Looking for a fun and easy solution to entertaining? Take it outdoors! Everyone enjoys alfresco dining. Whether you are planning a brunch, a lunch time family gathering or an evening party with friends, your outdoor space can be great for entertaining. 

Here are our top tips on how to turn your backyard into a stylish and festive outdoor living space.  

Select the Right Outdoor Furniture

Before shopping for outdoor furniture, it is a good idea to get a pencil and paper and sketch the layout of your outdoor area or deck (including dimensions). You can use this to see which possible furniture layouts would best suit your space. Once you know what will fit, you can start making your wishlist of what you really need. 

If you're wanting a dining space, you should browse the range of table and chairs settings available, or try bench seats for a modern look. (For example, the Icarus Fiord 3 Piece Setting.) If you want to create an outdoor lounge space, then try an outdoor couch, armchairs and a coffee table. (See the Latitude Pelorus 4 Piece Setting.) 



Check out Mitre 10's latest Outdoor Furniture range of exterior furniture and be inspired! You'll see a variety of timber, steel and aluminium to suit any style and size of outdoor area. 
 
 
Create an Outside Room
Treat your outdoor area as another room of your home. Break the psychological boundaries of the walls of the house by decorating your outdoor space in a similar way to how you'd decorate indoors (e.g. use pillows, ornaments, wall décor, arm chairs, etc.) 

When you are entertaining outside, Mother Nature has taken care of most of the decorating so don't feel like you have to go overboard with decorating accessories. Flowering potted plants, a splash of brightly coloured cushions and some lanterns can be sufficient. You can view a selection of lanterns, garden décor and pots on the Mitre 10 Website.

You could also create your own decorations. For example, you can collect an assortment of old or new bottles in different shapes and colours. Group them together on a table and then place a single flower or sprig of greenery from your garden into each one. 

Display items that you love and that reflect your personal taste. 


 

Barbeques

For easy, social cooking and minimal cleaning - barbeques are the way to go!

The gas barbeques from Mitre 10 provide instant heat that you can regulate. Plus, the hooded range often allow for a rotisserie kit (yum!) and a warming shelf.  Charcoal barbeques take a little longer to get the heat right for cooking but give food that unique, smoked bbq flavour. Glowing coal embers also create a wonderful outdoor ambience and are perfect for roasting marshmallows - a quick and easy dessert option!

 
 
Provide Shade
It's wonderful to be outside on a summers day, but only if guests have some shade to retreat under. Plus whatever you use to create shade will also introduce a splash of colour. 
 
Gazebos and shade sails are great to shade large areas. Umbrellas provide more of a focal point. Select an umbrella that matches your outdoor furniture setting and consider an umbrella stand to keep the umbrella secure. 

String some fairy lights or outdoor Christmas lights underneath your umbrella or gasebo to add a festive sparkle at night. 

Plan your Lighting

At night, exterior lighting is important to add to the mood of your outdoor area. Selecting the right lights and placing them strategically in your outdoor space can transform your night time landscape. 

The Exterior Lights section on the Mitre 10 Website has a wide selection of both electric and solar garden lights.

Uplights draw attention to focal plants in the garden or specific garden art features. Important features take on extra depth and contour when lit from behind.  Downlights that are fitted in trees create a soft flickering carpet of light on the ground as foliage moves in the breeze. Downlights placed on walls provide a pleasing washed-out effect. Pathlights are used to provide a continuous line of light along a pathway or following the border of a garden bed. They are typically low, creating elegant lines and contours in the landscape.

Solar garden lights are also a good option as they don't need wiring and you can just stake them into the ground or pot plants where you need them. 

For more useful information on exterior lights and how to install them, view the Mitre 10 How to Guide: DIY Garden Lighting.  

Of course, placing candles and lanterns near where people are seated adds a soft, romantic glow. You could even get creative and make your own lanterns with used glass jars. Clean them out, then wrap some wire (20-gauge) around the top of each jar at one of its grooves (the wire should be snug but not overly tight).  Create a long handle loop. Keep the handle long so that it's away from the heat of the candle flame. Tighten all wires by twisting them with needlenose pliers. Place a tealight candle inside the jar. Hang a cluster of these jars up to create some lovely soft mood lighting.  Use citronella candles to help keep flying pests away. 

Outdoor Heaters

Patio heaters are perfect to keep away the chill night air, just be careful where you position them. You don’t want to place them underneath a low pergola!  Braziers are great for creating ambience and warming hands and toes around an open fire. Please remember safety is important when using outdoor heating and be sure to keep the children away from open fires at all times.