DIY outdoor entertainment area ideas

Transform a deck or patio into the ultimate outdoor space for entertaining your family or friends. You will find this project budget-friendly and easy to do with basic DIY skills and tools.

Transform a deck or patio into the ultimate outdoor space for entertaining your family or friends.

Multi-purpose outdoor rooms are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners realise the potential of utilising outdoor areas to increase living spaces.

A free-standing structure doesn't require planning permission, but before you start this project, look at what you will need and what you want for your entertainment area.

If you like to entertain, plan for plenty of seating. If you have an active family, think about how the kids might utilise the space. Do you love outdoor cooking and grilling? Think counter space, storage and cookware.

1. If you don't already have a deck in place, or a patio slab, think about the options for flooring your entertainment area. A concrete slab is the most affordable and is virtually maintenance-free, as is composite decking.
   
   
   

   If you like to entertain, plan for plenty of seating. If you have an active family, think about how the kids might utilise the space.

   Here is advice on various  flooring options for your outdoor entertainment area and how to  build a deck in a day.
    
2. PAR pine framing and beams offer support for an IBR sheet metal roof. All wood needs to be properly primed and painted after assembly.
    
3. Canvas or outdoor fabric awnings stretch from the roof to countertop height to provide shade from the hot sun.
   
   When placing your outdoor entertainment area, consider the angle of sunlight during the hours 11:00 to 13:00 to provide plenty of shade. Outdoor fabrics are manufactured to be UV, stain and mould resistant.
    
4. Carefully consider what material you use for the countertops in your entertainment area. Most ready-made countertops don’t weather well and you might want to consider using natural materials, such as stone, granite or slate.
   
   While these might be a bit too pricey for your budget, concrete countertops work out to be affordable if you have the time to make your own. Create shutterply forms and pour concrete.
   You will find tips            here on making your own concrete countertops. There are plenty of fun ways to embellish plain concrete. Press in small stones or stamp on cool designs. For upkeep, simply seal concrete twice a year with concrete sealer.
   
   
   

   Rather than going to the expense of installing full-on plumbing for an outdoor entertainment area, a stainless steel basin drains into a bucket under the countertop. The water is then used for watering plants and lawn.

5. Rather than going to the expense of installing full-on plumbing for an outdoor entertainment area, a stainless steel basin drains into a bucket under the countertop. The water is then used for watering plants and lawn. An outdoor sink is a cinch to install if you simply set up the tap to draw water via a hose pipe connection.
    
6. Make your own PAR pine garden chairs - stain and seal or paint them in your choice of colour. Add comfort with medium density foam covered in outdoor fabric and dressed with colourful cushions.
    
7. Add lighting with ambience with DIY chandeliers made using recycled materials. Have an electrician wire up your outdoor entertainment area and add low-voltage LED lighting.
    
8. Making basic garden chairs

Making a set of basic garden chairs is an easy DIY project that you can tackle in a weekend. Your local Builders Warehouse stocks a wide selection of PAR pine that you can use to design your own garden furniture. 

Follow these instructions for a design that is sturdy, practical, and allows for adding on as many garden chairs as you like:

To make the seat frame, join the front, sides and back to the legs using small blocks of wood. Doing it this way allows you to conceal all visible screws.

Insert a batten or support beam along each side at a depth equal to the thickness of the seat slats, place the seat slats on top of the support and screw in place. The back is a section comprising legs/uprights and slats, which attaches to the seat frame.

Article courtesy of www.homedzine.co.za