How To Create An Outdoor Dining Area on a Budget!

If there’s one thing that can be said for British weather is that it’s, well, unpredictable at the best of times. One minute you can be enjoying a sunny spell and the next you’ll be interrupted by a rather annoying rain shower. Never ideal when you’re trying to tuck into your burger and salad. Whilst you can’t change the weather, you can prepare for it! Invest in a solid, weatherproof roofing system that will not only keep you dry but help you to create a cosy defined area to eat, drink and entertain in. At ONDULINE our roofing is ideal for outdoor dining areas, our Classic roofing sheets are easy to install, require no specialist tools and come with a 15-year guarantee...

For many of us, the garden is a second thought when it comes to furniture and accessories. Create a cosy dining area that wouldn’t look out of place inside your home and carry your interior theme through to your outside. If your home is bohemian with plenty of neutrals, bring this outside with rattan furniture, an outdoor mirror, throws and comfy cushions. This will add a touch of luxury to your outdoor space and also create a more homely feel.

Ample storage is key for your garden otherwise it can end up looking a bit like your own personal scrapyard. We’re all guilty of temporarily putting something outside with the intention of heading to the recycling centre only for it to still be there...three years later. Storage will help you to hide your garden sins and store away the bikes, furniture, the lawnmower and all that stuff you no longer want in the house but can’t commit to throwing away just yet. Storage that also doubles up, for example, as a bench is ideal for smaller gardens where space might be limited. You can also use this to store your outdoor rugs and cushions over the winter too! Want to get handy and make your own storage? Again, our roofing is perfect for projects such as this thanks to its weatherproof properties and durability. So why not get handy with one of our roofing kits?

It’s all about the vibe and creating an intimate feel is much easier and cheaper than you might think. Lighting is a great way to add ambience, especially for those balmy summer evenings when the sun goes down. String fairy lights and solar-powered lights are relatively inexpensive but can really elevate your outdoor dining area, creating a cosy snug that everyone will enjoy spending time in.

When it comes to flooring you want something that’s practical and able to support your furniture. Decking looks great but might not be best if you have little ones as it can get a bit slippery especially when it rains - unless of course, you have created a sheltered area with a fixed roof. If you’re on a budget there are ways you can give your existing patio slabs a fresh new lease of life. Stencils are becoming really popular and essentially give you that patterned tile look for a fraction of the price. It does require a bit of manual labour but they’re easy to use and you can spray on different patterns, again, helping to define your outdoor seating area. If spraying your patio slabs sounds like torture then there is the lazy yet genius route of throwing a pretty patterned outdoor rug on the floor and saying voila!

It’s definitely worth testing out new garden furniture before biting the bullet because it can be quite expensive when you start looking at buying table and chair sets. You don’t want to end up with something that’s going to give you backache after one hour of sitting. Extra cushions and snuggly throws can also help to boost the comfort levels. Garden bistro sets can also look cute but if you want to spend the evening wining and dining, will that metal chair really provide the comfort you need? We aren’t convinced. A dab hand with a paintbrush? You could even upcycle any discarded, no-longer required dining room furniture and give it a new look for the garden.

Once dinner is finished you may want to settle down to an evening of storytelling and red wine - why not create a cosy ‘around the campfire’ feel by introducing a fire pit? Budget-friendly, it will also definitely keep you warm, look nice and you can toast marshmallows on it too, need we say more?