Luxury Outdoor Entertainment Area Ideas

When the days get longer and the weather heats up, it is the perfect time to prepare your outdoor living space for visitors or yourself. A thoughtfully designed outdoor area can make your home more welcoming, providing an inviting space to entertain guests, relax with family, and soak up the sunshine.

Whether you want to host more barbeques this summer, spend more time by the pool, or have a regular digital detox - we share a variety of outdoor living space ideas.

In this guide, we will explore how to create a versatile outdoor entertainment area that combines comfort, functionality, and your personal style. There is a lot to cover, from selecting the right furniture to incorporating natural elements, so that you can design a space that is both inviting and practical.

Why Is Outdoor Living Important

An outdoor space is an extension of your home. It is a retreat where you can connect with nature without leaving home or sacrificing the comforts of indoor living.

Whether you have a balcony, backyard, or patio, your open-air living area serves as a transitional space that allows you to relax, unwind, and entertain. You might use it as a refuge to get away from technology and reconnect with loved ones. It can also provide a beautiful setting for intimate gatherings and large celebrations. It might simply be your morning coffee or alfresco dining spot. Whatever you want to use your backyard retreat for this summer, it is important to use design principles to make it your own.

So, how can you make the most of your outdoor haven? Here are 7 tips you should follow to make a beautiful and functional environment where you will love spending your summer days.

1. Plan How You Use Your Entertainment Area

The beauty of outdoor living areas is their versatility. You can use them for everything from hosting family barbecues to sitting down to read a book. By designing this space with intention, you can tailor it to suit your lifestyle and preferences.

Consider your outdoor living style. Do you enjoy throwing big parties or are you more drawn to intimate gatherings? Identifying how you plan to use the space will guide your choices for furniture, layout, and landscaping.

For example, if you regularly host dinner parties, it might be a good idea to invest in a large outdoor dining table, sturdy dining chairs, spacious bench seats, and ambient outdoor lighting first.

2. Embrace Natural Outdoor Elements

You want your outdoor oasis to have a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere. Creating a luxe look requires the right balance between comfort and style, playing with natural elements to enhance the ambience. Incorporating nature and greenery can also help your guests to feel relaxed while creating a beautiful aesthetic.

Consider incorporating flowering plants or a small herb garden that is both functional and decorative. Concrete garden pots and planters are an easy addition if you don’t have much space for a garden bed. If you have a pergola or another sturdy outdoor structure, you could consider adorning it with ivy or other climbing plants. This will help create a sense of calm and a beautiful setting that is perfect for capturing family photos.

3. Consider Your Privacy

Privacy is an important consideration when designing an outdoor entertaining area, as you don’t have curtains, blinds, or walls to conceal the space. You’re more likely to relax and engage with the area if you feel secluded from the outside world.

There are a number of ways you can create privacy without feeling closed in. Tall shrubs, trees, and fences can create a natural barrier between your space and onlookers. You can also plant thick hedges or install privacy screens around your seating areas.

This will give you and your guests the freedom to enjoy outdoor living without feeling exposed.

4. Set The Entertainment Area Mood

Envision the look that you want to create before you start decorating. This can help you to develop a cohesive and uncluttered style. Schots has a wide range of contemporary, traditional, and coastal outdoor furniture that blends natural materials like teak and concrete. These durable materials provide a timeless yet modern feel, ensuring that you will love your outdoor entertainment area for years.

Smooth marble tabletops, weathered wood, and sophisticated modern pieces can also create a beautiful tactile experience. Soft cushions and throws in weather-resistant fabrics also add visual interest and comfort when the temperature drops.

While you will be able to enjoy the sunlight during the day, you will also need to consider what mood you want to create with lighting during the evening. You could incorporate outdoor wall, pillar, post, and ceiling lights that are both practical and decorative. Soft lighting tends to create a relaxed atmosphere, but you might want to go for something brighter where you will be cooking. You can also use strategically placed spotlights to highlight your garden or architectural features.

5. Invest In The Right Outdoor Furniture

Your furniture choices set the tone and functionality for your outdoor haven. Whether you have a sprawling backyard or a compact patio, you need to make sure you select the right pieces for your space.

If you are only just getting started in furnishing your outdoor space, then consider chairs, tables, stools, and benches that can folded or be brought inside during cooler months, ensuring flexibility throughout the year. For example, foldable teak tables and chairs provide adaptability for different group sizes. Stackable furniture options are also perfect for maximising your space during the cooler months.

If you want to add a touch of luxury, marble-top tables with cast iron bases are an elegant choice. Benches made from teak, reclaimed wood, or FSC-sourced timber are also an eco-friendly and durable option. You can also consider sun lounges, concrete and teak stools, bar chairs with rope, and boulder-shaped benches to create multiple seating areas and added comfort.

You might also want to invest in some storage solutions, such as outdoor cabinets and waterproof storage boxes to keep your space functional and clutter-free throughout the year.

6. Create Shade and Shelter

Australia’s harsh climate can limit your use of our outdoor space in the summer months. Without shade and shelter, you could be exposed to sunlight, wind, and rain. To make sure your guests are comfortable, consider investing in outdoor umbrellas, retractable awnings, or a gazebo for larger gatherings. You can also incorporate trees and greenery to provide natural shade and cool down the area.

7. Provide Cooking And Warmth Options

Being able to cook in your outdoor space is always a plus. Barbecues that incorporate fold-out shelving and are functional space savers. An Aregentian barbecue is also perfect for entertaining large groups and incorporating a delicious wood-fired and smokey taste into your cooking. If you prefer slow-cooked meals, you could cook with a Kamado Devil barbecue which has a weatherproof glaze and locks in moisture to keep your meat tender.

Depending on where you live in Australia, you will also need to be prepared for the temperature to drop in the evenings and in the cooler months. For added warmth, you can incorporate cast iron wood burners, chimineas, and firepits which look beautiful and can be fired up whenever you need to raise the temperature.

Embrace The Outdoors

Creating a luxe and liveable outdoor entertaining space involves thoughtful planning. You need to make people feel welcome while protecting against the natural elements. By focusing on comfort, functionality, and tranquility in your design choices, you can create a space that is the perfect backdrop for gatherings or relaxation.