How to Get Your Garden Ready for a Summer of Socialising

There’s nothing quite like relaxing outside on a hot day in your beautifully tiled garden.

So, with the weather slowly but surely improving, it’s time to get your outdoor space ready for a summer of barbecues, garden parties, and quality time with family and friends. Luckily for you, having a tiled garden means you’ve chosen the easy life. With low maintenance and incredible durability, getting your garden socialising-ready is simple, and we’re here to explain how.

We’re looking into the various things to consider when setting up your outdoor space for a summer of fun. From sectioning off areas of your garden to create pockets of different activities to adding those finishing touches to your space, we’ll see how easy it is to get your garden tiles ready for the hotter months.

Time to Get Cleaning

One of the first things you need to keep in mind when planning for summer is cleaning. Unfortunately, it’s not the most exciting tip on our list, but it is one of the most important. Thankfully, keeping your outdoor tiles in top condition is easy, and we’re here to explain why. Initially, we recommend giving your outdoor tiles a good sweep with a stiff-bristled brush to remove any dirt, leaves, stones, and other garden mess. Once you’ve swept, you can clearly see what else needs doing. Maybe you need to get your gardening gloves on and weed or remove moss; perhaps your tiles have suffered during the winter, and you need to give them a jet wash, or maybe all they needed was a sweep to look as good as new.

If you’re cleaning your tiles, make sure to use a high-quality tile cleaner, a non-scratch brush or pad, and a jet wash on a low-power setting. Your tiles were a great investment, so it’s important to look after them when it comes to cleaning and maintenance.

Creating a Dining Space in Your Garden

Once your garden is nice and clean, it’s time to start planning where you’ll be socialising. If you like to put on a spread and feed your guests, why not consider designing an outdoor kitchen? While it would be great to invest in bespoke, fully installed kitchen facilities in your garden, you might also be looking for a quicker solution, but bear it in mind for next year!

If you want something a little simpler, you still have plenty of time to create a dining space outdoors. Choosing where to have this area is easy; it’s wherever you have outdoor anti-slip tiles. These tiles are durable, slip-resistant, and (as mentioned above) very easy to maintain, making them the ideal flooring for somewhere where spills and food mess will be nothing out of the ordinary.

The next step is selecting your dining furniture. When doing so, consider the amount of people you would typically have during your social events. Do you like keeping things exclusive and intimate? Maybe a four-seater table would work best for you. Or do you have a large extended family you like to host regularly? Consider a larger table and maybe a second, smaller table for another area in your garden to provide a choice of seating options. It’s entirely up to you how you plan this part of your garden makeover; just make sure to buy a couple of extra sun lounges or outdoor stools for those last-minute plus-ones.

The Perfect Tiles for Adding a 5-Star Touch with a Hot Tub

If you want to elevate your garden with a 5-star touch, why not add a hot tub to your outdoor space? This is a great way to make your home the go-to party spot, but it is also a great addition for those quiet weekends just as the sun starts to come out. If you don’t think you’ll use it all year round, you can always rent one for the summer season and use the space for something else when the temperature drops again.

Remember, if you have a swimming pool or hot tub, our slate effect outdoor tiles offer a natural charm with the benefit of anti-slip properties as standard. This dramatically reduces the chances of slipping, which is essential for any family home. Also, our outdoor porcelain tiles are an excellent choice for areas that may become particularly wet due to their water absorption rate of 0.5% or less. Thanks to their tough material, our porcelain tiles are resistant to scratches and staining, making them the perfect poolside tile, suitable for patio furniture, pets, and children.

Prepare for All Weather

The best piece of advice we can provide is to prepare for all weather. Living in Great Britain means dealing with cloud in the morning, sun in the afternoon, and rain all evening – you never know what you’re going to get. Because of this, it’s important to consider shelter when getting your garden ready for a summer of socialising.

Indoor-outdoor living is a trend that continues to remain popular because it’s a great way to bring the outdoors in and vice-versa. With this in mind, consider making your indoor space garden party-ready as well. This means keeping your back doors wide open and placing a dining table close to the garden but indoors to give people the option of sitting inside if the sun goes behind the clouds. Another way to prepare for all weather is with a gazebo or pergola with a roof; this way, you can still entertain outdoors, but with that slight covering that makes all the difference.

Adding the Finishing Touches

Once the above is complete, you should have a garden that’s almost ready to host. All that’s left to do is add the finishing touches, for example:

• Add a fire pit or outdoor heater and lay blankets over some chairs to make sure your guests are comfortable well into the evening.
• Use outdoor lighting such as fairy lights for aesthetic purposes, but also make sure your outdoor space is well-lit if you plan on partying at night.
• Give your tiles an extra sweep before guests arrive to make sure they’re looking as good as new.
• Have fun! With your garden looking its best, it’s time to relax and have a great summer.

Don’t forget, if you discover that your garden needs a bit more than a sweep and a jet wash to look good again, we’re here to help. At Roccia, we have an extensive range of outdoor tiles to suit all garden spaces, no matter your style.