Ben And Erin Napier's Essentials For An Outdoor Space Friends & Family Will Love

If you're lucky enough to have a backyard, patio, or designated outdoor space, you probably know that how you furnish and design it can be just as important as what you do to design your home indoors. When your outdoor space isn't well-designed, it's little more than a place to expose yourself to the elements and not somewhere you'll want to spend time. Designed with style, it becomes an inviting and welcoming place to relax, unwind, and entertain family and friends. Time after time on HGTV's "Home Town," Erin and Ben Napier highlight the importance of a welcoming outdoor space through their transformations of backyards, outdoor kitchens, outdoor living rooms, and patios.

On Season 6, Episode 8 of "Home Town," Erin and Ben Napier showcased the perfect way to transform an outdoor space into an entertainment haven. "We want to pour a concrete pad here in the center of the courtyard so it's easy maintenance, and give you a long gathering table," explained Erin Napier while planning. "We finish it with strands of party lights over the event space, so it feels magical all the time." The duo's finished project used a hardscape concrete pad, outdoor furniture, string lights held up by cemented poles, and a pergola for a result that was as magical as intended. By defining the space and adding the right built-in structures, furniture, and decor, the Napiers created an inviting atmosphere for gathering that's easy to recreate in your own home.

Bringing style to an outdoor space isn't always easy. You need weatherproof features that can withstand the elements, plus furniture and decor to maximize your space, make it welcoming, and produce a harmonious result. One of the best places to start is with built-in features like hardscaping, poles, and pergolas that will support your furniture and decorative elements and make your space easier to maintain.

The first thing the "Home Town" stars did with their project was to pour a concrete pad. If you're aiming to utilize and define a large space, this is an awesome option as it can withstand the elements, and once it's installed well it has a lengthy lifespan of 30-plus years. Concrete pads are an easy, low-maintenance landscaping idea because they eliminate the hassle of mowing grass and are easy to maintain. Erin and Ben Napier added a wooden pergola to break up the fence line, creating a welcoming entrance and exit passage. This affordable and stylish backyard upgrade defines the space while letting the sun in through an open roof. The final built-in touch was the addition of four tall metal beams for hanging string lights. The string light poles were the perfect touch for creating an ideal entertaining ambiance. This idea keeps a space bright and open, while also providing an option for hanging decorations in other seasons, or sun shades to provide some reprieve from the sunshine during the summer months.

Once you've installed hardscape features like a concrete pad, pergola, and string light poles, you have the perfect canvas to add furniture. On their "Home Town" project, Erin and Ben Napier added a long outdoor dining table and outdoor couches to the space. These two additions make entertaining large groups a breeze, as there's ample space for dining and relaxing. Although the Napiers' choices were ideal for their "Home Town" project, these pieces wouldn't be as functional in colder climates or smaller spaces. Climate, cost, comfort, and ease of cleaning are all key factors to consider when selecting furniture. 

As with any outdoor space, you'll want to tailor your furniture selections to how you want to enjoy the outdoors and what a space of that size can accommodate. If your space is smaller, or you enjoy backyard games, a patio set may allow you to utilize your space more efficiently than a full-sized dining table. If you live in a colder climate, instead of a dining table and couches, you may opt for smaller chairs that can be placed and moved easily around a firepit. Buying the perfect outdoor furniture for your outdoor space is the key to creating a place you'll want to entertain and spend time in. Using some of Ben and Erin Napier's ideas to design with the right combination of built-in elements and furniture, your outdoor space is set to become a stylish retreat for entertaining, quiet moments, and everything in between.