YEAR-ROUND ENTERTAINING

An Aussie Christmas and Christmas in July… I’m putting two and two together and coming up with outdoor entertaining in winter.

It might get a little cooler over coming months but that doesn’t mean that you need to take the party indoors!

Australians spend quite a bit of time and money on creating wonderful outdoor entertaining spaces, so why only use them for half the year? Your outdoor area becomes an extension of your home in the warmer months, so why not carry that idea on through winter?

Entertaining your friends and family outdoors during winter can be quite cosy if you know how to make things comfortable.

Follow The Sun

A bit obvious perhaps? If you can create multiple areas, you may be fortunate enough to entertain at any part of the day on decks, courtyards, patios and in garden spaces.

Weatherproofing

Nothing puts a dampener on a party quite like getting caught in the rain. While you can go down the DIY path with a simple tarpaulin setup, I’d prefer something permanent that looks an intended and welldesigned part of the home.

Outdoor Blinds

There are so many different types and styles available, there is bound to be the right solution for keeping cold winds at bay at your place. Thanks to creative ideas and home automation, motorised external screens and opening roof systems are options.

Ambient Lighting

Low level lighting is a popular choice whether hard-wired or through outdoor floor lanterns, strings of fairy lights, tea candles in jars and citronella lamps. A combination of different light sources can really set the scene. Fire braziers and pits also provide light. With smart lighting, you can control your lights from your smartphone to suit the occasion.

The Fire Pit

Back in 2017, a landscape trend study was already showing that fire pits were one of the top five outdoor living updates that Australians were making to their homes.

You can build your own, buy a kit from a hardware store or have a custom fire pit designed and built. Fire pits come in all shapes and sizes, from copper, stainless steel and cast-iron bowls to fire tables, chimney style options and gas fuelled units. Whichever option you choose, make sure you check your local council’s regulations regarding open fires.

They each have different requirements, and some won’t allow you to have a fire in your backyard at all.

Other Warming Ways

For more direct heating, outdoor heaters come in a variety of styles and types, whether gas or electric. Integrated heating installed above the entertaining space works well, is subtle and space-saving.

There’s nothing wrong with having beautiful throw rugs and cuddly blankets on hand.

ALL-WEATHER COOKING

The outdoor kitchen and built-in gas barbecue are now commonplace but if you don’t have this, at least make sure the barbecue and the cook are protected against the wind and rain. A gas-fired pizza oven may get you extra cred with friends and family!

Outdoor Furniture

Timber furniture, using appropriate wood to withstand your weather conditions; man-made wicker, which is eco-friendly and lasts longer than traditional wicker; and anodised powder coated aluminium, which has a high resistance to salt and humidity, are my top three. Others are concrete and the right grade of plastic furniture. Whichever you choose, seating must be comfortable, which is why outdoor upholstered furniture is hugely popular – both for comfort and style.

Outdoor Rugs

These are another thing to hit the market in a big way in recent years. They not only add warmth underfoot, but they can also add style and make a statement.

A neglected outdoor space collecting dust and leaves during winter season isn’t a good look. With the right design and styling, outdoor spaces can have wonderful appeal all year round.

If you think the cooler months can be a great time for outdoor gatherings, there’s a good chance you will host Christmas in July this year.

‘Traditionally’, it is celebrated on July 25 or the closest weekend to that date. While there is a history to Christmas in July – and no, it’s not just a marketing ploy – it does deliver the chance to enjoy all the trimmings of a traditional Northern Hemisphere winter Christmas in the coolness of our own winter.

Bring out the decorations, embrace the Christmas cheer and savour the turkey and other roast meats, the steamed plum pudding and the hot mulled cider.