Planning on being a good host is more than just making sure that your guests get their invites to a fun event. The success of your event will depend on how your guests feel throughout, therefore it is your responsibility to provide them with all the circumstances that will put them at ease and help create a comfortable experience.
Your front yard is the first thing that people will encounter as they visit your home. This is where they will begin to form their opinion about not only your event but also you specifically. Cutting the lawn and washing the windows are obvious examples of what to do make your front yard more inviting, but here are 7 ways to you may not have thought of to make your front yard more people friendly.
Places For People To Sit
If the weather is right there is no reason not to incorporate your front yard into the event itself. Festivities in the front yard will immediately immerse people in a desirable atmosphere. If you want to go this route it will be important to provide your guests with places to sit. Avoid standard folding chairs and utilize a serious of outdoor furniture sets. Outdoor furniture bar sets are symbols of consideration and convenience that will help your guests know that they belong at your party.
Having enough seats is just as important as having stylish and sturdy furniture in the first place. Placing enough chairs for how many guests you will have will prevent one or more guests feeling like an afterthought as they are forced to stand or are left undignified as they sit on the cooler or the ground.
Consider Temperature
Using the space that is provided by your front yard for social events depends a lot on where your life and what time of year your party is going to be. If you live in a state with chilly or wet springs and falls this might eliminate the option for having guests outside. So too can an abundance of heat be preventative. Both conditions can be mitigated by proper planning, which allows your yard to still be people friendly in less than ideal weather and temperature conditions.
Wet and chilly weather can be less of a problem in front yards that have standing heaters installed. When used in conjunction with awnings or other coverings your guests can have a fun time without being negatively affected by mother nature. Temperatures that might otherwise be determinantal to having guests out front can be combated by planting more grass and plants and reducing the amount of concrete. Shade trees can provide shade that will be a reprieve from a scorching sun.
Easy To Get To
This tip for making your front yard might be the one that you have the least control over. Depending on the layout of your home and the road access to it, it can be confusing to know where the front yard actually is. Find a way to make it clear to your guests where they should go after they arrive. This can be done in a number of ways. If it is a toss-up which door and yard (front vs. back) is the front one, eliminate access to the back door and yard from the road. If there is only one door that can be accessed it will be more obvious where to go.
Keeping your landscaping plan open will also make it easy to know where to go. Avoid clutter that could physically impede people from entering your property. If need be you could go the extra mile and create a sign that displays your family name that can be hung outside, essentially declaring to your guests that they are in the right place.
Aesthetics Over Functionality
Gardens and orchards are valuable in their own right and for this reason, find their way on to the properties of millions of people. The front yard is not the place however for the growing of things that you plan eating. Gardens are viewed as places of labor. If you want your guests to feel as comfortable as possible you will want to keep your culinary aspirations relegated to the back yard. The same goes for fruit-bearing trees with one caveat; a few trees on the periphery of the front yard can be an exciting element, especially if you allow your guests to pick the fruit if it is in season and ripe enough.
Make Use Of Pathways
The idea of paths is extraordinarily simple but sometimes forgotten. They show people where they should go. Some guests will view grassy areas as off limits to foot traffic and may naturally be inclined to stay to the paved areas. These people will feel more comfortable if there is some kind of path to show them where you are okay with them walking.
Using pavers or gravel can be simple ways of marking a path to your front door or to a set of outdoor furniture. Paths can get complicated but finding a balance between being helpful and cost-effective can be a huge step in helping your guests feel comfortable.
Lighting
If your guests will be arriving after the sun has gone down then you will want to provide artificial lighting in your front yard. The traditional front porch light can be a good first step to lighting up your entryway, but it rarely shines bright enough to light up the whole front yard. Setting up additional lights on elevated posts or on the ground will help your yard appear inviting.
Have Everything Set Up
The last tip for making your guests feel welcome is the state that your preparations are found in when the first guest gets there. All the chairs, lights, and heaters in the world don’t do any good if they are in your garage or shed. Everything should be set up and running by the time the first person is set to arrive. If they catch you set up when they arrive they will feel like a burden and their overall feelings may be unsettled. Arriving at a well put together scene of convenience and thoughtfulness is the best way to help your guests feel comfortable.
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