It isn’t just about the table setting & delicious food.

With the warm weather rolling in, are you summer-entertaining ready?  Here are some tips to create an inviting space that is comfortable and stylish for entertaining all summer season.

When entertaining at home over summer, we, quite rightly, invest lots of time focusing on how the table will look and planning the wonderous food that will sit on it.  But there’s more to the story – ensuring your garden spaces are looking fresh and full, is also an important part of summer home entertaining and your guests will admire your efforts!

Here are some tips & tricks to help set up your perfect home outdoor entertaining garden spaces.

Prep and Prune for a Fresh Start

Invest some time to tidy up your garden beds. Remove weeds, dead plants, and overgrowth, and give shrubs and hedges a trim to create a clean backdrop for your space.

If your garden is looking a little sparse, add a few more plants for a fuller, lusher look.  There are many low maintenance plants available that look great and don’t need as much attention – we love that!

Adding a layer of mulch to your garden bed will help retain moisture in the heat and will give your garden beds a polished look. If your soil is looking tired, consider adding compost or nutrient-rich fertilisers designed for plants in an Australian summer.  Talk to an expert to get the right one – your plants will love you for it.

Don’t forget, plants love a little bit of water!

Add Shade for Comfort

Australia’s summer sun can be intense, so creating shaded areas is key for daytime entertaining. A pergola or shade sail is great for larger gardens and as a more permanent solution, while umbrellas provide a more economical solution and flexible shade that you can move as needed.

If you have trees, consider setting up seating or a hammock underneath for a natural, shaded spot.

Create Multiple Seating Zones

Having distinct areas for dining, lounging, and mingling can make your garden feel more spacious and functional. Consider modular outdoor furniture that’s durable and weather-resistant to withstand the Australian climate.

Adding outdoor cushions and throws can add comfort and style while standing up to the outdoor elements. For a more economical solution, floor cushions and picnic blankets are great for setting up a casual, relaxed vibe.

Add Some Evening Light

These days there are lots of great options for creating ambience with lighting in gardens and outdoor entertaining spaces.

You don’t need to invest a lot of money to add a touch of style and ambience to evening entertaining outdoors.   Solar-powered lights are particularly suited to Australia’s sunny climate, providing soft illumination at night.

Candles in lanterns or LED candles are perfect for tabletops and for scattering safely in the garden.  Be creative, add soft light, your space will look and feel special.

Add Extra Touches for Ambiance

Consider adding decor items like cushions, woven rugs, or unique table settings. Add an outdoor speaker for some background music to set the vibe, and don’t forget citronella candles or bug repellent to keep pesky insects at bay.

With that in mind, did you know that scented oils such as lemon eucalyptus, lavender, thyme, peppermint and lemongrass are said to be offensive to flies and mosquitoes?  That might be helpful!

Having a couple of scent diffusers around while in your outdoor space with your favourite scent (or one that flies and mosquitoes don’t like) is another way to create ambience, especially when the breeze carries the scent throughout your gathering.

In summary

With a few of these tips, you can transform your garden and outdoor entertaining space and not only will you wow your guests with your fabulous table setting and delicious food, you will impress them with your thoughtfully styled space and fresh looking garden.