The main image that most people envisage when they finally get a home with a garden is all of the social gatherings that they will host, only to find that the garden goes unused and you continue to socialise in your living room like you did before.
If you want to make the most of your garden as a social space, you need to make it an attractive spot to be in. This means more than how it looks. We humans are creatures of comfort, so if you want us to socialise in your garden you’ll need to make it comfortable, too! Here are five examples of features that can help you create a comfortable and sociable garden.
Decking
If you want to use your garden as a social space, then it’s worth investing in some decking. Decking should be positioned close to your house so that guests can quickly and easily go inside to use the facilities. It should also have lighting of some kind so that you can continue to sit outside after the sun goes down, and it should be covered if possible, so that if the inevitable drizzle comes you can still sit outside.
Outdoor Cooking Equipment
Having the ability to cook outside will make it all the more attractive to be out there, and what could instill more of a sense of freedom than cooking over a fire or coals?
You could go as simple as having a barbeque outside, go a bit more upmarket and install a pizza oven, or go the whole hog and build an entire outdoor kitchen. Whatever you do, your guests will love the al fresco dining experience that your garden offers them.
Firepit
Everyone loves a firepit or a chiminea. They look great, and you get to burn wood or coal – what’s not to love? They also have the added benefit of keeping you warm, so you can use your outdoor space for socialising even in the winter months.
If you don’t want to spend loads of money on a firepit, you can make one quite cheaply out of an old tumble dryer drum that stands on legs, as they are designed to withstand high temperatures.
Water Feature
Adding a water feature to your garden will turn it into an oasis of tranquility. Humans are naturally drawn to water; throughout our evolution it has been absolutely essential to our survival so it’s no wonder we associate being near to water with feeling calm and at peace.
If you are installing a water feature such as a pond, be sure to get good-quality pond pumps and filters, otherwise you could be looking at more of a bog than a tranquil oasis.
Backyard Bar
Building a great-looking backyard bar will have everyone clamouring to attend gatherings in your garden.
You could build a simple bar out of a pallet; simply sand it back and paint it and then turn it on its side. You could also incorporate storage, and place bar stools against it. Or you could build a more intricate feature – the only limit is your imagination.
Photos by Megan Robinson
11 October 2020
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