Have you got these six outdoor essentials?

Living in Australia, we are very lucky to get some of the best weather in the world, all year round. As Aussies, we are an outdoors-loving bunch and are usually always voted ‘most likely to throw another prawn on the barbecue’ – and are always prepared for a barbecue at any time. It’s great to have this kind of incredible weather available to us, although for those of us who are lucky enough to live in Melbourne, the weather component of things can often be slightly unpredictable.

I say slightly unpredictable and I mean completely and irreverently in flux and entirely likely to dump with rain on a day that the weatherman swears black and blue will be sunny all day.

As a result, there are some key things that you need to ensure that you own in order to be prepared for the changes in the weather, so let’s take a look at some of them now.

These are my outdoor essentials!

Barbecue
The humble Aussie barbecue is at the top of my list when it comes to outdoor entertaining – and no matter what kind of cooking you like to do, the barbecue needs to be top-notch. Choose something that has a closable hutch on top so that you’re able to do all manner of things like smoking, grilling and even meat on the spit. This will result in a much more varied spread of tasty options for you and your friends.

Outdoor umbrella
In case the weather changes on you, you need to make sure that you have an umbrella to manage the rain. Your guests will thank you profusely. Buy one that has a good base support so it doesn’t tip over on you, and remember that you can also use an umbrella when it’s baking hot as a shade!

Outdoor heater
The old Melbourne weather can also get a bit on the cold side, so make sure that you have a good outdoor heater to use for you and your guests. This will ensure that you’re able to keep entertaining long after the sun goes down and as the chill creeps in.

Outdoor furniture set
Because you all need somewhere to rest and sit while you’re enjoying the warmth from your heater and the food from your awesome barbecue! In all seriousness though, buying a great outdoor furniture set is going to be a good investment as it will last for years and will be a focal point for your entertaining. You can always dress up a wooden chair with some cushions for more comfort as well.

Mosquito candles and repellent
We’ve all got that mate who gets attacked mercilessly by mosquitos. Make sure that you take care of them as much as you can with some mozzie candles and mosquito repellent incense. The little biters are going to be turned off by the smell of citronella, so get these lit well before you actually hear or feel any of them to ensure the best possible protection.

Outdoor speakers
Love the tunes? Who doesn’t! Make sure that every party is a party to remember with the addition of some great outdoor speakers to keep the tunes happening all night. The best bit about outdoor speakers is that they’re weatherproof, so if you trundle off to bed after too many red wines and it happens to pour down overnight, you’re not going to lose your sound system to the party gods. Excellent.

I do hope that this little list of tips for outdoor essentials will prove to be helpful for you when you’re looking to get the yard spruced up! Good luck and happy entertaining.