It’s probably been a while since you’ve spent any extended time out there. The lawn’s looking patchy, dead leaves have accumulated, your pavers and decking have taken on a mossy green hue, and perhaps a few stray garden stakes, left over from brighter, more bountiful days in the vege garden, have been repurposed as makeshift lightsabres by the kids. But with the promise of warmer weather, BBQ season and more time spent outdoors on the horizon – or the prospect of selling your home – it’s time to haul your backyard out of its winter hiatus and spring it back into life. So, roll up your sleeves and read on for six tips to breathe fresh life into your backyard, find out how to make outdoor entertaining a breeze, and discover a few extra pointers if you’re thinking of putting your home on the market.
Set the foundation for summer soirees
Before you start thinking about fairy lights, fire pits and finger food, there’s a little groundwork to do first. From scrubbing away the traces of winter to making sure your outdoor space is set up for spontaneous guests or market-ready, here’s how to lay the foundations:
1. Start with an all-hands-on-deck clean-up
Well before you shuffle those heavy new concrete planters into place, start your backyard reset with a big old clean-up. Grab a spray bottle of moss, lichen, and mould remover from your local Bunnings, or dig out the water blaster and tackle outdoor furniture, decking, pavers, gutters, and door and window frames that have been living a damp old life for the last few months. Give your gardens a good once-over too; neglected shrubs and seasonal plantings often look worse for wear or overgrown, so prune, dig, and hedge-trim these into shape. It’s also a great time to add mulch to your garden beds to help retain moisture as we move towards warmer weather.
2. Bring new life into ageing outdoor settings
Once you’ve cleaned away the lichen, you might notice your outdoor furniture looking a little worse for wear. But before you declare it destined for the skip, see whether it’s salvageable and has another season in it. It might just need an extra clean, a light sand, a polish, or a fresh coat of stain or paint. And if the cushions have seen better days (or you need to hide weathered spots on your outdoor furniture), pick up some new outdoor cushions to give your outdoor set a fresh lease on life.
3. Do look back (at the house)
When you’re busy sprucing up the backyard, it’s easy to forget to look back at the house itself. But when you’re entertaining, you’ll usually have guests popping back inside for drinks, toilet stops, forgotten sunglasses and snack top-ups. If the return journey is marred by stray gumboots, watering cans, and windows in desperate need of a clean, it can really take the shine off. So, take a moment to look back. When the doors are flung open on those glorious spring and summer days to come, a clear, clean connection between inside and out will be that much more enjoyable.
4. Easy impromptu entertaining
We all know the most fun gatherings aren’t always the ones six weeks in the making; they’re often the outcome of an impromptu ‘we’re in the neighbourhood’ text or the invitation to stay for a drink after getting kids’ sport out of the way on a Saturday. Set up your outdoor space so it handles these with ease and minimal prep, rather than making you visibly shudder when you hear the impromptu ‘BBQ?’ call over the neighbour’s fence. What’s the key? Keep a few entertaining essentials in a dedicated spot, like reusable glassware, cute candles, serviettes, a cooler or ice bucket and easy platter staples like crackers, olives, and nuts. That way you’re not starting from scratch or stressing every time someone drops by.
5. Outdoor rooms minus the million-dollar budget
There’s no denying that the most inviting backyards feel more like an extension of the home than a disconnected afterthought. While an elaborate outdoor kitchen, outdoor fireplace, and views to the pool that flow seamlessly from your indoor living space will surely tick that box, they’re thankfully not the only way to achieve this. Start by using things like seating, planters and an outdoor rug to create a defined zone, and if possible, contain the room even further with a ceiling – this could be an established tree, pergola or shade sail – which will turn a seating area into a cosy (and shaded) space you’ll want to linger for hours. If you’re light on outdoor furniture, bring a low coffee table from inside out, and set up floor cushions on an outdoor rug for a relaxed vibe that encourages everyone to kick off their shoes and settle in.
6. Don’t let sundown signal the end of your soiree
Spring might have us digging out the shorts by lunchtime, but once the sun disappears, temperatures often drop faster than you can find your trackies. If you don’t want this to signal the end of your soiree, drape some cosy throws over seating areas, light a fire pit if you have the space, and keep some citronella candles handy to keep the bugs at bay.
Then, keep the atmosphere alive with a few well-placed lights. Focus on a warm glow rather than full-scale illumination by using overhead festoon lights, lanterns along a pathway, or rechargeable table lamps. Add some background music too; just remember your playlist should set the mood, not take over the neighbourhood.
How to host outdoors without breaking a sweat
The backyards are ready to welcome guests, and now it’s time to take the same relaxed approach to spring entertaining. Forget getting stuck in the kitchen or spending hours dressing the table; here’s how to create a set-up that’ll allow you to enjoy your spring soiree just as much as your guests.
1. Style a table that invites lingering
Outdoor entertaining invites everyone to relax, and the same goes for table settings. Forget matching everything or creating an elaborate centrepiece. Pull out your everyday glassware, a few bowls, and platters, cut some seasonal flowers from your garden, and collect candles from around the house to dot the centre of the table. The best outdoor tables should look relaxed and welcoming rather than overly styled – it’s an invitation to settle in for an unhurried affair.
2. Banish beverage back-and-forth
Keeping guests’ drinks in check is often an almost full-time job if you’re hosting a crowd. Take the pressure off by inviting guests to help themselves at a DIY drinks station – something we all wish we’d thought of sooner! Set up a small table, bench, or trolley away from the kitchen or BBQ area, stock it with your guests’ favourite beverages, and instead of ferrying drinks all day and night, you’ll actually get to chat! If you’ve got kids joining the fun, give them their own section with water, juice, and sodas.
3. Create a menu to match
More than a dozen ingredients and a 1-hour-plus prep time on the recipe? That doesn’t belong on the menu at your easy-breezy spring soirée. What does? Anything and everything that can be cooked on a BBQ, of course! Spring is the time we collectively dust off our beloved barbecues and say no to any menu item that doesn’t taste good flame-grilled. Dishes that can be prepped ahead of time are the hero – they elevate things from snags and garlic bread on the BBQ (which are equally welcome), but won’t leave you chained to the kitchen. Think pre-prepared kebabs you can pop on the barbie, salads, and desserts like cheesecakes or tiramisu, which love sitting in the fridge for a bit, waiting for their time to shine.
Thinking of selling this spring? You’ve already done the legwork
If selling your home is on the horizon this spring or summer, you’ve already done much of the hard work. The backyard is clean, the furniture has been refreshed, and your outdoor area is entertainer-ready. Now it’s time to put all that preparation to work. Before your listing photos are taken or the first buyers arrive, think about how you can showcase your outdoor space at its very best. For example, an outdoor dining setup helps buyers picture long lunches, while a couple of comfy chairs in a sunny spot beckon for lazy Sunday morning coffees. Style your spaces so they come to life in your listing and at open homes, without looking overly staged. And don’t forget, before the photographer arrives, work through this quick checklist:
- Freshen up
Are the lawns mown, the garden tidy and dead leaves swept away?
- Surfaces clean
Decking, pavers and outdoor furniture should be sparkling.
- Style the spaces
Use every meter; give each space a purpose with furniture arranged to invite entertaining.
- Set the scene
Light the fire pit, turn on the spa, and show off any of your backyard’s best features.
- Think like a buyer
Look at your backyard through their eyes; you want them to think I could enjoy this, rather than, I’ll have to fix this.
The hard work’s done; now enjoy it!
The return of outdoor living and entertaining is a real seasonal highlight, and you definitely don’t need a million-dollar budget or a meticulously landscaped backyard to enjoy it. Often, the biggest wins come from clearing away what’s left from winter, giving your outdoor furniture a little spruce-up, and adding thoughtful extras like lighting, cushions, and blankets that invite you to settle in a little longer. Whether you’re gearing up for weekend BBQs, making the most of impromptu catch-ups or preparing to put your home on the market, the goal is the same – making your backyard easy to enjoy. And if selling is on the horizon, your local First National team can help you make sure all that outdoor appeal shines through when it matters most.
DISCLAIMER
The following advice is of a general nature only and intended as a broad guide. The advice should not be regarded as legal, financial, or real estate advice. You should make your own inquiries and obtain independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any legal, financial, or real estate decisions. Click here for full Terms of Use.