How to Furnish Your Patio or Backyard for Summer Entertaining

Everyone wants to have a place in their home where they can entertain guests. The usual go-to place would be the living room, but it’s not always the best place to receive guests. This is especially true during summer when temperatures can rise to unbearable levels.

It’s most likely going to be hotter than ever year after year, so it's not a bad idea to entertain visitors outside. If you have a patio or a backyard, you can turn it into something cozy enough for you to entertain guests in. It will involve a little bit of creativity, imagination, and proper planning to do it well.

If you want to do it the right way, here are some things to remember when shopping for the best outdoor patio furniture! 

Planning

Before you can start pimping out your patio or backyard, you need to consider how much space you have to work with. While you have a list of all these things that you want to add to the area, consider if they will all fit in there.

The best thing to do here is to measure the space that you have first. Next, visualize the look that you want for your backyard or porch. Is it an open area? Do you want to provide some kind of shade to protect your guests from direct sunlight?

Are you going to use furniture that you already have, or are you looking to furnish the space with new stuff? Here, it doesn’t matter if you go one way or the other. Anything should work as long as you choose wisely.

Indoor furniture is not designed for outdoor use. It doesn’t come with the same protection that outdoor furniture comes with. Some materials are not supposed to get wet nor stay exposed to the elements.

If you plan to use rattan furniture, for example, consider if it’s safe for wicker furniture to get wet. Even if you place furniture under a gazebo, it’s still bound to get wet. Furniture is expensive, so make sure to use outdoor furniture only.

Plan for what you want your space to have. You’re lucky if the space or area is big enough because that gives you a lot of options when considering what to add. If the space is small, you can adjust and trim your list down to only include the things that are most important to you.

Here are some suggestions to help you in your project.

Flooring

This is the best place to start. Do you want to have the area tiled, or do you prefer a wooden deck? You can also use bricks, grass, or even plain concrete. Are you looking to add a rug? Choose well here. Plan for the long-term. Think about the maintenance requirements and the cost.

Paint

The next thing that you should do is repaint the area. Adding a fresh layer of paint will do wonders to the space. Consider the color combinations that you want to have. What’s the color of the furniture that you will be adding? What kind of paint should you use?

Providing some shade

If you like the outdoors but don't like the sun, you can build a gazebo to provide some cover. The thing is, gazebos are permanent structures. If you want something you can set aside, there are other options. Alternatives such as shade sails, awnings, canopies, or large umbrellas will do the job.

Rugs

If you’re planning to add a rug to your setup, that would be a good idea because rugs can add life to an otherwise dull space. Again, you have a lot of options here, but you need to consider what type of materials work best for outdoor spaces. You should look for one that comes with some protection against the elements.

Patio furniture

This should be the main highlight of your furnished patio or backyard. You probably already had something in mind here even before you started fixing up the space. Make sure that the furniture set will be a good fit for the space. Don’t try to fit in too much stuff that may reduce walking space. There should be a balance between seating capacity and walking space.

If you need help with choosing the furniture set that is right for your space, here are some suggestions:

You can choose a 3-piece setup with two chairs and a coffee table, such as the AIHO Porch Furniture Set from Amazon. It’s designed for the outdoors and comes in a beautiful dark gray shade. It’s got wide backrests and thick cushions for added comfort.

If you want more seating capacity, you may want to look at the Greesum Patio Furniture Set. This is a 4-piece set that’s designed for patios. It has 2 chairs, a loveseat, and a medium-sized coffee table. It’s made of steel and breathable fabric, perfect for your patio or backyard. It can get wet and is tough enough for the outdoors.

If you’re expecting to have even more people around during the summer, then you might want to consider a 7-piece set. The YITAHOME 7-Piece Outdoor Patio Furniture Set can accommodate up to 7 people. It’s made of metal frames with rattan. The cushions are thick and comfortable, and the set comes with UV protection.

The BCP Conversational Wicker Furniture Set is another option to consider. This one is like an outdoor version of a dining set. It’s a 7-seater dining set that comes with 2 chairs, 2 stools, a 3-person sofa, and a dining table. It also comes with dust covers to protect your furniture from dust and other elements.

You are not limited to these recommendations. There are tons of options to choose from in marketplaces like Amazon and Wayfair. 

More things to add

You don’t have to stop there. You can add even more things to spice up the place. Bring out the creativity in you and express it through your furnishing project.

Here are some recommendations for you:

1. Since we’re talking about the outdoors, why not add some plants to your space? Plants such as Catmint, Angelonia, Roses, and Lobelia are good options. They can add color to your patio or backyard. Hanging plants are ideal as well.

1. Guests may come anytime, so it’s a good idea to provide ample lighting to your furnished space. You can use string lights, candles, a chandelier, multi-colored lights, lamps, and lanterns.

1. During cold nights, a way to keep warm outside would be to have a fire pit in place. There are fire pits that are gas-powered and easy to control. There are even some furniture sets that have a fire table as the centerpiece. Just be sure to remember to turn it off once your guests leave if you decide to add one.

1. If you still have dead space left after adding all those things, try adding a hammock to your porch or backyard. The whole point of furnishing the space is to provide an area where guests can be comfortable. What’s more comfortable than a hammock?

1. It’s not a bad idea to add outdoor fans to your setup because even if it’s cooler outside, some days can get unbearably hot. Outdoor fans can help beat that. Have a look at the 6 Most Quiet Outdoor Fans for some suggestions.

1. Finally, having a bar set up is something any guest would appreciate. You don’t have to have purely alcoholic drinks in your bar. There are a lot of non-alcoholic beverages that you can stock up on to add to the fun.
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There are many ways to furnish a patio or backyard. You just need to plan for it and stay within your budget. I hope these suggestions can help you get started. Good luck!