Best Backyard Setup Ideas for Your BBQ Parties

Outdoor entertaining is a huge part of who we are. If we’re not setting up quaint patio areas for enjoying cups of tea and good books, we’re building expansive decks with room for a barbecue, a spa pool, and plenty of tables and chairs for family and friends.

However, when you just move into a property and need to create a barbecue area from scratch, it’s not always easy to know where to begin. When planning gets underway in earnest, consider some of the following backyard setup ideas.

 

A Paved Patio Area

If you’re a fan of how easy-care paved patio areas can be, consider one as the foundation for your new entertainment area. Concrete is easy to clean through water blasting, suits both contemporary and classic homes, and can be an affordable alternative to decking timber in many cases.

Paved patio areas can also be separated from your home on another part of your property, or they can lead seamlessly from it. The latter allows for indoor-outdoor flow for complete enjoyment.

 

A Large Deck

Entertaining friends and family can be challenging without an outdoor space like a deck. Not everyone feels comfortable being crowded inside, and it can seem like a waste of good weather.

An expansive deck that wraps around your home’s exterior can be an exciting way to take full advantage of your property. You can open your doors leading to the deck for indoor-outdoor flow and invest in outdoor furniture to invite friends and family over for dinner.

All that’s left to do now is brush up on your decking consent requirements, and you can be on your way to a brand new deck.

 

Softscapes

Softscapes are the horticultural features of a landscape, such as trees, flowers, and plants. Along the same lines, softscaping would refer to their maintenance, such as mowing, trimming, spraying, and planting.

When you’re trying to come up with the perfect setup for your next BBQ party, creating a brand new softscape may be worth your consideration. Create a defined lawn area, invest in some new plants, and create a peaceful, private sanctuary that will be the envy of all your friends and neighbours.

 

Hardscapes

While many people love opening their curtains in the morning to see bees buzzing around their vibrant flower beds, some prefer a more low-maintenance yard. Therefore, when the time comes to spruce up your property, consider which hardscape elements can be both perfect for entertaining and easy-care.

You might invest in paving stones, defined concrete entertainment areas, and even raised flower boxes rather than dedicated gardens.

 

A Focal Point

Sometimes, the most challenging part of creating the perfect backyard setup for entertaining is establishing your central element. What’s the one thing that all other features can tie in with?

For some, it’s a fire pit surrounded by chairs for those late-night smores sessions. For others, it’s a large barbecue. You might even decide to make your focal point a spa pool, a swimming pool, or a beautiful pergola.

When you lack creativity, you may find that establishing the most exciting part of your entertainment area will allow you to get your creative juices flowing to complete the project.

 

A Games Area

Who doesn’t love a fun game outside on a warm summer’s day? You can invite your friends and family around, cook a feast on the barbecue, and dust off your petanque set or cricket bat.

While you’re in the early stages of planning your new backyard setup, consider dedicating a small grass area to games. You can then stock up on a few different options that the younger and older members of your family and friends circle can enjoy.

 

A Sheltered Space

When you picture an outdoor entertainment area, you might imagine a quaint but open patio or an unsheltered deck with the sunshine beaming down on every inch of it. However, winter can be cruel in some parts of Aotearoa, leaving many entertainment areas unusable.

That doesn’t have to be the case. If you consider the four seasons early on in your project, you might end up with a space you can enjoy year-round.

 

Some people install shade sails as an affordable form of basic shelter, while others go all out with permanent roofing over their outdoor space. If you’re unsure what options might suit your space the best, you may see the value in contacting a construction expert for help.

 

Comfortable Furniture

Choosing outdoor furniture can be as challenging as choosing indoor furniture. You know what you like, but you also have to factor in its longevity when spending a lot of time outside in the elements.

All materials have their pros and cons in this regard. Timber furniture can last for several years, but only if you keep up with maintenance. In contrast, wicker furniture can look spectacular but can be harmed by our intense UV rays.

Even plastic, which is robust and long-lasting, can become brittle, faded, and cracked when exposed to too much sunshine.

 

It’s Time to Build

Now that you’ve got a wide range of ideas to consider, it’s time to start building. Before long, you might end up with an outdoor entertainment space that you can’t get enough of.

Karan Kikani