Getting your home ready for the Australia summer entertaining season

Once the hustle bustle and frivolity of the Christmas season is over here in Australia we move into ‘holiday mode’.  Think long summer days, barbeques, family visits, relaxing afternoons in the garden…

Take the time to prepare your outdoor areas for the entertaining and relaxation season (aka summer!).  Having a restful and enjoyable outdoor space doesn’t just make entertaining easier, it also gives us a much-needed energy boost and restoration to our senses.

So, right now you’re thinking “I need to know how to create a summer haven, I need one in my life!”!  Here are our six tips for creating a summer home entertaining area that you will not want to leave!

Lots of places to sit

You’ll need to make sure you’ve got adequate seating for your guests and keeping a store of folding chairs in the shed is a great idea for this. 

You also want to make sure you’ve got choices of outdoor seating for your family.  Table seating for dining (or working!), a couple of timber or iron benches through the garden for moments you just want to sit and contemplate, and comfortable outdoor chairs for reading or simply resting.

Quiet places for reading

It’s not all about entertaining during the summer, we also need time-out to relax, enjoy a ‘nanna-nap’, read that novel we got for Christmas, or to simply daydream.

Create a quiet corner in the garden with screening plants (planted or in pots), timber or metal privacy screens, or even a gazebo to give shelter as well as privacy.

Bring in some colour and décor

Bright outdoor cushions give an instant “voomph” to your plain outdoor furniture.  Make sure you choose outdoor fabrics as they’re treated to resist fading and moisture.

Rugs are a simple way to define a space, and outdoor rugs are no exception.  A rug under your outdoor table and chairs marks that area for eating, a different rug for your casual chairs and couches marks that area for relaxing and chatting. 

Crockery, jugs, and drinking glasses in bright, fun colours are a must to have on hand for summer entertaining.  If you’ve got a suitable undercover area why not pickup a dresser that can take pride of place on your deck to hold your new entertaining pieces!

Fun and funky plant pots add a touch of whimsy and personality!  Look for different sizes and shapes – mix your new pots with plainer pots for extra impact.

Painting your fence, verandah posts, or furniture is an instant freshen up for your outdoor and garden.  It also adds value to your property!

Bring your garden to life

Longer sunny days mean more time to spend in the garden.  Weeding, pruning, and adding mulch makes any garden look fresh and alive.  After you’ve done a tidy up do a quick assessment of spaces that need to be filled and take a trip to the local garden centre to pickup a few new plantings.

Lighting

One of the fun things about summer entertaining being able to comfortably spend long evenings outside enjoying great company and creating memories.  But good lighting is important!  A floodlight might be essential for security and safety in some areas, but softer lighting creates ambience and a party atmosphere.

Fairy lights and string lights are perfect for lighting up the garden.  Fairy lights drapes through an ornamental tree or shrub can look stunning and dramatic.  String lights are available in all sorts of light style and shape – string them along a verandah or wall to define a space.

Fire pit

A summer night without a fire pit?  We think not!  A fire pit can be used for cooking on, toasting marshmallows, keeping warm on a cooler evening, or year ‘round to extend your outdoor entertaining area’s season!

Some of our faves for your outdoor entertaining

Hand-thrown Boulder Pot Large Teal Green Spots from Angus and Celeste

Lebello Club 6 chair from Design Nation

Outdoor cushions by Great Outdoor Cushions

Laguna Teak Outdoor Table from Outdoor Elegance

Delta Outdoor III Circle Sofa from King Living

Art Deco 110 Cast Iron Fire Pit by Fire Pits Direct

 

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