Dining al fresco is the peak of summer entertaining in New Zealand. Most of us want to make the most of the summer evenings and spend them outside. Luckily for us in the southern hemisphere, summer coincides with the festive season making it the perfect opportunity to gather friends and family together for dinner in your own slice of paradise. Keep reading for our guide to how to cater to extra guests and create the ambience to make it an unforgettable occasion.
Whether the setting is formal or casual, large or intimate, having enough room for everyone is the key to an enjoyable dinner party. It doesn’t matter how large or small the setting is as long as it’s appropriate for the number of guests you’ll be hosting. You want to ensure your guests are comfortable and have enough room to mingle freely. If you love to entertain but space is a premium or you just want more flexibility, an extension table is the solution.
Create a grand outdoor space to dine and entertain with the extravagant size and style of the Harbour Ora Outdoor Extension Dining Table. Constructed with warm natural teak it features a slat table top for drainage and its generous length extends to 3.9m with a smooth butterfly mechanism.
For the ultimate hard-wearing outdoor table, go for one with a ceramic top. Ceramic tops are UV resistant, and resist scratches and stains. The Jati & Kebon Linate Outdoor Dining Table is a stunning outdoor statement with its sleek aesthetic, available in two lengths. Constructed with a ceramic top and powder coated aluminium, clean-up is a breeze.
For an indoor extension table with a ceramic top, look no further than the Calligaris Silhouette Extension Dining Table. With its high level of functionality and softly rounded edges it doesn’t compromise on style for a beautiful and sophisticated dining table that will last a lifetime.
For a seated dinner, you may need to procure extra chairs for your extra guests. If you’re not going to be using your extra chairs regularly, foldable or stackable chairs are great options to consider. The Calligaris Skin Dining Chair is incredibly sturdy yet lightweight, and it’s perfect both indoors and outdoors. Not only lightweight to move around with ease, these chairs are stackable so you can conveniently move and store them.
Folding chairs like the Harbour Pacific Folding Outdoor Chair are another great option if you won’t have them out year-round, simply fold them to store them away for next summer.
For indoors, the Calligaris Parisienne Dining Chair can be stacked up to four high and its transparent finish again provides a lot of versatility and will keep the look of your space light and open.
When entertaining outside, a quality outdoor umbrella with flexible tilt will protect against any downpours or harsh sunlight. The Jardinico Caractere 301 Umbrella can be turned and tilted a full 360 degrees for ultimate versatility in your outdoor space. If entertaining indoors, make sure there’s enough air flow and the room doesn’t overheat to keep your guests comfortable.
Effortless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces can be achieved through clever furniture and styling choices. Coffee & side tables serve both an aesthetic and practical function as a place to put food and drink. Décor such as a vase of flowers or a planter will go a long way to making the space feel thoughtful and festive. Don’t overlook these important details when setting up your outdoor entertaining area; give it same care to detail & layout as you would to your interior.
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