Outdoor Entertaining: How to Eat, Drink and Be Merry in a Small Garden
Transform your teeny garden into a stylish alfresco eating spot with these 10 inspiring tips
When the sun comes out, it’s fair to say we Brits are outside like a shot, taking advantage of the warm days and eating alfresco while the good weather lasts. Whether it’s a quick morning cuppa or an afternoon garden party with friends, we all love eating and entertaining outdoors, even if we only have the smallest of courtyards, a pint-sized patio or a narrow strip of grass to call our own. Take inspiration from these dining spots and create a little entertaining haven of your own.
Maximise a balcony
Forget palatial gardens and vast roof terraces – this teeny seaside spot proves a balcony can be a wonderful spot for eating alfresco. The transparent railing prevents the area feeling closed in, while a few easy chairs and a side table are all that’s needed for a drink and a bite to eat.
While most of us aren’t lucky enough to have the sea on our doorstep, you can still make the most of a small outdoor area with a few classic garden chairs and an oversized beanbag in tough, weatherproof material.
Forget palatial gardens and vast roof terraces – this teeny seaside spot proves a balcony can be a wonderful spot for eating alfresco. The transparent railing prevents the area feeling closed in, while a few easy chairs and a side table are all that’s needed for a drink and a bite to eat.
While most of us aren’t lucky enough to have the sea on our doorstep, you can still make the most of a small outdoor area with a few classic garden chairs and an oversized beanbag in tough, weatherproof material.
Boost with a built-in design
Built-in furniture can really help to make the most of every inch of a small courtyard. This bespoke bench cleverly sweeps around the bedding zones, creating pleasing curves and ample seating in a narrow area. The circular table slots snugly into the recess while freestanding chairs can be added if more guests arrive.
Choose tall plants and mirrored panels to create the illusion of height and extra space.
Built-in furniture can really help to make the most of every inch of a small courtyard. This bespoke bench cleverly sweeps around the bedding zones, creating pleasing curves and ample seating in a narrow area. The circular table slots snugly into the recess while freestanding chairs can be added if more guests arrive.
Choose tall plants and mirrored panels to create the illusion of height and extra space.
Embrace the rugged
If the ever-popular clean lines and slick acrylic are just not your garden design bag, small spaces also look fabulous dressed with weathered timber and rustic furniture.
The backdrop of crumbly bricks and well-worn timber planks injects masses of character into this hemmed-in space – but still in a modern manner. For evening soirees, simply sprinkle with candles and fairy lights and watch the space sparkle to life.
If the ever-popular clean lines and slick acrylic are just not your garden design bag, small spaces also look fabulous dressed with weathered timber and rustic furniture.
The backdrop of crumbly bricks and well-worn timber planks injects masses of character into this hemmed-in space – but still in a modern manner. For evening soirees, simply sprinkle with candles and fairy lights and watch the space sparkle to life.
Saturate with colour
Teeny outdoor eating spaces don’t have to be devoid of colour and personality just because they’re small. This funked-up roof terrace has been fashioned from lengths of smooth decking and finished off with glitzy mirrored panels and vivid orange and pink cushions, so you get maximum colour even when the sun isn’t shining. And how about that vibrant glass floor panel for a creative way to add colour underfoot? It’s a great place for a relaxed brunch and, when night falls, transforms into the coolest party hotspot in town…
Teeny outdoor eating spaces don’t have to be devoid of colour and personality just because they’re small. This funked-up roof terrace has been fashioned from lengths of smooth decking and finished off with glitzy mirrored panels and vivid orange and pink cushions, so you get maximum colour even when the sun isn’t shining. And how about that vibrant glass floor panel for a creative way to add colour underfoot? It’s a great place for a relaxed brunch and, when night falls, transforms into the coolest party hotspot in town…
Work in a round table
Round tables create a more sociable atmosphere for nattering and nibbling at the same time, and even a small rooftop terrace or balcony can squeeze in a circular table and a few chairs. Choose roomy seats like these in hardwearing rattan (check they’re weatherproof) if you have the space, or folding metal ones if you’re working with a tiddlier spot. Plump for and a table with a tough and stable glass top, or opt for a colourful metal design with folding legs.
Round tables create a more sociable atmosphere for nattering and nibbling at the same time, and even a small rooftop terrace or balcony can squeeze in a circular table and a few chairs. Choose roomy seats like these in hardwearing rattan (check they’re weatherproof) if you have the space, or folding metal ones if you’re working with a tiddlier spot. Plump for and a table with a tough and stable glass top, or opt for a colourful metal design with folding legs.
Bask in a glow
I love the relaxed tranquillity of this roof terrace for so many reasons. The dusky blue walls offer a magical shifting hue, depending on whether you’re enjoying a sunshine-filled, midday sandwich and coffee or a twilight gathering with friends. Installing a series of wall washers enhances the ambient glow, while the comfy, built-in bench and foldaway table and chairs offer enough seating whatever the occasion.
Soften the look with an expanse of evergreen creepers, and plant lavender for the sweetest scent while you eat.
Discover more relaxed outdoor rooms
I love the relaxed tranquillity of this roof terrace for so many reasons. The dusky blue walls offer a magical shifting hue, depending on whether you’re enjoying a sunshine-filled, midday sandwich and coffee or a twilight gathering with friends. Installing a series of wall washers enhances the ambient glow, while the comfy, built-in bench and foldaway table and chairs offer enough seating whatever the occasion.
Soften the look with an expanse of evergreen creepers, and plant lavender for the sweetest scent while you eat.
Discover more relaxed outdoor rooms
Fake it
When I said tiny eating spots, I wasn’t kidding… This narrow balcony presents the perfect patch for a morning coffee and sweet pastry before the working day gets up and running.
Transform any outdoor area – however small – into a practical, colour-packed space by laying down artificial grass; there are some surprisingly realistic varieties out there these days. No mowing, tending or watering is needed, and you get a strip of hard-wearing emerald green underfoot all year round.
Find out everything you need to know about fake grass
When I said tiny eating spots, I wasn’t kidding… This narrow balcony presents the perfect patch for a morning coffee and sweet pastry before the working day gets up and running.
Transform any outdoor area – however small – into a practical, colour-packed space by laying down artificial grass; there are some surprisingly realistic varieties out there these days. No mowing, tending or watering is needed, and you get a strip of hard-wearing emerald green underfoot all year round.
Find out everything you need to know about fake grass
Dare to decorate
This small courtyard has been treated like an extra room rather than a garden. And why not? It makes for a more flexible, practical space and allows you to continue your interior design flair through to the outside.
The choice of vintage table and chairs is stylishly unaffected and they pair well with the busy Moroccan-style tiles and Perspex stag light for a scene with serious design conviction.
This small courtyard has been treated like an extra room rather than a garden. And why not? It makes for a more flexible, practical space and allows you to continue your interior design flair through to the outside.
The choice of vintage table and chairs is stylishly unaffected and they pair well with the busy Moroccan-style tiles and Perspex stag light for a scene with serious design conviction.
Open up a narrow space
This makes a refreshing change from the usual open-plan layout and proves that not all interiors need to follow a rigid design agenda. Because instead of seamlessly linking the kitchen to an outside eating space, this living room opens on to a sheltered outdoor dining spot with a stylish large table and chairs that would look just as good inside.
In the winter, the living room will still benefit from the pleasing illusion the room is larger than it is, thanks to those huge glass doors.
TELL US…
Have you overhauled your tiny garden to become an outdoor dining spot? Please share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
This makes a refreshing change from the usual open-plan layout and proves that not all interiors need to follow a rigid design agenda. Because instead of seamlessly linking the kitchen to an outside eating space, this living room opens on to a sheltered outdoor dining spot with a stylish large table and chairs that would look just as good inside.
In the winter, the living room will still benefit from the pleasing illusion the room is larger than it is, thanks to those huge glass doors.
TELL US…
Have you overhauled your tiny garden to become an outdoor dining spot? Please share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
Bright white and vibrant green make for the most uplifting colour combination in this cute outdoor suntrap. The modern white table and chairs offer the ideal spot for sharing a bottle of wine or a pot of fresh coffee.
Painting all your garden walls in a fresh, clean white will open up a small space and help to bounce light around.
This neat, manicured look is immensely practical, too, thanks to the faux grass and potted plants.