Turn Your Alfresco Space Into the Ultimate Entertaining Area

Bring the Outdoors In

As Australians, we are increasingly drawn to the outdoors – with our style and living habits.  It’s no wonder the alfresco has become the ultimate centrepiece to the Australian lifestyle, and never has it been more important that in today’s world. With this in mind, it’s important to establish a connection between inside and outside as it can help tie your home together. 

A well-designed alfresco area can enhance your interior and vice versa. It’s worth orientating your space to look great from your indoor living, kitchen and family areas. You should aim to create a cohesive space through this entire area, so select furniture and fixed materials for outside that complement your indoor decor too.

Pro-tip: think about how the space will be viewed from different vantage points in your home. To do this, imagine your guests moving around the area; what would you like them to see or not see?

Key Design Schemes

What design elements will help the alfresco connect to the rest of your home? Colours, textures and design schemes are a great place to start.

Consider, for example, tying the alfresco to the kitchen, perhaps in the form of large, sliding glass doors (it also makes entertaining easy!) You could also look at using complimentary tiles for the inside and outside, as they can create a natural flow. Alternatively, if you have floorboards inside, outside decking can help to create a visual connection.

It’s also worth thinking about the exterior of your home, and what it means for the design of your outdoor space. Would a brick or render finish be the best complement – or could they work together? And what about a ceiling? For this, timber and V joint panels are both elegant design touches.

Think about Functionality

An alfresco space needs to be as functional as it is appealing, so consider your outdoor space and how you'd like to use it. 

Is your outdoor setting for relaxing solo or are you one to throw regular dinner parties? Maybe you quite like entertaining outdoors, which means an outdoor dining set would work best. If this is the case then you’re going to want to place your dining set close enough to the doors to reach the kitchen, or like most alfresco spaces, invest in a barbecue. 

Add ‘Wow Factor’

What part of your alfresco will you be most proud of? For your own personal sanctuary, what is something that will always help you feel relaxed? Apart from a delicious meal, how will you use your space, and what do you want your guests to remember?

Adding a standout feature piece to your alfresco can leave a lasting impression. For example, imagine a grand outdoor fireplace with nearby loungers, allowing you and your guests to unwind with cheese and wine after lunch.