Every homeowner dreams of having a cozy outdoor dining space to welcome guests and unwind on weekends.
At the same time, outdoor dining has also become the norm since the pandemic due to strict health safety measures. Now, most restaurants and other establishments jumped on the outdoor dining bandwagon.
Many of them had to spend on a long list of requirements to comply with an outdoor dining setup. To prevent outdoor arrangements from looking less attractive than indoor dining, restaurants invested in the best outdoor furniture materials to provide customers with a new brand of the dining experience.
Indeed, outdoor dining has saved countless food establishments from shutting down while allowing their loyal customers to keep enjoying their services despite the restrictions.
Yet, even with most pandemic restrictions lifted, outdoor dining may stay for a long while. It has become a movement, an unconventional way to enjoy normalcy but with some tweaks.
No wonder many households long for a luxurious outdoor space of their own. And yes, it is not impossible to achieve!
Benefits of outdoor dining space at home
It’s a luxury to have an outdoor dining space at home, especially if you live in an apartment or a condominium. However, nowadays, having such a space is one of the most popular home improvement trends.
Of course, you need to fund your home renovation to implement this house design trend. But more than that, keeping your family’s well-being and having everyone stay connected should be the top of mind in building an outdoor living space.
Besides, you can use your outdoor patio for different purposes – as a home office or kitchen extension, a garden room, or a place to have weekend barbecues and other intimate gatherings.
Other reasons why you should have an outdoor dining space at home are the following:
- Promotes overall health, including vision
Spending time outdoors is often associated with health. For one, you get more vitamin D circulating in your body, helping protect the eyes and lower the risk of eye problems such as nearsightedness or myopia, especially among kids. Perhaps it’s because being outdoors gives one a chance to look at things from a distance instead of focusing on them at close-up levels.
- Gets rid of the kitchen smell around your house
Use your outdoor space to cook your family’s favorite dishes without the smell of smoke and other unpleasant odors that typically linger in home kitchens. As such, get-togethers with the family and friends become more enjoyable. Your guests will want to come over to enjoy hot meals and some chit-chat.
- Reduces stress levels
Spending time outdoors also helps reduce stress and boost physical and mental health by keeping muscle tension, heart rate, and blood pressure in check.
- Allows you to be creative
You can design and enhance your outdoor living space in different ways. Build a pool, a small basketball court or playground, a small garden, an outdoor kitchen, an entertainment and dining patio, etc. You can also decide on your outdoor space theme, depending on how you plan to use it.
How to build your own outdoor dining space
To enjoy dining without leaving your house, here are outdoor makeover ideas for your home patio.
Determine the space’s purpose
These questions can help you decide how you are going to set up your outdoor dining space:
- Are you planning to host outdoor movie nights?
- Do you want to use it for sunbathing or lounging in the sun?
- Do you need a grill, a fire table, or a fire pit space?
- If you want to put a dining table, how many people can the space accommodate?
- How many guests do you usually entertain?
- What would you want your outdoor space to look like?
Consider the location
Your outdoor space’s location is important. Whether you’re building an outdoor dining area in your balcony or patio, its location can affect the outcome of your planned outdoor dining space project.
It would be best to work on the available area you have. However, you should also check factors that could make your renovation project a success – or otherwise – such as:
- Shade: There should be enough shade to shield everyone from excess heat.
- Privacy: Your dining space must remain exclusive to your family and guests.
- Insects: The patio should be free from breeding grounds of insects and rodents.
- Wind: Your home’s outdoor dining space must have a good amount of enclosure to protect it from strong winds and rains.
- Nearby eyesores: Well-kept surroundings can render more aesthetics to your outdoor patio.
Select quality materials
An outdoor dining area should have quality flooring to support appliances and furnishings. Choose flooring materials that are durable, weather-resistant, and aesthetic. Home improvement experts recommend pebble stones, bricks, porcelain, stone, or traditional wood.
Your outdoor dining area should be welcoming and spacious. Choose appliances, furniture, and fixtures suitable for outdoor weather while considering the dining space’s layout (L-shaped, U-shaped, or linear-type kitchen).
Don’t forget your lighting system
Lighting can play an important role in setting the mood and atmosphere in your outdoor dining space. Home improvement experts recommend using decorative lamps such as wall lamps and floor lamps to highlight the dining area.
Why go out when you can have an outdoor dining space at home?
The idea of an outdoor dining space is not new anymore. However, it has become increasingly popular since the pandemic. With the given tips, you can create outdoor dining experiences with your family and friends without leaving home.
