The better weather means al fresco dining. Creating an al fresco dining area at home brings your family together to spend quality time in your otherwise busy lives.
What does al fresco mean?
Al fresco means eating outside. Eating outside makes you feel like you’re sitting at a café in Paris or Italy when you’re just in your backyard. An Al fresco dining experience is a great way to celebrate with family and friends, without having too much mess.
Bringing the outside in is a great way to blend your garden with your home, giving you more livable space.
This is a great way to expand your home in an affordable way and it means you get more time soaking up some Vitamin D, which is vital to our wellbeing.
How to create an outdoor dining area
It’s easy to create a magical outdoor area for everyone to enjoy.
You don’t have to go all out and buy expensive furniture. For stools or basic chairs, use a linen throw or cushions to make the seating area comfortable and homely.
As @blairsmortgage said, when planning a dinner party or a family dinner in your backyard, “Don’t forget comfort.”
Transform your table with a linen tablecloth and napkins and it will look fit for a queen. A classic linen runner along your table gives your al fresco dining an air of sophistication.
Place sprigs of Lavender or Rosemary in your linen napkins and it will smell delightful. It only takes a few minutes to do but it will look as if you spent ages creating a beautiful setting.
Entertainment
It’s not a party without some music. With portable speakers, it’s easy to make a playlist on your phone and connect it to your speaker via Bluetooth.
This doesn’t take up a lot of room but provides quality music everyone can hear. Even your neighbors. If you don’t want to turn your music down, make sure you invite them.
Outdoor living space ideas on a budget
If you’re counting the pennies, you can still create a lovely outdoor area.
Use what you have already. Do you or family members have any china cups stored in the attic? Use these for a vintage theme. Or you could use them as decorations. Candles placed in the cups make beautiful centerpieces.
If you have some linen curtains, use these as a luxurious tablecloth. Even if your table is a bit worse for wear, simply cover it with a tablecloth to transform it into an elegant outdoor dining table. No one will ever know.
Even the finest quality linen is affordable and will last you a lifetime. It is classic and luxurious. The neutral tones of linen blend with the outdoor nature theme.
Garden dining for a small garden
Your yard doesn’t have to be like the ones you see in home magazines. If you have a balcony or a small area, then you can still make the most of your space.
Take advantage of folding furniture. Folding chairs and tables are great for using them when you need them and putting away afterwards. You could keep them in a cupboard in your home or fold them and stack them against a garden wall when you want the space clear.
Caddies attached to your balcony are a great way to store items, making the most of your space.
Quickly, while the sun is shining, get out there. Throw a linen cloth on your table with some home-made decorations and spend some quality time with your family and the sun.
