Your private outdoor entertaining area starts here!

Summer calls for good times outdoors with family and friends. Invite them around, crack open a can or two and get the BBQ sizzling! Sounds perfect, right?

Well, it would if you had a space to make it happen – one that you’re proud to enjoy and show off. And one where the nosey neighbours aren’t peeking in.

The good news is creating your very own private outdoor entertaining area for summer is easier than you think. With a little help from privacy screens, edging, planters and landscaping pebbles, you can complete the space and open your garden to guests!

Think of it like adding an extra room to your home, minus the hassle or cost of a major renovation!

Explore category: Landscaping & Garden Design

Let’s start with what makes a good private outdoor entertaining zone.

You want it to be somewhere you’re itching to spend time in (hay fever aside!). And for that, it needs to look great, feel comfortable and have all the little conveniences that make gatherings easy.

Here are some ideas of what it should include:

• Privacy and shelter – Garden screens and greenery to create a cosy space away from neighbours and breezes. A little smartly placed screening can make your yard feel like your own private retreat.
• Comfy seating – Think cushioned outdoor lounges and a couple of laid-back armchairs for a lazy afternoon. Make sure there’s enough room for everyone to sit down and relax.
• Outdoor dining table – For food, drinks, games and long summer lunches. Pick something sturdy, weather-proof and big enough for your usual crowd.
• BBQ or outdoor cooking area – So you’re not constantly ducking inside to prep food. A nearby bench makes flipping burgers and serving salads even easier.
• Shade – An umbrella, pergola or shade sail for relief from the summer sun. Because nobody wants to spend the afternoon roasting alongside the snags!
• Lighting – Festoon lights, solar lights or wall lighting to keep the good times going after dark. A warm glow can turn an ordinary backyard (or balcony) into a magical evening hangout.
• Natural beauty and greenery – Bring your space to life with lush plants, colourful blooms and climbing vines. Mix and match Pots & Planters to add texture, colour and a little holiday vibe.
• Somewhere to put things – A bench or storage box for entertaining essentials. That way, drinks, cushions and BBQ accessories are always within easy reach.

Before you start filling your trolley with screens and planters, take a good look at your outdoor space. Where’s the perfect space for a private summer hangout?

Somewhere close to the house for easy access to the kitchen and toilet, or a quiet corner where you can escape the household chaos?

Think about when you’ll use the space the most and where the sun hits throughout the day. And if you can find some natural shade, you might not need those umbrellas or shade sails after all!

Next, think about what you’d like to look at (and what you’d rather not!). Perhaps you’ve got a lovely garden view worth showing off, but a neighbour’s window overlooks the patio. This is where screening is a saviour.

Finally, make sure there’s enough room for your furniture, guests to move around and easy access to the BBQ. Work with existing features like trees, garden beds and paved areas where you can.

Now you know what you need, and you’ve got the perfect spot picked out; it’s time to bring your vision to life with a few clever landscaping touches and a little help from Jack.

Looking for backyard privacy ideas that don’t compromise on style? Garden Screens are a great way to shape your entertaining space while keeping prying eyes out!

There are plenty of outdoor privacy screen ideas to try. Use them to disguise ugly fences and create partition walls – for example, to separate the seating area from the pool (just bear pool safety regs in mind). Or use décor screens to create a unique backdrop behind an outdoor lounge.

Our top product picks

• Matrix Décor Screens – Make a statement with decorative designs that suit your taste. Go tropical with leafy rainforest patterns, coastal with Ocean Swell or modern with geometric Tessellation design.
• Jack Screen Up – Create natural-looking boundaries and stylish backdrops with timber slat screening that combines classic charm with a contemporary edge.

Explore full category: Garden & Privacy Screens

Plants, plants, glorious plants – they’re a great way to soften up your outdoor entertaining area, add colour and create that relaxed resort-style feel.

Mix and match different heights, textures and shades of green to bring your space to life. Position tall planters against garden screens for an extra layer of privacy, group pots of different sizes next to your seating area (a trio works perfectly!), or train climbing plants up a wall for a lush backdrop.

You could even plant a mini herb garden near the BBQ, so fresh rosemary, basil and mint are always on hand for flavour-adding!

Our top product picks

• Jack Garden Up – Make the most of vertical space with a wall-mounted garden that’s perfect for herbs, blooms and trailing greenery. Only got a small balcony or courtyard? Garden Up is your new bestie.
• Oxy-Shield Planters – Add an architectural edge to your entertaining zone with rustic, weathered steel planters. They come in three different shapes and sizes.

Explore full category: Pots & Planters

Check out our full range: Raised Garden Beds

A few clever landscaping touches can make your private outdoor entertaining area feel like a space of its own, rather than another patch of your backyard.

Use Garden Edging to create clear, defined borders between lawns, garden beds and entertaining areas. Add a winding path to link different zones. And use Landscaping Pebbles and Ground Panels to make spaces more practical and finished.

Mix different ground finishes to create contrast, like smooth pavers alongside natural pebbles or lush greenery framed by crisp edging.

Our top product picks

• Garden Edging – Go for sleek metal edging for modern spaces, décor Matrix designs to match your screens or the rustic look to tie into your Oxy planters.
• Landscaping Pebbles & Stones – Choose from natural-looking beige, brown and grey to smooth white rocks that add a fresh, contemporary look.
• Matrix Ground Panels – Simply lay these light, modular panels on a prepared base and click them together. They’re non-slip, allow water to drain and are easy to hose clean!

Explore full category: Landscaping & Garden Design

How do I make my outdoor entertaining areas private?

Blocking ugly views and nosey neighbours is easy using decorative Garden Screens, tall planters and climbing plants. Add them around seating areas and boundaries to create privacy without completely closing in your outdoor space, blocking light and airflow.

How do I create a small outdoor entertaining area in my backyard or courtyard?

If you’re short on space, think compact and stackable furniture, vertical gardens and clever screening. Our Garden Up range of wall-mounted planters adds greenery without taking up precious floor space.

What plants are best for privacy around an outdoor entertaining area?

Lilly pilly clumping bamboo and tall ornamental grasses are great for creating natural privacy. But check which varieties are best suited for your climate and growing conditions. Plant them in large planters around the edge of your space.

How can I improve my outdoor dining and entertaining area on a budget?

You don’t need to splash the cash to spruce things up and create your perfect entertaining space. Try easy DIY projects like adding Garden Edging, decorative pebbles and colourful potted plants. You can also give old furniture a new lease on life or hunt down second-hand bargains.

How can I make my outdoor entertaining space look more expensive?

It’s all about the finer details! Create a put-together look with crisp garden borders, layered greenery and stylish screens (hello, Matrix) and planters. Add plush cushions, an outdoor rug and lighting for a real luxe feel without the designer price tag!

Ready to put your backyard entertaining into action? With a little planning, a few weekends and some clever DIY products from Jack – head to your local store to grab them – you could have your private outdoor entertaining space ready for summer in no time!

Once you’ve got everything from your screens to your planters and furniture in place, it’s time to give everything a final tidy and wipe over. Plus, check the BBQ is ready to fire up and the lights are working.

All that’s left to do now is stock the esky, invite over your favourite people and enjoy your new outdoor hangout!

Created an entertaining space that shouts good times? Why not share some snaps on socials, tagging @meetdiyjack? You might just get a share!

After some more outdoor inspiration? Check out these other helpful resources:

• 14 garden screening ideas: add privacy, style and function
• New year, better backyard: easy summer gardening ideas