5 Steps to Creating a Backyard for Entertaining Guests
After our long mini Ice Age (aka winter), spring—and then summer—are finally coming. That means you can now host an outdoor party without your guests turning into guestsicles, so there’s no reason to clean up your house. Great! No more preparation is necessary for a get together! You wish. If you’re going to entertain in your yard, you’re going to have to turn it into an awesome space that can accommodate your friends, family, and gate crashers. Here are some backyard design ideas that can help you get started.
1. Install an updated fence or deck or both
Before inviting your neighbors over, you’ll want to make sure that your yard is worth showing off. This may mean updating elements like your deck and fence—or adding them if your yard is bare. Tall privacy fences create an intimate setting for enjoying spring and summer afternoons and evenings. Beautiful cedar and other bright woods produce a warm, secure ambiance that keeps the good vibes in and your nosy neighbors’ prying eyes out. Decks give your guests an area to congregate where they won’t get dirt in their shoes. PVC decks and fences can replicate the look of wood but withstand the elements without much maintenance, allowing you to keep your yard presentable with ease.
Although your existing fence may have provided you with years of loyal service, it may be old and worn, giving your yard a drab atmosphere—which is just as embarrassing as a messy house! Getting a much-needed replacement fence can breathe new life into your yard, giving you a chance to make new memories in a brightened space.
2. Stop the sounds of your revelry from reaching your neighbors
Be advised: although a new or improved privacy fence may provide some noise reduction, no fence is totally soundproof. Your neighbors may not be able to see you partying down, but they might still hear you, so that’s why it’s a good idea to take additional measures to create some privacy in your yard! If you are concerned about the noise from your revelry reaching your neighbors’ yards, consider a fountain or other running water structure. There are dozens of fountain options from traditional boulder fountains to chic wall fountains. If you already have a pond that needs improvement, you can add a bubbler, a simple solution that not only adds pleasant, privacy-enhancing white noise, but also reduces mosquitos’ ability to propagate in the standing water.
3. Add screens so mosquitos aren’t invited too
Screening in an area on your deck can provide additional protection from mosquitos, which might otherwise carry your pets or small children off in a swarming cloud. Screening is often affordable and is an easy home improvement project for even DIY novices. Installing screening before the mosquitos descend on us once more will allow you to maximize your yard time, letting you enjoy your space throughout the outdoor seasons. Your friends are also much more likely to agree to come to your summer barbecue if they know they’ll be safe from the itchy terror of dozens of mosquito bites!
4. Add lighting so your guests can actually see each other
Good lighting becomes a necessity once the sun sets. However, the harsh light from your back door or flood light fixture can instantly kill the mood at your party or gathering. Lighting can be effective without being irritating. Outdoor floor lamps with soft colored, low-wattage bulbs cast a warm, inviting glow that won’t make your guests uncomfortable. You may also opt for the pleasant flicker of Tiki torches…or even a fire pit! The light from these sources works well with strong lights, sconces, or other temporary lighting sources. If your torches use oil as a fuel source, you can load them with citronella oil, which emits a subtle fragrance that keeps mosquitos away.
5. Give your guests something to gather around
All successful party venues provide people with a place to gather, and that’s what your yard should become too, though probably a bit cozier. A fire pit is one element that provides a convenient gathering place and will also be comforting on chillier spring nights. In addition to being a source of heat and light, you can use your fire pit to toast some marshmallows for s’mores! A grill, on the other hand, allows you to barbecue some more substantial food, and it’s also a focal point where everyone will gather to get their food. On warmer summer nights when people might want to spread out rather than crowding in a circle, benches on your deck or patio serve as stable but comfortable seating that keeps people together but gives them space to breathe.
Privacy fences, lighting, seating, and other backyard design improvements all allow you to create a stylish, enticing atmosphere that has both form and function. There’s an infinite number of ways to customize your yard for your preferred style of entertaining. Once you’ve revamped your backyard, you can start showing off your new hangout spot by throwing the coolest (or warmest!) party on the block.
How have you made your yard inviting for guests? Have any cool DIY tips, or want to invite The Fence Authority to your epic backyard gathering? Put it in the comments!
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