![\"Santorini](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/1-George-at-Asda-b21fffe.jpg\" "\\"Santorini")
<\/p>\nNow that summer is finally just around the corner, it\u2019s time to start thinking about guests in your garden. No matter what size your outside space is, there are plenty of options for relaxed seating, formal dining, lounging or just coffee and a catch-up. The key is to consider your space as an outdoor living room, with functional furniture as well as all the finishing touches needed to add atmosphere and personality. From texture to tablescaping, it\u2019s all about giving family and friends that full outdoor entertaining experience. Here\u2019s how to get the look\u2026<\/p>\n
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Use different areas within your garden to create outdoor \u2018rooms\u2019 where you can relax, cook, eat and entertain. Start your zoning with the big-ticket items \u2013 furniture, including sofas, table and chairs, modular outdoor kitchens and so on \u2013 then add the finishing touches with outdoor rugs, cushions, lighting and tableware. Having defined spaces helps keep alfresco cooking safe out of harm\u2019s way and allows you to position seating areas in the shade.<\/p>\n
![\"Blue](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/4-George-at-Asda-a3e8a2b.jpg\" "\\"Blue")
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Make your outdoor table look as inviting as possible with a relaxed yet refined Mediterranean feel. Layers are key to creating an easy, breezy warmth inspired by coastal living and lazy summer days, enjoying great food and company with family or friends. Think soft blues, gentle greens and zesty lemon tones mixed with warm browns and natural textures. Striped tablecloths, ceramics and glassware never go out of style, and you can add jugs of fresh juice, platters for artisan meats and cheeses and huge bowls for salads and crusty bread.<\/p>\n
![\"Farmhouse](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/2-John-Lewis-Partners-1a917aa.jpg\" "\\"Farmhouse")
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Having different styles of seating is great for making sure all your guests are comfortable. Armchairs with padded cushions are ideal for good back support, while benches can fit a lot of bods on and are perfect for children. Look for weather-resistant fabrics when choosing outdoor cushions or seat pads, and if you like to store your garden furniture in the shed or garage come autumn\/winter, choose space-saving foldable designs.<\/p>\n
![\"Grenada](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/3-Barker-and-Stonehouse-d9829c4.jpg\" "\\"Grenada")
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Being able to cook outside allows you to chat with your guests without being stuck in the kitchen and missing out on all the fun. You can create a DIY set-up with a BBQ and some sort of storage and serving station nearby, but a proper outdoor kitchen is much more practical and really elevates your hosting to another level. Wooden units have plenty of character and complement all patios and landscaping, while ceramic work surfaces are UV-, scratch-, stain- and extreme-temperature-resistant, perfect for British summers.<\/p>\n
![\"Seaton](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/5-Lights-4-Fun-d1e65a0.jpg\" "\\"Seaton")
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Give your garden plenty of atmosphere after dark with layers of outdoor lighting. Whether you\u2019re hosting a family barbecue, a special occasion with friends or an intimate evening meal, use different styles and heights of lighting to add interest. Candles, wreaths, festoon strings, lanterns and solar lights will all enhance your garden space and make guests want to linger long after the sun goes down.<\/p>\n
![\"Cosma](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/6-Cox-Cox-f74f243.jpg\" "\\"Cosma")
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It can feel overwhelming sometimes when you\u2019re planning a summer get-together, but just remember: it\u2019s all about personality, not perfection. Your guests are coming to spend time with you, so don\u2019t worry about whether the linen napkins are perfectly pressed. Instead, add lots of accessories that will make your life easier and save you from dashing back inside for extra glasses, a blanket or a cushion. Let everyone help themselves to drinks by supplying a big trug or bucket full of ice and bottles, stack glasses, have a pot of cutlery at the ready and add a few serving trays, then relax and enjoy!<\/p>\n
![\"Wooden](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/7-Habitat-f774589.jpg\" "\\"Wooden")
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Use whatever features your garden has to your advantage. This means setting your seating and\/or dining area in a naturally shady spot. Of course, a parasol also helps, but use trees and hedges as nature intended and seek out shade for a safer and more relaxing occasion.<\/p>\n
![\"HAY](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/8-Holloways-of-Ludlow-9ba805a.jpg\" "\\"HAY")
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You don\u2019t need to splash out on a whole new kit for your garden hosting, and if budget is tight, look for accessories that you can use inside the home, too. You can\u2019t go wrong with a simple cushion and quilt, perfect for chilly evenings outdoors and cosy nights in.<\/p>\n
![\"Widford](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/9a-Garden-Trading-d0eb574.jpg\" "\\"Widford")
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Utilise every corner to make sure you get the most out of your garden when it comes to hosting. Whether it\u2019s a small terrace, a spot of decking, a patio or a patch of lawn, simply add a table and some chairs or stools, and off you go!<\/p>\n
Now that summer is finally just around the corner, it\u2019s time to start thinking about guests in your garden. No matter what size your outside space is, there are plenty of options for relaxed seating, formal dining, lounging or just…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1195,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1194"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1194\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tadoley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}