How to design a garden for entertaining

Your garden can be so much more than just a space occupied by a flower bed or two, it's time to start amping up your outdoor space and creating a social haven! To help you get visitor ready, we've pulled together our top garden entertaining ideas for creating a comfortable and sociable garden area.

Take inspiration from some of our designer's homes and get ready to bring the indoors outside! 

Did you know we help can help with outside spaces too!? From just £395, one of our designers can help you transform your space. Book a free no-obligation call to find out more:

Bring the inside out

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

One of the most overused phrases in the biz: 'Bring the outside in' is now being flipped on its head. With our gardens taking centre stage for our social lives, we're now all looking at how we can take inside comforts out.

Outdoor rugs are an absolute must have for taking homely comforts to your garden. Not only do they instantly add a feeling of warmth but they're also British weatherproof and great for hiding unsightly garden paving.

Layer on comfy bean bags, cushions and blankets to create a truly comfortable space for entertaining your guests. Use similar colour palettes and patterns on your outdoor soft furnishing as the inside to make it a true extension of your home. This continuity creates a flow through the house when you are hosting and also a more cosy atmosphere!

Don't forget about storage for all your outdoor cushions and throws though, to protect them from the unpredictable British weather. Bench storage works wonders for this and provides extra seating for your guests too.

Host a movie night

Why go to a crowded cinema when you can have it at home?! Outdoor projectors have become much more affordable and the technology has come on leaps and bounds making them suitable for casual back garden cinemas.

You don't even need a fancy, expensive screen - just a clear white wall where you can position a projector against will do the trick.

Just add in cosy blankets, fairy lights and popcorn then you're open for business!

We can help you create the ultimate entertaining space for your family and friends. Book a room design from just £395!

Create different zones to maximise your outdoor space

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

The principle of zoning which is so key to interiors can also be applied to the outside too. Create different spaces that serve separate functions to get the most from your garden or terrace.

Your garden can be so much more than a patch of grass! Clever zoning can make your garden work harder and provide you with a dedicated kids area, a private reading nook, and also a sociable section to entertain guests, for just some examples.

In the same way we would use furniture or screens, large planters can work wonders to define different areas.

Tall grasses are very effective at softly screening off areas while allowing light to still filter through. Bamboo can be wonderful for this too but make sure you don't get the fast growing one as it will take over your garden (speaking from experience here!). Alternatively, keep them contained in large pots.

Another way to define a zone is to hoist a sail! We fell in love with these recently because they are so versatile and provide a nice shady spot in your garden when the sun gets a bit too intense....granted, the rain is more likely to an issue this time of year though.

Have a garden out house? Check out our blog on Garden Room Ideas to give you some inspiration!

Dine and cook alfresco!

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

Outdoor kitchens were all the rage, and it's unlikely this trend will slow down. After all, there's nothing worse than being stuck inside slaving away over the stove while all your guests are having fun outside!

You can create a seamless connection with your indoor and outdoor kitchen by installing similar-styled cabinets along one wall:

But don't worry if you don't have a small fortune to install an all singing, all dancing outdoor kitchen - we've seen some fantastic DIY projects that are just as effective and arguably way more unique.

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

Our CEO Laura created the outdoor kitchen of her dreams complete with prep space, gas BBQ and even a fancy ceramic egg smoker!

She even cleverly fitted in a bench seat so her girls can keep her company while she cooks. It also doubles up as concealed storage for outdoor cushions and cooking equipment over the winter months.

Nearby is the outdoor dining space which has enough space to sit the entire neighbourhood, should they be so inclined!

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

Despite mosquitos and the occasional strong breeze blowing away your napkins, eating outside is definitely one of our favourite things about summer. Continue the decor of your inside kitchen, to your outdoor dining set, for a super consistent look.

Inspired to transform your outdoor space? Book a free call to learn about how one of our designers could help:

Make your garden your extension

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

Bi-fold, sliding doors or even just a wall of windows are a brilliant way to connect the interior and exterior. Large glazed walls make your garden an extension of your home, rather than a separate entity. This integration makes your home feel larger, brighter and also makes entertaining on those summer nights so much easier.

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

If you've already checked out Lucy, our Head of Design's home (and if you haven't you must here) then you'll remember that the plot was a small, challenging one that left them little room for garden space.

Lucy and her courtyard garden prove that you don't need to have acres of land to have a stunning outdoor space. This one works beautifully over the summer months as an extension to their kitchen, blurring the lines between inside and out and making it perfect for garden parties! 

Think you need grass? Think again. For Lucy, the thought of forever mowing a lawn was a hard 'no' so she opted for this incredible artificial grass. No maintenance needed...except she does run the hoover over it every now and then.

Our professional designers can make your outdoor space feel just like home. Book a room design online today:

Disguise & lift unsightly with planters

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

For those of you constantly troubled by a scruffy neighbour's fence or an oppressive concrete wall obstructing your garden vista then you have a wonderful opportunity to create a real talking point (in a good way!)

Tall planters in distictive pots can create a great vocal point and also break down the dived between your interior and exterior. These tall plants can block out any unsightly views and blend into the green of your garden perfectly.

...or hang a mirror

An even quicker option is installing a mirror. It will not only hide the offending wall but it will also make your garden space feel deceptively larger.

A serious word of caution though - be careful where you position the mirror as it could start a fire if it's in direct sunlight. 

Want help creating your own dream outdoor space? Book a free call to learn about how one of our designers could help:

Cocktail hour

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

Speaking of cocktails, no self-respecting garden entertaining space would be complete without some kind of bar so we'd be remiss not to give this a whole section of its own!

If you have a kitchen window looking out to your garden patio then this is the perfect place to open your home cocktail bar for business! Simply open up the window wide and pop a couple of bar stools there and you'll quickly find your guests gravitate towards it. 

Drinks trolleys also work incredibly well and can be wheeled in or out when needed and to anywhere in your garden. 

Open all hours

Seeing as we can't take the party indoors yet when the sun goes down, lighting is also a crucial ingredient to creating a sociable garden space where we can keep the long overdue conversations with our loved ones flowing into the night.

Fairy lights and festoon lighting add instant magic and spotlights create drama especially when positioned within planters or against a feature wall. 

So there you have it - our guide to getting your garden ready for some outdoor entertaining. We'll look out for our invite in the mail!

Get your outdoor space ready for your next social occasion. Book a design from just £395 today!