Five Outdoor Entertainment Upgrades for your Wellington Backyard

Investing in an outdoor entertainment area is a fantastic option if you’re looking to elevate your home and lifestyle. It increases your living space, provides the perfect place for entertaining family and friends, and gets you outdoors enjoying the backyard. But beyond the standard deck or patio, how can you upgrade your outdoor living space to make it something special?

Zones Wellington have 5 top tips to jazz up your outdoor living, from clever outdoor seating area designs to festoon lights that add a touch of magic. (And yes, we’ve taken the wind into account!) Check out our 5 step structured process to build your outdoor entertainment area! Read on for inspiration or book a free consultation with your local Zones landscaping expert.

Take a seat!

Every outdoor entertainment space needs a great outdoor seating area. If outdoor room allows, then plan for both a dining table set as well as another seating area for relaxing or enjoying the sun. While you can purchase outdoor furniture sets, chat to your landscaping consultant about including some unique outdoor seating area ideas. Sunken patios, built-in bench seating, seating around fire pits, or even extra wide deck steps that can double as seating for big gatherings are all great options that add individuality to your design. A hammock or hanging egg chair could soon become your favourite spot!

Go under cover

If you want to take your outdoor entertaining to the next level, invest in shade and shelter. A pergola offers style, shade, and personality, while adjustable louvre roofing allows you to use your outdoor living area all year round. Louvre roofing also helps your outdoor area feel connected to your home so it’s great if you are looking for indoor outdoor flow ideas.

Zones are Wellington specialists when it comes to pergola and louvre roofing installation, so chat to your consultant about incorporating these into your outdoor entertainment area design. There are options galore, from traditional timber to modern aluminium, as well as alternatives such as shade sails which can be cost effective. Book your free outdoor entertainment area consultation with Zones today!

Get cosy with outdoor heating solutions

Sitting outside is not much fun when you’re shivering! Beat the Wellington wind chill by including cosy heating as part of your outdoor seating area design. The range of options includes gas patio heating, electric heaters, outdoor fireplaces, and infrared ceramic and halogen heaters to provide targeted heating in your outdoor space when the mercury starts to drop.

Outdoor fireplaces bring with them style and ambience and can be a focal point in your outdoor décor. Firepits and fire bowls also add a fun element to your outdoor living space, although sometimes these features can be more about aesthetics than heating capabilities. Your Consultant will have plenty of advice to offer and can help you choose the option best suited to your individual space. (For those who really want to turn up the heat, invest in an outdoor kitchen!)

Light it up!

Bring sparkle to your outdoor space with ambient lighting. From fun fairy and festoon lights to sustainable LED solar lights, there are plenty of choices for your outdoor lighting needs. Lighting can be ambient (think exterior festoon lights) or practical (such as solar pathway lighting or spotlights on stairs), so plan how best to light up the use of your space.

Outdoor LED lighting and solar are low-energy, sustainable options which appeal to many and are generally easy to install, especially if you are simply adding to an existing area. If you’re starting from scratch, you could consider a more detailed outdoor lighting design plan including up lights for trees, rope lights along walkways or stepped areas, stair lights and backlighting, all great visual tools for sculptural shapes and architectural lines. 

Beat the Wellington wind with strategic outdoor plantings

We all know the Wellington wind can be a challenge, so get strategic with your planting and planning to help protect your outdoor living area from wild weather with a garden windbreak.  Strategic planting of trees, shrubs, and other plants can reduce wind speed, soil erosion, and noise, and can look great, too. If you have been wondering how to plant trees for a garden windbreak, talk to your local Landscaping Consultant for advice and information specific to your property location. They work with expert landscapers who can provide a windbreak planting guide that will work for you. 

Kickstart your outdoor entertainment area upgrade today!

If you’re ready to transform your outdoor entertainment area and garden décor, then get in touch with your local Zones Consultant for a free, one hour consultation. They’re full of great ideas and friendly advice, so don’t wait! Kickstart your backyard makeover today.