With recent restrictions starting to lift, many of us are looking forward to welcoming friends and family into our homes and entertaining. From BBQs to evening drinks, there's nothing like those balmy summer days spend with loved ones!
Now the sun is beginning to make an appearance again too, it's time to dust off that garden furniture, raise the parasol and get that BBQ fired up. To help you get planning, here's out top tips for getting your garden ready for summer entertaining.
1. Have a tidy up
During winter, many of us tend to hibernate inside, leaving the garden to its own devices. Weeds and overgrown lawns make it the perfect time to get outdoors and start sprucing up your space ready for visitors.
Move any bits and bobs you have lying around to the garden shed and make sure your patio or decked area is clear and ready for entertaining. A good jet wash will also do wonders for your patio after months of winter weather.
2. Create an entertaining space
Patios and decked areas are ideal for entertaining, with a dedicated space for furniture, heaters and the BBQ. This year, grey paving is well and truly in with our Kandla Grey one of the most popular stones of the season.
3. Let there be light
For those days that roll on into the evening, you'll want to make sure there's light so you can continue entertaining outside. Garden lights come in all shapes and sizes nowadays so it's really down to the vibe you're looking to create.
Fairy lights are ideal for a subtle, bohemian look and lanterns will add a soft ambiance. You could also top this up with candles (citronella is great for keeping those pesky bugs at bay).
4. Think comfort
Whilst the days may be hot in summer, the evenings can bring a chill so think about keeping your guests warm with a garden heater. You can find oil, gas or electric heaters easily online in an array of forms. Table top fire heaters are in this year along with more traditional chimineas.
Blankets and throws are also ideal for keeping guests comfortable when outdoors and you can go as jazzy or muted as you like with these!
5. Food and drinks
When setting up your hosting space, think about the proximity to your kitchen! Easy access for topping up drinks and serving food will definitely come in handy. Or you could go all out and invest in a garden kitchen equipped with a fridge and BBQ!
If you'd like to create a patio for entertaining, take a look at our range of sandstone paving here.
