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What is outdoor dining?
Outdoor dining is the practice of eating meals in open-air settings, like patios or sidewalk seating outside restaurants, providing a unique and relaxed dining experience amid nature and a different ambiance.
What Are the Benefits of Outdoor Dining
Outdoor dining offers several benefits:
1- Unique Experience: It provides a refreshing change from indoor dining, offering a more relaxed and natural ambiance.
2- Connection with Nature: Diners can enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and a pleasant environment, promoting well-being.
3- Increased Ventilation: Open-air settings reduce the risk of airborne transmission of diseases, such as during pandemics.
4- Social Interaction: Outdoor spaces encourage socializing and people-watching, enhancing the overall dining experience.
5- Expanded Seating: Restaurants can accommodate more guests, increasing revenue potential.
6- Seasonal Appeal: In favorable climates, outdoor dining attracts patrons year-round.
7- Aesthetics: Outdoor setups can add to a restaurant’s appeal and charm, attracting new customers.
Things to Consider Before Starting Your Outdoor Dining Design
Whether you have a large backyard or a small balcony, it can be relaxing to eat outside during the warmer months of the year. Turning your patio into an outdoor dining area is surprisingly easy to do. You want to create an outdoor dining area that is comfortable and stylish at the same time. In this article, we will look at 10 design ideas for outdoor dining to help inspire your outdoor dining area.
Before we look at outdoor dining design ideas, there are a few things you need to consider first.
How many people will be using it?
While you might have extra people sometimes, what is the average number of people that will be using your outdoor dining area? You will want to ensure you have enough space to accommodate them. If your space is large enough, you can create separate dining areas for each occasion, having one for your smaller family gatherings and a bigger dining area for when you are having a larger party. That way, you will only sometimes be sitting at a huge table when it is just two or three people. You can also have fun designing multiple areas by doing this too.
What table shape do you prefer?
Depending on the size and layout of your outdoor dining area, you might have a preference between a round, oval, square, or rectangular for your table. Before you buy a table, make sure that it, plus all of your dining chairs, is going to fit comfortably.
Stylish Design Ideas for Outdoor Dining
Now that we have looked at the things you need to consider, let’s take a look at our favorite design ideas for creating an outdoor dining area.
1. Built in Bench Seating
If you have built in bench seating in your yard already, why not incorporate that into your outdoor dining? You can get a table that looks like it belongs with the bench and some chairs to go with it. If the bench is uncomfortable to sit on, add some cushions and throw pillows to soften it up a little. It is easy to build bench seating into your patio if you want to add it to your outdoor dining area.
2. Gazebo
If you have a gazebo, it can be the perfect place to set up an outdoor dining area. You probably will want a round table to go in the center of the gazebo; then, you can design the rest around it. It will give you shade on hot days, it can help protect your dining space from the wind and rain, and it can offer you some privacy if any neighbors can see your yard from theirs.
3. Outdoor Kitchen Bar
For those who have an outdoor kitchen for summer cookouts, you can add some bar seating around the outdoor kitchen for a more casual dining idea. When you have a larger gathering, you can use the bar space to lay out food for your guests as a buffet. To give your outdoor kitchen and bar space a more unique look, you can install faux stone around it. It is a quick and easy DIY project that will take your outdoor kitchen and bar to the next level.
4. Under Cover
While open-air dining is a good thing, nobody wants to get a sunburn just from eating dinner outside, which is why covered dining is a good idea. You can set up your area under a covered porch, a pergola, or even just build a cover big enough to set up your dining space in. This will let you continue eating outside if it starts to rain, and your dining set will not get ruined in the rain.
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5. Screened-in Porch
If you want to take our last design idea a step further, you can set up a screened-in porch. Not only will you get to enjoy the cover, but you will also have screens to keep bugs out of your dinner. You can even add window panes to the screen, so you can close the windows when the weather is bad. This will also let you put rugs in the dining area and more comfortable chairs since you will not need to worry about the weather ruining anything.
6. Poolside Dining
If you have a pool, poolside dining is a great idea. You can set up a little bar with stools next to it or a full dining table and chairs. It can be great to grab a quick snack before jumping in the pool or having dinner next to the pool after you have been swimming and working up an appetite.
7. Go Green
This design idea is for plant lovers everywhere. You can get some tall potted plants and surround your dining area, making it feel like you are in the middle of a quiet oasis in nature. If you do not have an area that is completely private, this design idea is a great choice since it can give you more privacy.
8. Add Some Color
For those who have a covered dining area, a fun design idea is to paint the walls around it and the ceiling a bright color that stands out. You can also get a colorful table and chairs and any other bright decor. This can make your outdoor dining area stand out and be something fun you and your guests can enjoy. If you only want some color but do not want to make the area too bright, you can paint just the interior ceiling of the dining area so that you can enjoy looking up.
9. Heat up the Table
Did you know that there are outdoor dining tables with a firepit in the center? When you are relaxing in the evening outside after dinner, it can get chilly at night, even in the middle of summer. Instead of moving inside to warm up, why not turn on the firepit table to keep yourselves warm? You can also keep s’mores ingredients on hand to pull out for dessert; if you have guests, it will be a hit.
Another option is to build an outdoor fireplace on your patio that your dining table is near, so you can light it when you need to warm up.
There are other options; for example, you can get a standalone fire pit that is just nearby your dining area or an electric heater. You can get an electric heater that looks like a fireplace, too, and surround it with faux stone to look more like a real fireplace. This will add a touch of elegance to your dining area.
10. Privacy Trellis
For those who only have a small patio or balcony and little privacy, adding a trellis and getting some climbing plants to grow up can create a beautiful backdrop for your outdoor dining experience. This can also be a great divider if you are creating separate spaces in your yard.
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