Try An Enclosed Gazebo For The Ultimate Backyard Dining Location

Outdoor dining spaces can be some of the most enjoyable places around your home, allowing al fresco eating and time spent outdoors in a beautiful secondary living space. Whether you have a small patio bistro table or an expansive table that seats a crowd, these spaces are usually adjacent to the house. Another outdoor living space, however, that may be a little farther afield, can also add endless charm and options for dining in a protected and covered area. Enclosed gazebos are a popular trend for homeowners looking for a way to create livable spaces and maximize their use of their property. Gazebos can also be a lovely retreat that still allows you to be outside while enjoying a hassle-free dining experience. 

Gazebos come in all sizes, from tiny enclosures meant for intimate dining for two to large platforms that provide room for a huge table and other seating configurations. More luxe models offer glass enclosures, while simple wood or metal structures offer fully screened-in spaces. They also can be more traditional-looking with a wooden hexagonal design, or more streamlined, rectangular, and made of transparent glass. You can also DIY a backyard gazebo, buy a kit, or go completely custom when building your perfect space. 

One of the biggest benefits of dining in a gazebo is its protection from the elements, including offering shade on sunny days, protection from rain, and avoidance of pests. Your outdoor furniture can also benefit greatly from a gazebo, since it's exposed to these things far less and doesn't require as much cleaning as it would without that protection, including hazards like bird droppings and tree bits that may fall onto them. You are able to use the space much more since you can dine during inclement weather, on the hottest days, and longer into the fall than other outdoor areas. Add a space heater and you can even enjoy the space in chilly weather.

Gazebos are also a great alternative to attached decks if you don't have the infrastructure for such an addition. Not only can you put them farther away from noise and high-traffic areas, but a screened or glass gazebo also grants a little more privacy, especially if you use tinted screens or highly reflective glass. The placement also allows you to use more of your yard for recreation. After dark, gorgeous gazebo ceiling lighting allows you to use the space long into the night.

If you still want your gazebo close to the house, consider adding a gazebo enclosure as part of your existing deck or patio that offers an enclosed space with all the same benefits, but with greater proximity to the kitchen for easy access. While one of the drawbacks to a dining structure far away from the home is carting food and dishes back and forth, you can always add a paved path that allows a serving cart to be rolled to and fro. Larger and more posh gazebo set-ups can even include fridges and outdoor kitchen set-ups. Or think about DIYing a grill gazebo in your yard to make grilling season last all year long.