When spending time with friends and family in your outdoor space is a high priority, the entertainment factor is HUGE.
Consider some seriously cool options, such as sinks, islands and outdoor refrigerators—even pizza ovens. Depending on where in your yard you'd like your new hangout space to be, add travertine pavers for polish.
Want to host a potluck and try a recipe from your new cookbook, but a built-in outdoor kitchen isn't necessarily in the budget? Pick out items like all-weather kitchen carts for a prep area and opt for propane, charcoal, or wood-burning grills—which come out to be more affordable.
Looking for a weekend project? Build a pergola! It helps define a space without being too confining, so you can still chat with and see all your guests. Add a long picnic table and you have a perfect place to gather with those who matter most.
Don't forget about lighting! Chris Camfferman, Managing Director of Marketing, Universal Forest Products, says adding outdoor lighting continues to be a trendy option. And lighting elements enable homeowners to extend the use of their space well into the evening hours.
"Lighting hits the intersection of design and function in an outdoor space, and can really change how that area is used."
That pergola we mentioned? Consider adding a gorgeous outdoor chandelier and hosting some book club meetings—whether or not you actually read the book this time.
Written by Sarah Suydam, Staff Writer for West Michigan Woman.
