Given the amount of money that UK homeowners spend on their properties, it’s a bit surprising that so much of the land goes underused.
People go to great lengths to make sure the interior part of their properties is in tip-top condition, but they don’t always dedicate the same amount of effort to their outdoor spaces.
And we think that’s a mistake.
Done correctly, your garden can not only provide another living space to spend time with your friends or family, but can also become your home’s best living space.
And actually, this process is a lot more straightforward than you might think.
If you’re willing to part with a little bit of cash, you’ll be able to put together an enviable outdoor area in a matter of weeks.
Once you’ve finished, you’ll have an outdoor living space that you can use year-round.
Need some guidance on how to put together an awesome outdoor hangout spot? We’ve got you covered.
Below, you’ll find some of our top tips for putting together a social-ready outdoor living area that you and your friends and family will enjoy for many years to come.
Install a Pergola
There’s an obvious reason why UK homeowners are reluctant to invest the time, energy, and money to create a hangout spot in their garden.
The UK’s weather isn’t always the best, and even on warm days, it can often feel like rain is just around the corner.
Even a brief downpour can put the best-laid socialising plans to bed, since, well, who wants to sit outside in the rain?
One effective way to get around this is to install a covered pergola.
That’ll allow you and your loved ones to stay outside even when the rain is falling.
A pergola also creates a focal point for your socialising — instead of just plonking some furniture down on your lawn, you’ll have a space that can be turned into what is, in effect, an outdoor living room.
Bring the Warmth
The rain is just one of the ways that the UK’s weather can interrupt your outdoor time. Low temperatures also make the outside world less appealing.
Even with all the motivation in the world, it’s unlikely that your friends and family will want to spend time in your garden if there’s a chill in the air.
Happily, we have the technology to remove that issue.
Adding an outdoor heater or fire pit to your garden will allow you to remain outside even when things get chilly.
They’re a pretty affordable investment that can significantly enhance the experience of your garden, especially if you place it under the covered pergola.
With that, you’ll be making your outdoor hangout spot much cosier and enjoyable.
Cosy Lighting
The rain drives people indoors. So does the cold.
The two tips outlined above will take care of those two issues.
The final environmental factor you’ll need to manage is the dark.
While it can be nice to spend time in a dark garden looking up at the cosmos, the fact is that you probably won’t spend hours outside socialising with others if you can’t even see them.
The answer? Install lighting.
The best garden lights are as stylish as they are functional, providing a cosy ambiance that lends itself well to spending long nights in your outdoor space.
Once the sun sets, your garden lights can take over to provide a warm, relaxing glow.
Select Quality, Durable Furniture
It’s understandable that homeowners buy cheap, plastic furniture for their gardens.
It doesn’t make that much sense to splash the cash when you don’t know how much time you’ll spend out there.
But this is a flawed way of thinking that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Low-quality furniture is less comfortable and quickly becomes damaged, which all but confirms that you won’t spend much time out there.
By investing in quality, comfortable, durable outdoor furniture, you’ll be showing a commitment to your newly put-together outdoor living area, which in turn will increase the amount of time you spend out there.
The bottom line? Bite the bullet and buy comfortable rattan or treated wood furniture.
You’ll need to engage in some maintenance from time to time, but it’ll be worth it.
Create a Dedicated Outdoor Cooking Area
If there’s one thing that can prematurely end a social gathering, it’s hunger.
People are less likely to sink into hours of conversation when they have food on their mind.
One way to get around this issue is to put together a dedicated outdoor cooking area, which effectively means installing a top-quality BBQ and food preparation area.
As soon as those first pangs of hunger kick in, you’ll be able to simply turn on the BBQ and quickly whip up a few burgers for everyone.
Add Soft Furnishings
Soft furnishings, such as blankets and pillows, are outright essential to making your living room an enjoyable place to relax and unwind.
Yet, for whatever reason, people often overlook the importance of adding soft furnishings to their outdoor space. It really can make a big impact.
Without soft furnishings, you might spend an hour outside.
With them, you’ll spend all day out there if you can.
Blankets and pillows are key, but if you really want to create a cosy outdoor space, then think about adding an outdoor rug.
Boost the Privacy
Spending time with friends and family in the garden can sometimes be a little awkward, especially if you live in a quiet neighbourhood.
It can feel as if you’re disturbing the peace, or even feel as if you’re on display to your neighbours.
Boosting privacy helps to get around this issue.
Tall hedges/fences/trees help to transform the garden into a more intimate space in which it feels more like you’re inside than outside.
They can also dampen the noise of your conversations and any music that you play.
While it’s likely that some noise will end up being carried to your neighbours, whatever they hear will be muffled and unlikely to disturb them.
