Make the most of your outdoor spaces by creating an oasis that’s fit for hosting all your loved ones. 

Often, people overlook their backyard area as a place for communing with friends or hosting delicious dinner parties. Usually, people avoid bringing friends out back because their outdoor spaces aren’t suitable for hosting. 

Luckily, we’ve got 11 tips for creating a stunning outdoor entertainment space so you can revitalize your backyard and bring people together. 

1. Make a Plan

Before you start moving furniture around, it’s essential to start the design process and make a plan for your outdoor entertainment space. 

It helps to get a blueprint or make a drawing of your space so you can visualize what you’re working with.

Map out your backyard’s traffic route to determine the best places to add new elements. 

You want your outdoor entertainment spaces to have a natural traffic flow so guests don’t have to weave around things when they need to grab something from inside. 

You should also set a realistic budget for the look you want to achieve during the planning stage. 

2. Bring the Heat 

An easy way to transform your backyard into an outdoor entertainment space is to add some heat by creating a firepit with chairs for every guest or adding a heater to the outdoor sitting area. 

Adding an element of heat to your backyard or front patio encourages you and your guests to get cozy and make some memories. Instead of avoiding the outdoors because it’s too cold, you can use a bonfire or outdoor heater to enjoy a crisp fall evening or breezy spring afternoon in complete comfort. 

Heaters help keep dinner guests at the table instead of calling it quits and heading home because it’s too chilly to stay and chat. Likewise, a firepit invites guests to gather around and enjoy more quality time under the stars. 

3. Create a Comfy Seating Area 

Hosting guests is all about having enough spots for everyone to sit and enjoy each other’s company. If you want to make a radical transformation to your outdoor entertainment spaces but don’t want to redesign your backyard, invest in comfortable seats. 

Whether you’re enjoying a glass of wine with a friend or hosting a party, seating areas in your outdoor entertainment spaces are essential to make guests feel comfortable. 

Organize your seating area so that there’s room for people to join the group without bumping into a table or chair. Add some comfortable loveseats or couches to maximize the seating space and accommodate more guests. 

If you want to go further, add comfortable seating areas around the backyard, with benches in the garden or hammocks hanging in the trees. 

4. Set up a Place to Eat 

Transform your backyard into an outdoor entertainment space by setting up a place for people to gather and enjoy a meal. Whether you set up a poolside bar area, create an outdoor kitchen, or simply add a new table to your patio, you can feel confident hosting outside. 

Instead of meeting up at a restaurant, offer your backyard for the next gathering. This easy tip for creating a stunning outdoor entertainment space allows you to invite guests anytime to take advantage of the summer weather. 

5. Add Shade and Shelter 

Remember to add shade and shelter in some areas when planning your dream backyard. Plan a mix of areas with shade and other areas where guests can enjoy sitting in the sun so everyone invited feels comfortable and at ease. 

You can bring shade and shelter to your backyard by adding the following to your outdoor entertainment space: 

• A covered patio 
• Umbrellas 
• Pergolas and arbors

Shade and shelter are essential for outdoor spaces because you can’t always predict the weather. During hot and sunny days, the shade will be a respite for guests. Likewise, a sudden rainshower will bring guests close together under well-placed umbrellas or a pergola. 

6. Create a Private Oasis 

Keep your guest list to only the VIPs by adding privacy to your outdoor entertainment space. Trellises are an easy way to create an accent wall that provides aesthetic appeal and privacy at the same time. 

You can also opt for the following to add more privacy to your outdoor oasis: 

• Curtains 
• Fences 
• A fireplace 
• Trees 
• Sculptures 
• Water features 

It’s vital to have privacy in the areas where you entertain, especially if you have nosey neighbors who weren’t invited to the party. 

Privacy features help keep guests comfortable and encourage them to feel free to escape into your conversations without the reminder of the outside world. Plus, privacy features can help block out the sunlight and reduce wind tunnels in your outdoor spaces. 

7. Bring in a Water Element 

Get the conversation started by adding a water feature to your outdoor spaces. When you add a water fountain, birdbath, waterfall, or pond to your backyard, you transform your backyard into a peaceful oasis. 

Water features not only add aesthetic appeal but also add the soothing sound of water and call onlookers to be present in the moment. For example, birdbaths encourage birds to rest while you and your guests admire the nature around you. 

You can choose from small or large water features depending on the size of your backyard, so even small backyards can enjoy a transformation with a well-placed water feature. 

8. Embrace Natural Decor 

Adding natural decor is one of the best ways to make your outdoor space into something you’re proud to show your friends. 

Plant some of your favorite flowers to add color and vibrancy to your back or front yard. With traditional style landscaping, you strategically place plants so that taller ones are behind smaller plants to create more visual appeal. 

You don’t always need to add additional furniture or call in a construction crew to make your outdoor spaces more inviting for guests. Use landscaping to your advantage by adding terraces, decorating with potted plants, putting in trees, or using trellises for privacy walls. 

Rejuvenating your garden with some TLC and thoughtful planting not only makes your backyard a place to invite friends over to, but it can also help attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and honey bees. 

9. Bring Textures to Tabletops 

Have fun decorating your outdoor spaces with textures. Why? Because adding textures creates a sensory experience for all your guests and is a low-effort way to spruce up your space before friends arrive. 

Outdoor decor can be rugged, rustic, and organic for eye-catching conversation starters. Here are some thrilling ways to add appealing textures to your backyard events: 

• Decorate your tabletops with pumpkins and colored leaves for autumn events
• Add rocks to a clear vase and fire up some floating candles 
• Fill a vase with twigs and flowers 
• Use burlap fabric and twine for table runners and napkin holders 
• Drape soft blankets over chairs 
• Use succulents and rocks as a centerpiece 

10. Add Mood Lighting 

Brighten up your backyard so the party can go on as long as you want. Adding mood lighting is one of the best ways to create stunning outdoor entertainment spaces. 

Place lights around walkways to guide guests around your backyard oasis and gaze into your garden. Another common method for backyard mood lighting is adding strings of lights that hang overhead or wrap around trees, umbrellas, and trellises. 

You want to choose a light source that’s not harsh so that guests don’t have to maneuver around the blinding light. That said, get lights that are bright enough to illuminate your space and encourage guests to stay longer. Aim for welcoming, not blinding! 

11. Set up Speakers 

Last but not least, adding speakers is one of the best tips for creating stunning outdoor entertainment spaces.

Whether you play classical music or jazz songs to set the mood, pop on your favorite party playlist to liven things up, or use the speakers to share your favorite songs, having a quality sound system is an exceptional way to make your backyard more entertaining and hospitable for guests. 

What’s more? If you already have speakers outside, you can bring a projector to your outdoor space and host a movie night under the stars. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination. 

Make the Most of Your Outdoor Spaces 

With these 11 tips for creating a stunning outdoor entertainment space, you’re ready to rejuvenate the look of your outdoor spaces and make them ideal spaces for entertaining. 

At KG Landscape, we’ll help you transform your outdoor areas and make the most of your outdoor spaces. If you need help coming up with a plan or want us to tackle installing water features, firepits, slopes, or plants and landscaping, our team of experienced landscape designers is happy to help. Get a free quote today, and let’s get started on your project.