How to Create the Perfect Subtropical Outdoor Entertainment Area [Dec 2023 Update]

There’s nothing quite like the simple pleasure of kicking back on your patio with friends and family to enjoy a meal or a cold beer. A great outdoor entertainment area can really enrich your day-to-day life. Particularly in a city like Brisbane where we are blessed to have great weather year-round.

But creating the perfect outdoor entertainment area doesn’t come by accident – it takes expert design knowledge, an understanding of climate control, and a keen architectural eye.

Here at dion seminara architecture, we have been lucky enough to help bring many of our clients’ dream outdoor entertainment areas to life. So we have certainly learnt a thing or two over the years.

In this article we share some of our best advice to help you build your ultimate alfresco space.

Indooroopilly Outdoor Entertainment Area: The result has been stunning with the clients delighted with the transformation. Greater internal living space and a new indoor/outdoor dining space now makes the home feel connected with the exterior areas of the property. 

How To Create The Perfect Outdoor Entertainment Area

Work Out What You Truly Want and Need

This is the time to consider your lifestyle – both now and into the future.

There’s no point designing an outdoor entertainment area that doesn’t work for you and your family. We want to make sure your new space is perfectly suited to you.

Are you a single bachelor, a young family, empty nesters or something in between?

Will your space need to accommodate kids, pets, or the elderly? Do you love hosting large groups or prefer smaller gatherings? Will you need a large outdoor kitchen and BBQ, or are you interested in space for a TV and bar fridge?

The possibilities are truly endless, especially when working with an expert architect who understands your wants and needs! We can design an outdoor area that conjures the right mood and feel for you.

Work With the Local Climate

Our intimate understanding of Brisbane’s climate means we can work with the environment creating a well-ventilated space with adequate shade and warmth. We also offer interior and landscaping design options as part of our architectural design service.

We can make sure your space stays cool in summer and cosy in winter by taking advantage of both natural airflow and sunlight, incorporating trees and hedges, and installing attractive roofing, fans, louvres and shutters.

Camp Hill Outdoor Entertainment Area: We are so pleased to see our clients have gained so much livability from their new outdoor area extension and renovation located in Camp Hill.

Ensure Connectivity to the Home

It’s always obvious when an outdoor entertainment area has been added as an afterthought to an existing house. There is an absence of concern for connectivity and flow. What you want to create is seamless connectivity from the interior to the exterior ensuring a continuation of colour palette and design style.

Think About Outdoor Entertainment Area Privacy

Your outdoor area may feel exposed and visible to the surrounding occupants. Do you have your next-door neighbours looking down on your pool and entertaining area, or do you feel like you could almost rub elbows with them on your upper-level decks? We have plenty of beautifully subtle ways to create more privacy for you and your family – from perfectly placed greenery through to privacy screens.

Seventeen Mile Rocks Outdoor Renovation: The design for this renovation and extension in Seventeen Mile Rocks includes an improved streetscape & pool entertainment area at the rear of the home.

Consider Lighting

Lighting can be an often-forgotten element of an outdoor entertaining area. Most likely you will want to incorporate a few different lighting options that can take you from a well-lit space for eating meals, to mood lighting for a relaxing evening drink. You will also need to ensure your lights don’t attract moths or insects at night.

Don’t Forget the Flooring

The flooring of your outdoor entertainment area will play a key role in ensuring connectivity in your home. Especially connectivity to the interior of your home and out to your garden. You’ll also need to consider durability and whether it needs to withstand kids and/or pets. Will it extend around your pool and therefore need to be slip-resistant? Or will it be subject to rain and harsh sunlight on your upstairs deck?

Yatala Outdoor Entertainment Area: Our Yatala outdoor entertainment area design incorporates functionality. Along with environmental benefits. This is to provide a very comfortable extension for our clients. 

Keep Pests at Bay

Anyone who has been living in Brisbane for long enough will understand the irritation mosquitos and sand flies can bring. Especially when you’re entertaining guests outside. If your suburb is prone to pests, we have clever ways to keep them away from your outdoor area.

Ask us about phantom screens, shutters, pest-deterring plants, and even oil lanterns.

Cooking in Your Outdoor Entertainment Area

You’ll also want to think about if your alfresco dining area. Will it sit off your kitchen? Would you rather build a simple BBQ bench? Potentially even a full-blown outdoor kitchen on the patio?

Kitchen servery windows can offer both function and beauty whilst ensuring the cook isn’t left out of the night’s conversation. Will there be clear access for guests needing to refill their drinks, or should you incorporate a fridge outside?

Chelmer Home Renovation: The design for this Chelmer home renovation revolves around improving the liveability of the client’s outdoor entertainment area.

Choose the Right Furniture

Have you been dreaming of long weekend lunches, and late evenings spent unwinding in your new outdoor entertainment area? You’ll want to ensure your guests are comfortable in their seats. Choose weatherproof, multi-functional seating, and consider creating different zones for relaxing and for dining. However, be careful not to clutter the space with too much furniture or you will make the area feel small!

If you’re thinking about maximising your outdoor entertainment area , get in touch with the Dion Seminara team today.