7 tips to make your garden ready for all kinds of activities: from hosting a dinner to relaxation

Long summer days, delicious food and good times with loved ones – who could ask for more? Maybe a bit of help with patio planning, right? On this page, we break down the most common activities and what to consider when setting up each zone. So, relax and follow our guide – your new outdoor space for entertaining is just around the corner.

A patio with light brown stained outdoor NÄMMARÖ lounge seating and a seat section for a modular sofa doubling as a table.

1. Lay a floor

Weather-resistant RUNNEN floor decking is a quick and versatile way to create outdoor flooring in an instant. Simply click the pieces together and you’re ready.

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Dark grey RUNNEN floor decking with a LÄCKÖ chair with armrests.

A patio with a VÄSMAN extendable table surrounded by TALLSKÄR chairs with armrests, and a LÄNSPORT portable LED light on it.

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2. Set up a dining area for two - or twenty

Make your outdoor space your favourite place to have dinner. Not sure how to build an outdoor entertainment area? Here are a few helpful tips.

The key to creating an outdoor space with a coordinated look is to choose furniture from a series with many designs in the same style and materials. No matter how you combine them, they will always look good together.
When hosting big family dinners, flexible furniture that can be moved around makes life easier. Two smaller tables rather than one large, plus a mix of chairs, benches, and a children’s picnic table, let you create the perfect setup every time.
Do you enjoy having coffee in the morning sun? Or are you more of a sunset person? Before deciding the layout of your outdoor space, make a list of your family’s activities and the sun and shade patterns on your patio throughout the day.
If you prioritise easy serving and cleaning, it might be a good idea to set up the outdoor dining area close to the barbeque or your indoor kitchen.

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A patio dining area with light brown stained NÄMMARÖ outdoor furniture: a table, two chairs and a bench prepped for lunch.

A potted plant on a VÄSMAN extendable outdoor table surrounded by anthracite TALLSKÄR outdoor chairs with armrests.

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3. Put up a gazebo

The GUNNÖN gazebo has a small-scale, lean-to design for extra versatility in any space. By combining two of them, you can create a larger pitched roof, or attach one to the side of a house for a small space solution.

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4. Add more atmoshphere with outdoor LED lamps

Discover outdoor lamps, from battery-operated to solar-powered. Solar lamps charge through the daytime and light up automatically when evening falls, creating the right mood for your outdoor space.

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A patio dining area at dusk with three lit SOLVINDEN pendant lamps over a NÄMMARÖ outdoor table with LED candles and chairs.

A lit in/outdoor ÄDELLÖVSKOG LED block candle and a battery-operated table lamp on a light grey saucer on a wooden table.

Four globe-shaped SOLVINDEN pendant lamps with white shades glow warmly as they hang from a balcony ceiling, above greenery.

A patio dining area with a plant, a light brown stained NÄMMARÖ outdoor foldable stool and bench with two floor lamps on top.

An outdoor/battery-operated black UTSUND LED lighting chain with 12 lights

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5. Outdoor storage solutions for your outdoors

If you’re planning a dinner party with friends, a shelving unit that doubles as a food, drink, and prep station will make entertaining a breeze. Stock it with oils, vinegar, napkins, and serveware one day ahead, and add bread, finger food, and antipasti right before everyone arrives. When you make it easy for guests to help set the table or find what they need, it creates a relaxed and spontaneous atmosphere – and frees up more time for you to have fun.

A light brown stained NÄMMARÖ outdoor shelving unit on a patio. It stores dinnerware, napkins, oil bottles and seat cushions.

A balcony wall with two dark blue SUNDSÖ cabinets with plants, glasses, and an off-white TAGGÖGA vacuum flask on top.

Tableware that makes entertaining easy

Summer is calling, and it’s time to gear up with the essentials when having guests over – chic, durable pieces that add flair to your patio parties.

6. Add an outdoor rug for more comfort and soft feet

Add a rug and some decorative cushions to your outdoors, and you have a perfect spot for exercising, doing some yoga, or simply relaxing.

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A beige MORUM outdoor rug in the garden with a light grey-beige SVALÖN parasol hanging above a REVSKÄR garden lounge set.

A NÄMMARÖ 3-seat modular outdoor corner sofa in solid acacia seen from above on a patio with grey-beige KUDDARNA cushions and a LYDERSHOLM outdoor rug on the floor. vertaal

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7. Create a spot for chatting and co-cooking

Plan for a generous outdoor kitchen with a grill, a food prep area, and plenty of storage. Guests love to chat and give a hand, so why not add a bar desk with stools to the layout? Self-serve summer drinks and a decorating rod draped with a string of cute LED fairy lights are all you need to create a bubbly party vibe.

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