Create the perfect outdoor entertainment space
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With summer on the horizon, it’s time to get ready for long hot days outside with friends and family.
Whether you’re eating together, enjoying cool drinks or just hanging out, a beautiful garden can be the perfect setting. But how well does yours work when you have people over?
If you’re looking for some inspiration, these are our top four jobs to transform an ordinary garden into a perfect entertainment venue.
Bifold doors
Bringing the outdoors in doesn’t have to mean adding a conservatory or building an entire extension.
Instead, adding either French windows or bifold doors can open up your interior space and make a seamless transition to your garden.
Throw them open when the weather’s good and you can enjoy the best of both worlds. A window fitter can show you the kind of options that are available.
Patio
If you want to enjoy your outside space, it’s important that it’s set up right - so why not build a dedicated area to relax and entertain?
When it comes to styles and materials, you're spoiled for choice.
Tiles are a popular option. New products are particularly hardwearing and suited to life outdoors. You can even use the same style inside, for example in your kitchen, to create a seamless effect that helps bring the two spaces together.
Using wood to create decking is also popular. Consider using salvaged wood to get a weathered effect, while also being eco-friendly.
If you choose a traditional stone patio, consider finding a treated stone that won't soak up water and discolour. It could save you several Sundays spent jet washing in years to come...
Speak to a landscaper or hard paver to see what’s out there.
Barbecue
There’s nothing like a good barbecue - the smell of smoke, the crackle of the charcoal, the taste of a quality banger or burger that’s been cooked over flame...
If you’re struggling with a dirty old kettle barbie, or even - perish the thought - a disposable BBQ, why not upgrade to something a bit more substantial?
A bricklayer can build a dedicated barbecue set up with a grill, space for the wood or coals, shelves for all your tools and equipment, and everything else you need to turn your garden into a pitmaster’s dream.
Or if you fancy indulging your culinary side outside but aren't so keen on smoking meats and charring veggies, why not consider a pizza oven? A bespoke pizza oven will give you the chance to churn out your own authentic Neapolitan or New York slices better than any local takeaway joint. The only worry you'll have is keeping hungry visitors away.
Summerhouse
Most of us long for more useable space in our homes, but even a simple extension can be beyond our budgets.
If you’d love an extra room to use as an office, a hobby space or studio, then a summerhouse might be the answer.
It's not just a souped-up shed - it's a practical space that you can use however you want. And with electricity and good insulation, it can stay useful long after summer fades away.
While you can buy off-the-peg self-assembly kits, we recommend finding an expert. They’ll make short work of a pre-built summerhouse, or they can build you something more bespoke.
You can either find a creative carpenter to help build your dream summerhouse, or find a handyman who can help assemble something a little more practical.
Discuss your job with tradespeople so they can accurately estimate the cost.