Home Garden & Home Summer Creating the perfect alfresco dining space

Creating the perfect alfresco dining space

In recent years, outdoor dining has become a big hit, with more of us appreciating the value of open-air socialising. Beautiful garden dining accessories, stunning lighting features and alternative ways of cooking have provided a new lease of life for alfresco entertaining. Spring is the ideal time to get your garden ready for the warmer months ahead, so here we look at how you can prepare to wow your family and friends with an amazing outdoor dining experience!

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Flame to please

Whether you’re toasting marshmallows at the end of an evening or huddling together on those chillier nights, firepits are no longer just an exciting extra on a camping trip. Long-lasting and durable with innovative design, firepits are a stylish source of heat and light for your evenings and can also act as the ideal barbecue for the garden or patio.

Firepits UK

Handcrafted in Wales using untreated British steel, Firepits UK’s The Plain Jane with Swing Arm BBQ Rack is practical and functional, perfect for both the ember gazers and chefs amongst us. Effective in performance, this modern twist on an old classic allows you to enjoy the light, warmth and atmosphere late into the evening. Firepits UK also offer the Classic firepit in a range of sizes, as well as the attractive Tripod Cooking Rack with Grill.

Discover more firepits here.

Statement accessories

Creating a stunning outdoor dining area doesn’t just mean the furniture in your garden. Help your vision come to life through striking and modern accessories that will keep your outdoor space up-to-date and fashionable.

Our 4 must haves for alfresco dining:

1. Jumbo Alfresco Outdoor Rugs – Alexandra and Delphi 150 x 210cm

Beautiful and prominent designs that draw your eye down, keeping your dining space relaxed and intriguing underfoot.

2. Small Citronella Dish

Keep those bugs at bay with the large flame and cosy radiance that this simple solution provides.

3. Stonegate Outdoor Clock

Made with authentic and natural materials, this accessory is key to constructing a homely feel to your outdoor space whilst still being functional.

4. JTS Scatter Cushions

UK-made and fantastic quality scatter cushions, providing pops of vibrant colour that won’t break the bank.

Alfresco dining with a difference

The introduction of a sleek and stylish barbecue will almost certainly impress your guests as you wow them with your cooking skills. Exclusive to Hillier, the Grillstream Apex range of Gas BBQs are state of the art hybrid systems with the option to cook on gas, charcoal or both! For outdoor cooking packed with flavour, Traeger offers a premium range of top-quality wood pellet grills, allowing you to get delicious results every time. For something a little unexpected, Ooni pizza ovens (available as traditional wood-fired or modern gas-powered) will inspire your guests’ palettes with true Italian flair through great Finnish design.

Find your next BBQ here.

Comfort for your guests

Providing comfortable and sleek furniture in the garden is paramount to a great outdoor entertaining experience. To ensure you have the right furniture set for your needs, consider the area you have to work with. How you will be using your space and what would suit your garden best? For a practical and intimate offering for two like the Blenheim Recliner Set is ideal. A luxury, all-weather durable option for multiple guests, the Palma Mini Corner Dining Set with Firepit will work brilliantly. The Milano 4 Seat Firepit Set or the Sussex 6 Seat Dining Set is great for a larger social occasion. Looking for a touch of decadence? The Padstow Double Cocoon brings a focal point of glamour to your space. It is a fantastic spot to snuggle up long into the evening.

Discover the Hillier furniture selection here.

The only way is up for alfresco dining

It’s important when creating a comfortable outdoor dining area that you are aware of the positioning of any shade you may require – the last thing you need is your guests dodging any unwanted sun. A great solution to this is the Pansol Pagoda that combines both parasol and pagoda. Featuring durable frames and a unique, fully collapsible UV50+ canopy, allowing a quick open or close at a moments notice.

Light Entertainment

Spice up your garden with our selection of feature illuminations:

Firefly String Lights

Subtle elegant LED bulbs that can be used to wrap around trees or shrubs to add pops of colour.

Find out more here.

Festoon Lights

Traditional and understated you can’t go wrong.

Compact Flaming Torch

A stylish addition that mimics the flicker of a real flame, with integrated LEDs.

Find out more here.

Granite Rock Spotlight

A functional, bright solution that will blend in during the day and light up borders and paths in the evening.

Find out more here.

SpiraLight String Lights

A decorative spiral of LEDs on a string wire draws the eye in the evening.

Find out more here.

Want to know the best way to hang your outdoor lights? Find all the information you need here.

Garden Furniture FAQs

Can you put garden furniture on real grass?

You can position garden furniture on real grass, but this does encounter some issues. If the furniture is left in one place, the sunlight will not reach the grass underneath, and this will cause it to die, leaving your lawn patchy.

Can you put garden furniture on artificial grass?

Garden furniture, when placed on artificial grass, can have the appearance that it’s floating, and it works better if placed on a patio. Depending on the UV rating of your artificial grass, if you cover the same area over a long period, you could end up with a patch.

What furniture can I place on my grass?

Garden benches work well on grass areas and are a great source of seating to enjoy the fragrance and colours of your garden.