My crocuses are out in force and there is a feeling of spring in the air. I am excited about gathering together friends and family again for alfresco dining and casual garden parties.
If you are planning on some outdoor entertaining for Easter then the patio is going to come into its own. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be putting dates in the diary and using these five steps to get my patio ready for guests and garden parties.
1) Clean & declutter
It’s time to rake up the soggy leaves and windswept debris and pop it all on the compost heap. Use a pressure washer, or some soapy water and a scrubbing brush, to give the patio a good clean – you’ll definitely want to avoid it being slippery with lichen. Get rid of broken plant pots (perhaps save them for crocks for some spring planting) and prune overgrown branches. You want to open up a bit of a space and light. Perhaps even take the time now to add some outdoor fairy lights, or mason jars for candles.
2) Spruce up the outdoor furniture
Bring the outdoor furniture out, or uncover it, and give it a good clean. Wooden furniture might need some wood oil to reseal it; and check for mildew on any fabrics. Armadillo Sun fabric is guaranteed against rot and mould for five years and will only need a quick wipe with a cloth and mild detergent. If you have different households meeting up, you’ll want to maintain sensible distances between people, so make sure you have enough separate seating. A soft outdoor coffee table acts as a handy extra stool if you are short – or invest in a modular garden sofa. Each sofa chair functions wonderfully as an individual seat which is easily moved and positioned to follow the sunshine round your garden. Come the summer and garden party season you can connect them all together for an inviting garden sofa and the ultimate in laidback style. Add a bean bag lounger or two and you’ll have everyone covered with room to spare. Accessorise with waterproof cushions to add to the ambience.
3) Keep warm & dry (ish!)
It’s Easter time: we can’t count on warm dry weather (which is why I designed all our outdoor furniture to be properly weatherproof). You might consider a patio heater, or even a gazebo with open sides to provide some refuge - or just the patio sun umbrella doubling up against a downpour. Make sure everyone has a cosy throw or blanket to snuggle under, perhaps a hot water bottle, and embrace the chill. If you want to take it up a notch, then this absolutely beautiful fire pit offers both form and function, and will keep you toasty warm.
4) Feed the cold with LOTS of food
An outdoor pizza oven, with everyone creating their own, would keep you warm whilst creating the most scrumptious snacks . Or dust off the BBQ and make this the first one of the year! Alternatively, cook up a huge stew to serve outside in mugs.
5) Indulge in a patio feature
If you’ve been lusting over a chiminea or a striking fire pit, this is the time to go for it! Perhaps an outdoor rug to recreate the inside outside? Alternatively go wild in the garden centre for pots and foliage and colourful spring blooms. If you’d prefer something more long-lasting, consider a luxury cushioned sun lounger or the garden sofa you’ve been dreaming of.
How are you getting ready for spring? Are you planning get-togethers in your garden? Let me know in the comments below or on Instagram and Facebook.
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