Many homeowners tend to focus more on transforming their living room into an entertainment area. Some of them continue adding entertaining elements (e.g., more seating options, indoor games, etc.) to ensure their guests feel welcome and comfortable all the time. However, your living room might not be spacious enough to entertain and welcome your guests. One area that you might have neglected but can still be used as an entertainment area is your backyard.
How To Create An Ideal Outdoor Entertainment Area?
Utilizing and transforming your backyard into an outdoor entertainment area is a surefire way to give your family and guests a comfortable space to lounge, talk, eat, and hang out. With an outdoor entertainment area, you don’t need to worry about having more space or adding ventilation. What’s more, your backyard will serve as an extension to your living room, making it a perfect place to welcome your guests.
If you’ve never used your backyard for welcoming people before, there are some things you’ll need to do to create a more welcoming and entertaining oasis. No matter how small or wide your yard is, there are plenty of ways you can transform it into a more aesthetically-pleasing space.
To get you started, here are 12 tips to help you create the ideal outdoor entertainment area for your family and guests and ensure they experience ultimate relaxation.
Prepare The Location
Before brainstorming for great entertainment area ideas to incorporate into your backyard, you need to prepare the location first. This is especially true if you haven’t tended to your backyard in a long time. Your backyard may already be full of weeds, pests, and dried leaves on the ground.
So, set aside time to clean up your backyard and make it look new again. You should remove weeds, sweep off the dead leaves, plant herbs or flowers on the side, and clean or scrub the pavements. You may hire a professional gardener or do the job yourself. If you have trees in the backyard, hire a professional tree trimmer to remove the dead branches and other parts that pose a risk to the people you’re hosting in your backyard.
Add Some Seating Options
Now that your backyard’s set for furniture pieces and decorations, the next thing you should think about is adding various seating options. Just like the living room, your outdoor entertainment area should have a couch or chairs for your guests to lounge or sit down. Think of adding rattan chairs, beanbags, bamboo-made chairs, hammocks, and outdoor swings for seating options. Don’t forget to add tables too in case you plan on having meal celebrations outside. Just make sure that you invest in furniture pieces specifically designed for use outdoors so you’ll know they can withstand the outside elements.
Also, consider adding umbrellas, cabanas, or pop-up canopies if you’re planning to host late breakfast or brunches with your friends or families on weekends or special occasions. This ensures your guests remain shaded and safe under the sun.
Add Throw pillows
To add more comfort to your already-cozy seating options, it’s a good idea to add more fluffy throw pillows and blankets. These are especially useful if you and your friends will be lounging outdoors during the summer and fall seasons when the weather is fairly warm and cold. Adding more blankets and throw pillows will also make a more welcoming retreat for your guests if you’re planning to spend a few hours at night outdoors to stargaze or watch movies.
Have A Space For Bonfires
A bonfire is another perfect element to add to your outdoor entertainment area to create a more relaxing ambiance. So, designate a space for a bonfire, preferably somewhere in the middle of the seating area. You can either have wood-burning, natural gas-fueled, or gel-fueled fire pits. Whichever option you choose, these bonfires can add a pleasant fire glow that will elevate the ambiance of your outdoor area, especially at night. After adding a fire pit, you can add more chairs and tables around for people who wish to enjoy some food and drinks around the bonfire.
Install Lighting Fixtures
While bonfires can add some light and warmth to your outdoor area, it’s still best if you hang more lighting fixtures. These outdoor lighting fixtures won’t only add a soothing glow to your entertainment area at night, but they can also make it a more secure and safe place to lounge and wind down. So, consider hanging some café lights, globe bulbs, twinkle lights, or string lights around your lawn and along the pavement. You can also hang some lanterns on your backyard pathways to help lead the way for your guests during nighttime hangouts.
Create Privacy Walls
While this isn’t always necessary, creating privacy walls between your backyard and your neighbor’s backyard can make your guests’ experience more intimacy. The privacy walls will provide seclusion and prevent other people from disturbing your gatherings. These walls can also filter out noises, allowing you to enjoy fun activities with your friends and family without disturbing your neighbors.
Usually, people opt for wooden fences as their privacy walls. But there are other modern fencing options you may want to consider, including metal screens, solid concrete walls, slatted wooden fences, bamboo fences, and more. Ensure to choose a wall that will fit into your outdoor area’s aesthetic and functional needs.
Add An Outdoor Kitchen and Bar
Another perfect element to add to your outdoor entertainment area is an outdoor kitchen and bar. With these, you and your guests won’t have to go inside to cook meals or prepare drinks anymore.
You can simply have a built-in grill together with other outdoor cooking appliances and set them up in a corner of your backyard. You or your guests will be free to grill barbeques, cook meals, and serve them right away to other guests lounging outside. You can even add other party-pleasers such as a wood-fired pizza oven or a margarita machine.
Meanwhile, it’s also a good idea to have a mini tiki bar on the opposite side of the cooking area so your guests can have easy access to drinks and refills whenever they need to. Once you’ve prepared both the kitchen and bar prepared, be ready to become a chef and a bartender for your guests during your next outdoor gathering.
Install A Sound System And Other Entertainment Sources
Incorporating music into your outdoor entertainment area can significantly improve the atmosphere of the place and help set the mood. So, before blasting your favorite tunes, make sure to install a good-quality sound system around your backyard so you can play your playlists with your outdoor speakers.
Better yet, consider having a karaoke session with your friends and guests to keep everyone engaged. If you find those black, rectangular speakers an eyesore, make sure to place them where they’re covered behind your plants or shrubs. Moreover, keeping them concealed will also protect them from the sun and rain.
Aside from music and speakers, you can also add other entertainment sources such as an outdoor television. This way, everyone can gather outside and watch their favorite movies or sports events together. Just don’t forget to also prepare enough seating options for everyone. Also, include a center table so you’ll have a place to put your snacks and refreshments.
Add Recreational Games
While adults are busy grilling barbeques or cheering on their favorite teams on the outdoor television, you also need to entertain the kids if they’re part of the outdoor gathering. Consider adding outdoor recreational games for them such as mini-golf, tablecloth checkers, large lawn scrabble, bowling, outdoor checkers tables, and giant Jenga. What’s more, these games aren’t only limited to kids. Adults can also enjoy them.
Invest In Relaxing Amenities
If you’re planning to entertain your guests with impressive experiences, consider investing in relaxing amenities such as hot tubs, inflatable pools, or an outdoor sauna. This way, you can enjoy a nice warm soak in your hot tub while you hang out and enjoy cold drinks under the fine weather. The kids will also get to enjoy an inflatable pool as an alternative for homeowners who don’t have a swimming pool. Then, on weekends, you can invite your friends or family over on the weekend for an outdoor sauna retreat that can help you reduce your stress levels after a long and exhausting week.
Add Finishing Touches
Aside from all those added amenities, you also need to incorporate some stylish decoration into your outdoor space. Think about what vibe you would like to create in this entertainment area. Consider adding more hanging fairy lights, petite flowers, candles, and cozy seating options if you like a fairytale-themed backyard. If you want it to look like a modern garden straight out of a magazine, consider adding a water fountain area surrounded by seating options. You can also take inspiration from your indoor living spaces and try to decorate your backyard in a way that blends well with your living room.
Hire Contractors
Lastly, consider hiring contractors. This may not be a direct part of creating an ideal outdoor entertainment area, but these professional contractors are the best people who can help you pull off your plans. While it’s alright to DIY the options discussed above, hiring contractors can save you time and energy from having to do everything on your own. Plus, they’re all experts in this field, which can ensure you that they can do the job quickly and correctly without damaging your property.
Wrap Up
Creating your ideal outdoor entertainment area may take some effort, money, and time before you can achieve the space you’ve envisioned. But with proper planning and a touch of your creativity, you can create the most welcoming outdoor space to entertain family and friends. So, keep these tips in mind as you begin your backyard renovations.
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