It’s fair to say that we’ve all fallen a little more in love with our gardens since the COVID-19 pandemic. Last summer, they were just about the only destinations we could visit to relax in the sun. And for a while, the garden centre was just about the only shop we could visit for a browse.
In 2021, jetting off on our summer holidays is still proving a little tricky and out of reach for many. Instead, we’re turning our own green spaces into staycation-havens for friends and family to make memories, relax and forget their troubles.
So, how can you level up your outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining this summer?
Bring the indoors, outdoors
Let’s start with an easy win. One way to make your outdoor space feel more inviting and comfortable for you and your guests is by giving it a cosy, indoor feel with soft furnishings. This can be achieved by adding an outdoor rug to a patio area or adorning any outdoor furniture with plenty of cushions.
Not only does this make your outdoor space more inviting but it’s also a good opportunity to inject a little of your own personal taste into the garden, reflecting the style of your home’s interior to keep a nice consistent flow of styles.
Relax with a water feature
Nothing is quite as relaxing as the tinkering sound of a water feature. In fact, water features have been proven to reduce blood pressure and stress levels to improve your physical and mental health – something we could all do with after the last year or so.
They are also a great way to combat any environmental noise around your home such as busy roads and neighbours. Plus, it’s probably easier than you think to get a water feature installed. You can power water features through a number of power sources, such as your mains, solar power and even by battery.
Install an outdoor kitchen
For those looking to really make a statement this summer, take the kitchen outdoors. Whether that’s leveling up your BBQ to create an impressive cooking workspace, or bringing the pub to your own back garden with a bar – you’ll want to entertain every weekend with an outdoor kitchen.
When designing your outdoor kitchen, you’ll need to pick the perfect worktops. For an outdoor space, we would always advise that you opt for granite worktops. Granite is highly resilient to the weather and won’t stain easily around food and drink. Not only is it hardy, but it looks stylish too and there are countless styles and colours to choose from. When investing in something so showstopping, it’s worth picking the right stone to ensure it looks fabulous for years to come.
Invest in a hot tub
Another entertaining must-have is a hot tub – a novelty that is sure to get your guests excited. A hot tub can really turn your outdoor space from a garden into an entertainment destination. Often associated with a fancy spa or hotel stay, hot tubs allow you to bring the luxury holiday vibes to your back garden this summer instead.
Even when you don’t fancy inviting your friends and family over, sinking into a hot tub to unwind after a stressful day at work will do wonders for your wellbeing. Whilst hot tubs obviously aren’t the cheapest of purchases, they do vary in price so you may be able to find something to suit your budget.
Light it up
Whilst you’re decompressing from the day in your hot tub in the evening, ensure your garden looks the part with the right outdoor lighting. The right lighting will create the perfect relaxing and inviting atmosphere in your garden, and can easily be achieved on a budget with solar options.
Set the scene for a romantic alfresco dinner or for a garden party with your friends by hanging festoon lights across living areas, and fairy lights around any bushes, trees or pergola posts. Lighting your garden should not necessarily be about providing light to combat the darkness (although this is also important and means you can continue to enjoy your garden even when the sun goes down), but more about giving off a serene and welcoming feel that’ll make you want to stay in your garden all evening.
This year, it’s time to level up your garden, stay home and enjoy a piece of the British summer in style. If you have any questions or need advice on creating an outdoor kitchen area in your garden, please contact us at Bellagio Stone. We provide specialist stone worktops and have worked with many customers to create outdoor kitchens to be proud of.
