How To Plan Your Outdoor Entertaining Area

April 3, 2019

Landscaping in Auckland is often about utilizing outdoor space for entertaining! If you plan to use your deck or patio for entertaining, follow these guidelines for planning the right size space.

Determine Your Needs

Make a list of all the ways you want to use your outdoor space. This list might include an area for reading and relaxing, for an intimate dinner for four, or for a casual gathering of 20 friends. It may be all of the above and more.

As you list the various uses for the area, indicate which of them are most important to you. Many people have an occasional need for the space to accommodate large groups, but the vast majority of the time need to have enough room for only up to four people. One way to have a larger deck that still feels intimate is to use potted plants to frame part of the space. They can be moved when you need the extra room.

Determine the type and amount of furniture required

Once you know how many people you need to accommodate, you can select the furniture. Typically this includes tables, chairs, and benches. Note anything else you want in the space, such as a BBQ, outdoor heater or a drinks trolley.

If you already have or know the type of furniture you will use, measure all the pieces so you can plan the deck exactly. If you don't know what furniture you will have, you can use the general guidelines offered below.

Figure the amount of deck space you need

The size of your deck is a personal decision, but there are some guidelines that may help you determine the right size for your needs.

If all you want is space for two people to sit with a small table in between, you can get by with a patio as small as 3 metres by 3 metres. Keep in mind that a deck this small may look out of place if it is attached to the house.

For an attached deck, start with 3 metres by 6 metres as a minimum. That will provide enough room for four chairs and a small dining table.

As you map out the exact dimensions of the patio, plan for about 90cm by 90cm per chair. This allows room for the chair and a comfort zone around it. The average garden bench requires about 1.8m by 90cm.

Table sizes vary, but a standard bridge table is 90cm by 90cm. This may be too small for dining; the recommended space for a dining table for four people is 1.2m x 1.2m.

Sketch the general shape, size, and location of the patio onto grid paper, with each grid equaling 10cm. Then cut out pieces of paper to scale to represent chairs, tables, and benches. Move them around on the sketch to make sure you've allowed enough space. Be sure to leave room for people to walk around the furniture.