A highlight of warm summers is the joy of hosting family or friends outside – whether it’s for cocktail hour, a mouth-watering barbecue or a scrumptious weekend brunch.

Creating a cohesive outdoor entertainment space that you want to spend time in makes hosting a breeze and boosts your enjoyment of the place.

While neighbours may be impressed by a picture-perfect environment, it’s also key to creating a functional and comfortable space you’ll actually want to use.

Here are some tips to make that happen and tie together your décor in an appealing way:

Use what you already have, for starters

A great place to find inspiration is in your existing outside space. Are you dealing with a large patio, or cramped balcony? Are there features of the space that will always be present, like a ravine, ancient tree, tons of sun exposure, or a swimming pool? What do you love about your current deck or yard? Is there underused square-footage like a front porch or side space that could expand your entertaining options? What about your space gives you trouble when you host now, and what would you most like to improve?

Answering questions like these will give you some inspiration and help you set parameters and goals for sprucing up your space.

Define zones to create flow

Tie together your overall space by defining rooms within it, such as a play zone for kids or pets, a lounging or seating area, and a bar or outdoor kitchen.

Creating several zones helps draw the eye through the space and gives it a certain reassuring order – making it seem more organized and put together than what can seem like a haphazard layout, or an uninspiring single ring of chairs set for a party. With some forethought, your guests won’t be milling about awkwardly at the barbecue, rather, they’ll be able to sit at the bar and chat while you cook or be compelled to join the seating areas for other pleasant conversation.

Bring the inside out with the right accessories

To create a warm and comfortable space that’s also functional, you’ll want to choose accessories with care. Take inspiration from inside your home when choosing the right pieces and think about your exterior space as an extension of your indoor design.

Bring out a familiar colour or material to act as a common thread pulling together your indoor and outdoor décor. Adding a rug, throw cushions or billowy curtains can help create a cozy and luxurious outdoor living room. Fortunately, most home décor stores now carry stylish, weather-resistant rugs and other accessories made for outdoor use.

If you have a barn board or stone veneer feature wall inside, incorporate the same material into your outdoor space. You’ll create an overall cohesive design that draws on elements you already love.

Engage with the elements to find balance

Just as you pull from the indoors to make your outdoor entertainment area more livable, grab from nature as well to further blur the transition from inside to out. Materials that look like rattan, linen or stone help create a rich and peaceful atmosphere when used carefully throughout the space – just be sure they are durable enough to live outside.

Incorporate elements of earth, air, fire and water for the ultimate balance – try adding a simple water feature, a fireplace or another featured stonework piece, and always add a variety of plants.

Fusion Stone’s patented mechanically fastened stone veneer system is an easy way to incorporate natural elements into your design and to link your indoor and outdoor space. It’s DIY-friendly installation means you could anchor your seating area with an outdoor fire feature that uses the same stone profile as your indoor fireplace, or echo the stone front of your home on the backyard outdoor kitchen.

Other practical tips for the ideal outdoor entertaining area

Gone are the days of hard plastic chairs. You want to enjoy your time spent outdoors, so be sure to make things comfortable. Durable water-resistant cushions can make a major difference.

Whether it’s a slat wood screen, greenery, curtains or a stone wall, there are stylish ways to ensure that you and your guests have some privacy and aren’t always on display.

Everyone’s tolerance for sun exposure is different. From a classic umbrella, a sail shade or covered patio, there countless options to keep sun and rain at a safe distance for everyone.

Light up the night

Light fixtures are crucial to keep your evening going as nighttime falls. Use one or two styles of lighting, whether it’s fairy lights or torches to add a warm glow and feeling of consistency to even the most disjointed area.

Think about adding a portable heater, fire pit or basket of blankets to your entertainment zone to get the most use out of your space as the seasons change.

To learn more about how you can use Fusion Stone to help pull together your space, check out the style options and how-to guides.