdoor dining spaces. Climbers and shrubs can provide shade or privacy from neighbours, pots can add to your style and colour scheme, and herbs can create a kitchen garden that allows you to top your dishes like a professional! Many plants like lavender, sweet peas and rosemary have wonderful scents that will entice your guests and add to the ambience too.

Make it Year-Round

Get the most out of eating outside by ensuring you can use the space in any season. Retractable canopies are ideal for keeping out the wind and rain while revitalising your garden with their attractive designs. With the A&S Landscape canopies UK range, your shelter can easily adapt to both the weather and your needs. This means that you can dine in the sun and then give the kids some much-needed shade outside in seconds.

Add an Outdoor Kitchen

Installing kitchen elements in your dining area can improve ease of use and save you time during hectic hosting. Why not make some clever storage for tableware inside seating, invest in a kitchen trolley, or build a simple serving area so you can chat with family as you prepare their meals?

Hopefully these tips will inspire you on your journey to creating your ideal outdoor dining area. Remember to focus on what you want to get out of this new space in your garden, and be thoughtful and innovative; then you’ll soon have somewhere you and your loved ones can enjoy many meals outside.