Designing for Entertaining: Tips For Creating an Outdoor Space Perfect for Hosting Guests
Sparkling ponds, breath taking water features, secluded outdoor rooms, well-manicured lawns, and a peaceful pool – the idyllic place for guests to unwind away from the hustle and bustle. If you are looking to design a garden which is perfect for hosting guests, then continue reading. In this article, our experts discuss the essential elements for designing a carefully curated, and interesting garden space which your guests are bound to love.
Maximising Space for Socialising
Your garden designer and landscape architect team will be looking to maximise the space you have in your garden for socialising. Creating distinct areas for guests, whether they are there for entertainment purposes, dining or general relaxing.
Multi-Level Terraces
Multilevel landscape design will utilise terraces, steps, walls and decks to create a more intriguing and functional garden layout. The concept of multi-level terraces has been growing in popularity – Ideal Homes, the online publication and magazine, expressed earlier this year that multi-level terraces are a great way to add dimension to your garden space. Not only do they create accessible planting beds, for a further array of greenery to grow, but they also allow for a more varied space for guests to socialise in.
Outdoor Rooms
Outdoor rooms placed throughout the grounds can be a great way to anticipate your guests needs, and accommodate many different activities. When it comes to holding events, predicting your guests preferences can be a difficult feat – but with intricately designed outdoor spaces available, it will remove this potential stress.
Furnishing these rooms can also make for a much more exciting time. A cleverly laid out outdoor room can offer a welcome casual dining space – think, seat cushions, throws and a variety of soft furnishings to make for a comfortable experience for you and your guests. Or, for a large outdoor room, a more formal dining situation can be put together, with high-quality, and sturdy pieces which invite a sense of elegance to your garden space. Another great way you can utilise an outdoor room for more intimate affairs would be to create a compact bistro feel with a handy set of tables and chairs that can be folded up and stored out of sight when they are not being used.
Outdoor Dining and Entertainment Areas
When it comes to designing your outdoor garden space, your garden designer and landscape architect team will want to know your vision for entertaining guests. Your outdoor dining and entertainment areas are of the utmost importance, and will require well-thought through planning in order to get your desired look and feel. For example, ensuring you have high-end outdoor furniture to allow for ample seating for your guests is crucial. Here are some notable additions that could feature in your garden space.
Outdoor Cinema
Nothing quite says ‘party’ like an outdoor cinema – particularly with these long summer evenings. If you are hosting a get-together soon, then having a dedicated space for your guests to relax is a must.
Imagine this – the warming scents of summer flowers starting to bloom, mingled with the freshly cut grass from your well-manicured lawn. Friends and family gathered around, lounging on comfortable furniture, nibbling on popcorn whilst their favourite film plays.
Putting Green
If you want every event you hold to be a hole-in-one, then a putting green is a fine idea. Rain or shine, adding an artificial putting green in your back garden will give you and your guests a fun pastime, and also, when you aren’t hosting, will give you a chance to work on your short game.
With a professionally designed and landscaped putting green, there will be no reason to drive to your favoured golf course. You can simply network, and spend quality time with your guests around your very own green, from the comfort of your very own garden.
Outdoor Fireplace or Fire Pit
As the evening winds down, an outdoor fire pit or fireplace will uphold the ambiance of the event. A grand fireplace, accompanied by comfortable seating is a great space to unwind, and will offer warmth in the cooler evenings.
Making a fire pit one of the main focal points of your large garden space can extend your evenings outdoors for both you and your guests. With a roaring fire going, you will be able to stay alfresco for much longer. Not to mention, fire pits are a much more eco-friendly option then most garden heaters. Country Living has been recommending fire pits since 2021, as a luxurious addition to any garden. Not only are fire pits functional, but they make maintenance much easier, and more environmentally friendly too.
Outdoor Kitchen or Bar Area
As well as creating a welcoming space with a warm ambience, you may also want an area which makes serving your guests a meal all the more simpler. Outdoor kitchens, bar areas and barbecue facilities are all popular additions to a garden space. Integrating one, or more, of these into your garden design can facilitate a seamless transition between hosting and food preparation.
Luxurious Pool and Spa Facilities
With summer here, many people are opting to have outside gatherings with poolside amenities included. High-end swimming pools, spas, or even a well-placed water feature will all create a resort-like atmosphere that your guests will love.
Plunge Pool
Outdoor pools are an unsurpassed feature which is typically found in large estates or grounds. However, a plunge pool is ideal for those looking to upgrade their pool and spa facilities. A plunge pool is made for lounging and cooling off, not swimming or activities – making it the perfect addition for the visitors simply looking to cool off in the summer heat. These pools are typically much smaller than their traditional counterparts, and can be positioned alongside your outdoor swimming space.
Poolside Facilities
As well as having a well looked after pool, adding other luxurious spaces is quintessential for summer get togethers by the pool. To add a serene and peaceful feel to your garden, poolside cabanas, and loungers will give your guests the ideal space to sit back, and relax.
When it comes to furniture, wood, stone, line and cotton are the ideal candidates for outside decor. These materials are not only beautiful and create a sophisticated warmth to any space, they are also durable and can withstand the elements.
Landscaping and Greenery
Trees, floral displays, and trimmed hedges all add to the visual appeal of your outdoor space. There is a captivating allure to having large landscaped gardens which have been curated and designed specifically for hosting get togethers. Through landscaping and greenery, you are sure to evoke a sense of wonder from your guests.
Landscaping Choices
Your garden designer can point you in the right direction when it comes to seasonal flowers, and plants to have in your garden – but naturally, you will want your garden looking spectacular all year round.
We would suggest keeping the planting simple, yet sophisticated. By using a variety of grasses, roses, and some other evergreen shrubs, your grounds will look lush and green all-year round. Once all of the greenery has been planted to your liking, then the seasonal pops of colour can be added. Ensure your garden looks it’s best all year round by seeking expert advice from your garden and landscape designer.
Artistic Touches
As well as beautiful greenery, adding an artistic touch to your garden will create even more intrigue – a focal point to your garden can really catch your guest’s eye. Art and sculptures throughout a green space offers an avenue for self-expression, and a way to create a sense of individuality. A water feature, sculpture, art installation, or even an interestingly-placed array of colourful planters will add a touch of uniqueness and whimsy to your garden, setting it apart from others.
If you are planning a large event, you could even rotate your favourite pieces to be on theme, and add further excitement to your gathering. Outdoor pieces that are often left outside will be exposed to the elements. This can cause general wear and tear, or a build up of dirt or dust. Regularly having your favourite pieces rotating in and out of your garden, as well as ensuring they are cleaned using appropriate methods and materials will help prevent this.
Thoughtful Lighting and Ambiance
Another important aspect when it comes to designing your outdoor space is the lighting. In the summer, garden maintenance becomes even more vital, as many festivities take place outside – and as the sun starts to set, it’s crucial that the lighting of your garden stays just as welcoming as it did on your guests’ arrival.
We suggest choosing lighting which is warm, and creates a cosy glow. If you have a cupola, bower, canopy, pergola or even a platform present, then having the natural light supplemented by overhead lighting will ensure your guests can see well, even as the sun sets for the day. Upon designing your desired outdoor space, when in discussion with your garden designer, it’s vital to take into account how the sun moves during the day, and where best to use artificial lights.
Garden Privacy
If enjoy hosting and entertaining often, then ensuring your garden has the utmost amount of privacy is extremely important. With larger garden spaces, it can be more difficult to get full coverage when it comes to privacy. After all, any large open area can be prone to wandering eyes from potential neighbours or even passers-by.
Deciduous Trees
A great way to get around this is to choose a mix of deciduous trees which you can have strategically planted alongside evergreens. This will give you a much more balanced privacy solution, which not only does the job well, but will look heavenly, and give you a lovely amount of dappled light as well. Your garden designer and landscape architect team will be able to create a space which is both perfect for entertaining and beautiful to look at. One of the best ways to ensure that your outdoor space keeps to the maximum level of privacy, whilst also remaining tidy all-year round would be to involve monthly maintenance from garden and landscape professionals.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Design
Regular garden maintenance encourages your garden, and everything in it, to flourish. As well as having well-manicured grounds with a variety of interesting landscaping and design choices, why not also consider making your garden more eco-friendly?
Native Planting
With a large space comes many options for what to plant. Opting for native plants in your garden could not only be better for the environment, but also, for adding charm and character to your space. If you are one for botanical beauty, then native plants are a great way to add variety to your green space.
Native plants are greenery which have formed a symbiotic relationship with native wildlife over thousands of years. Therefore, these plants offer a much more sustainable habitat for wildlife. Native plants adapt to the local environment around them – which means they naturally require less water, and time when it comes to taking care of them.
Solar Panels & Rainwater Harvest Systems
Solar panels and rainwater harvest systems are a perfect way to introduce a more eco-friendly garden in high-end outdoor designs. Whilst certain additions such as solar panels can bring many numerous benefits for homeowners, they can also work well alongside large garden spaces too. If you are planning on adding outdoor lighting to your garden, then having solar panels, either as a back up or primary source of power, is one of the best ways to make your grounds more environmentally conscious.
When designing your garden, making space for a rainwater harvest system is something your plants will definitely thank you for. Rainwater harvesting systems work to collect rainwater, which typically runs off large surfaces, such as our roofs. All of this water is then stored in tanks. Whilst this might sound like a potential garden eye-sore, these tanks can either be overground, and made to look aesthetically-pleasing, or simply hidden underground. This is a great way to recycle rainwater, and use it for watering your garden.
BZ Gardens – Garden and Landscape Design Specialists
A meticulously designed and landscaped outdoor space can serve as a haven which promotes relaxation, and enjoyment for both your family, and guests. With the proper care, your grounds can provide a seamless blend of botanical beauty with functionality, and fun.
Our experts here at BZ Gardens can perform monthly maintenance to ensure that estates’ gardens or grounds remain flawless all year round. Find out more about our garden and landscape design services HERE, or get in touch with us on 44 1483 299797. We’d be more than happy to help!