Rethinking Outdoor Dining Areas
When most people consider an outdoor eating area they imagine an outdoor dining set located just off the back of the house close to the kitchen. It normally occupies some corner of your patio or decking area and consists of a table and a few chairs.
But the days of basic patio dining areas are over. More and more we have noticed garden designers and discerning clients pushing their outdoor dining area into the garden.
By creating a ‘backyard retreat’ for your alfresco dining area further away from the home it draws you into the garden landscape. These types of outdoor living spaces offer a much more immersive environment as you are surrounded by your garden and away from the house.
This outdoor dining space is a great example of what you can achieve with a dedicated garden dining space. The dining area was created using an Umbris Louvre Roof structure that is freestanding at the end of the garden. Vertical louvres of aluminium and timber shield the dining area from the rear fences and leave all other sides of the enclosure open to the garden.
The Umbris roof contains automated louvres so the homeowners can control the amount of sunlight that they get whilst eating. Plus, when it rains the louvres can be closed to create a fully watertight roof over the alfresco eating area. That means they can carry on eating even during the summer showers or unpredictable British weather.
Yes, they have to carry their plate a little further from the kitchen but the secluded garden retreat they have created here makes it well worth it.
“Many people automatically design outdoor dining spaces right off the back of the house. But making an all-inclusive destination within the landscape immerses people in the ambience. It makes for a more luxurious experience and guests get to see more of your garden,” says Di Zock of Di Zock Design.
You don’t have to build a freestanding garden structure to make the most of immersive garden living. Even setting the garden dining furniture deeper into the garden or carving out a dedicated space within the garden for eating can be a great way to achieve this trend too.
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This small garden, for example, has created a dedicated outdoor dining area at the back of the garden. Use a modern outdoor dining set like the Edge Outdoor Dining. The clean lines and minimalist detail will help create a contemporary outdoor garden space that is attractive to look at if you can see it from the house.
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A more traditional courtyard style eating area can be created using the Parc range of outdoor dining furniture to create the ultimate garden dining destination even in the smallest of courtyard spaces.
Here are our top three easy tips for creating your own immersive outdoor dining area:
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- Surround the garden dining room with plants. These could be dug in plants into flower beds or plants within containers. By surrounding your dining area with foliage you will create a lush natural environment that separates you visually from the house, no matter how small your space.
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2. Turn the outdoor dining experience into a garden sanctuary with specialist outdoor lighting. Proper outdoor lighting can help set the right mood and allow you to use the outdoor space further into the night.
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3. Plan a pre and post dinner entertainment area close by. This could be a relaxing outdoor seating area with a firepit or a hot tub or pool.
Are you planning your own alfresco dining area? Speak to the team at IQ Outdoor Living to see how our outdoor living products can be used to make the most of the outdoor space. Call 01494 722 880 or email hello@iqoutdoorliving.co.uk to speak to a member of the team.
Originally published at www.iqoutdoorliving.co.uk on March 8, 2018.
