Whether it’s an afternoon barbecue with friends, or an intimate al fresco dinner with someone special, there is something about eating outside that makes a meal taste better. As much as we love it, though, many backyards tend to be a bit dilapidated, with worn out furniture and not a lot of style. Why not apply some of your decorating savvy to your outdoor space too? Here are some tips to change your back yard into a lovely picnic spot.
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Plan before doing
Before you make any changes, spend some time thinking about how you want to use your backyard space. Do you want picnics for the whole family? Want a shady spot to read a book? Let your desired uses form the basis for your plans, and work from there.
If you want to just chill in your back yard, enjoying the warm days or nights of summer, you want some privacy. Do you have a fence, hedge, or something to block the neighbor’s view? You’ll also need a lounge chair or hammock where you can lie down and relax. A small table is ideal to hold your cold drink and snacks.
A place for entertaining
If you want to have friends over for an evening outdoors, a classic trick is to plan three separate areas: the grilling area, the eating area, and the area to relax, hang out and chat. For the grilling are you can make a smart investment and buy an outdoor kitchen kit. These furniture sets are extremely practical for people spending more of their time outside. Choose counters made of natural stone to withstand tricky weather conditions, and if you’re on a budget, a small grill with an oven and gas cooker should be enough.
For the eating area, add a nice table with a couple of chairs. Rattan and wicker furniture sets are excellent choices. They’re weather-proof and lightweight, so they can be easily relocated. Last but not least, we have the relaxation area. A convenient solution is to install a hammock in your backyard, but you can always include comfortable cradles, too.
A place for gardening
Are you a gardener, or do you want to try your hand at it? Then be sure to allocate some space for your garden. Depending on your needs and ambitions, this could be quite small, but using some of your own fresh herbs or vegetables is a wonderful addition to an al fresco meal.
Divvy up your space
You can make your back yard more interesting, by dividing it up into separate spaces for different purposes. This can also make it seem bigger. One easy method is to get some good looking planters, and arrange them to visually divide the space.
Buy furniture that will last
Outdoor furniture has to take a beating, much more than it would indoors. It has to survive sun, rain, wind, dirt, sunscreen, and sometimes even snow. In spite of that abuse, it needs to keep looking good. It pays to get some good quality patio furniture. Look for something durable, easy to clean, and stackable if you need to store it inside for the winter.
Get the grill
Eating outside just wouldn’t be the same without the grill master at work cooking some juicy burgers or steaks. You don’t need all the bells and whistles like outdoor sinks, pizza ovens, or all the rest. Just get a basic, functional grill that’s big enough for the crowd you want to feed.
Fun and games
When you’re hanging out with friends and family, it’s often fun to have some games available, for the kids, adults, or both. Horseshoes is an easy option that doesn’t take much space. An even easier choice is croquet. A simple croquet game can be set up to make the most of whatever lawn space you have, and it’s easy for everybody to play.
We love picnics in the backyard because they’re both intimate and fun. During the warm season, the nice weather makes us what to relocate in the garden. Hammocks, grills, blankets, cushions, tables and chairs are items you’ll want to place on your patio to make it comfortable and relaxing. Host amazing picnics, have a good time with the kids, cook healthy meals, and just enjoy summer.
