Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Create An Outdoor Dining Area

Summer is here and it's time to enjoy the great outdoors. Sitting outside in your own outdoor dining area is not only relaxing, but also a great way to meet new people by inviting them into your home. With a few simple tables, chairs and plants, you can turn your lawn into a cozy outdoor dining area.


Instructions


1. Decide exactly what you want to put into your outdoor dining area. These decisions need to be thought out first so that you know exactly how much space you will need to complete your project.


2. Look in your yard and decide where you want to place your outdoor dining area. Be sure to choose an area that is near a wall of your home to make the building process easier. Decide what area would be most suitable for sitting outside and relaxing. Focus on a section of your yard that does not receive too much wind or sunlight. Also, remember that privacy and noise level are often a concern, so choose a section of your yard that you feel gives you the most privacy.


3. Use an exterior wall of your house as one of the sides of the outdoor dining area. Since the wall is already in place, it is one less structure you will need to build, saving you both time and money.


4. Create an "adjacent wall" from the exterior wall. While you can build a fence to do this, it may be far more natural to plant a hedge. You can do this with sunflowers since they grow tall and can form a wall all on their own. Or, if you prefer to have a shorter hedge, you can plant hydrangeas or classic boxwood. The boxwood takes a few years to fully mature, but in the end it will look beautiful.


5. Put out a table and chairs now that the actual "walls" are set up for your outdoor dining area. Be sure to choose furniture that is weather-resistant and durable as they will see a good deal of wear and tear. Place the furniture outside so that your family and other guests will be able to eat and relax comfortably.


6. Consider the inevitable outdoor pests. These pests can dampen any outdoor dining experience, but are manageable with the right tools. Use citronella-scented candles or oil lanterns to help keep mosquitoes away. Also, use food covers so that ants and flies won't be sitting on the food you are about to serve. Now it's time to just sit back, relax and enjoy your new outdoor dining area.

Tags: dining area, outdoor dining, your outdoor, your outdoor dining, outdoor dining area