Where in the world are you most comfortable? Where can you relax, put your feet up and de-stress? Somewhere to live, love and laugh in. Where can you raise kids, have friends and family over to share food and drink and create those precious memories?
That’s right – it’s your home. The place that recharges your batteries at the end of each week as you prepare for another hectic week of modern life.
And dining with your family and your friends over a weekend is a perfect way to recharge. But what if your alfresco area is not quite up to the task? Well, fear not – because, in this helpful article, we’ll share our top tips for creating the perfect at-home outdoor dining space.
Invest in a BBQ
You should consider a Crossray infrared outdoor kitchen BBQ for your outdoor cooking needs. This will enable you to cook outdoors, and you can simply serve up that plate of steaming, freshly grilled goodness to your guests who are seated outside as well.
A BBQ is perfect for cooking meat, such as sausages, burgers, ribs and steaks. If you or some of your guests don’t eat meat, you can fry prawns, corn on the cob, veggie burgers or other plant-based protein alternatives, which cook and taste just as good as the real deal.
Have Comfortable Chairs and a Table
Another good tip for the perfect at-home alfresco dining experience is to ensure that you have comfortable outdoor chairs. While wooden chairs might look good outside, they can be uncomfortable to sit on for more extended periods.
One option here is to invest in some cushions for the seats and backs of your outdoor chairs, which can be stowed away from the weather once your event is over.
Also, to complete the piece, you should have a decent outdoor dining table. As a good rule of thumb, you want to be able to seat at least six guests comfortably together.
You can get cheaper foldaway trestle tables and fold-up chairs for bigger events, so you cannot break the bank but can seat more guests for those bigger shindigs like Easter or Christmas.
Consider a Bar Fridge
Another tip is to invest in a small bar fridge so you can keep your beer, wine and soft drink cool and readily available for your guests. You can run an extension cord out from your house to power it. The best thing about this is that you only need to keep it switched on when you are planning an outdoor dining event, unlike your larger fridge inside. Otherwise, it can stay switched off and save you some money on your electricity bill.
Set the Mood – Music and Lighting
Another tip to set the mood for festivity is to consider having some music playing during your dinner parties. Depending on your budget, you could get a small Bluetooth speaker that can connect to your smart devices, which you can use to stream that killer playlist while you cook and dine.
If money isn’t an issue, you could even have some hi-fi speakers installed outside. These can connect to your home stereo system so you can hear that sweet music both inside and out.
Another tip to set some lovely ambience is having fairy and festoon lights hung in your backyard. You can hang these between tree branches, over your fence and mounted on your trellis. If the power bill is a problem, consider solar lighting solutions that will shine brightly in summer – although these will be weaker at night during winter and overcast days.
Keep Your Garden Lush
There’s nothing quite like dining outside, surrounded by lush greenery. If you have a green thumb, you can make sure your garden looks fantastic before your event. Keep on top of the weeding and watering, and your guests will be impressed at your gardening prowess.
If you don’t have a green thumb, you could opt for more manageable plants that are difficult to kill but will still look great.
Invest in Shade Solutions
This is a good tip for the warmer months, especially if you plan lunches instead of dinners. No one wants to sit under the hot sun for hours while they eat, so ensure you have some shade solutions installed.
You can get a shade cloth installed or get an outdoor umbrella to provide shade for you and your guests.
An Alfresco Dining Summary
A BBQ is essential, as is a comfortable dining table and chairs. A bar fridge, lighting and music are all optional but will improve the experience. Keep your garden looking great, and don’t forget the shade. Your guests will be grateful and will be itching to get invited along again. Follow these above tips to ensure a smooth, pleasant and memorable outdoor dining experience.
