Well-designed outdoor spaces can be like an additional room of your house. They can provide a place for you and your family to relax and can be integral when you throw get-togethers or summer parties. Whether you are starting a deck, patio or porch from scratch or are updating one you already have, these three tips will have you entertaining people in style during the day or evening.

Create Flow from the Indoors

By creating flow in your plans, you can let your party guests know where to go while eliminating congestion. Consider using sliding or French doors to open up your home to the outdoors. Lay down formal walkways throughout your backyard to allow guests to see your landscaping and to lead to other parts of the entertaining areas. Choose materials and colors that mimic the styles of the interior of the home to help guests feel that the entire home is cohesive.

Create Designated Areas

An outdoor space can be designed much like a home. Using trees, bushes, pathways and décor, you can set apart different parts of your backyard much like rooms. If you are working with a large deck, you can set off different parts of it using varying levels. A system that uses versadjust pedestals, for example, can allow you to adjust the height of a deck with a simple turn of the wrist. For example, you could have a kitchen area with counters and a grill. You could have several different areas for sitting, an area for children with playground equipment or a fire pit area.

Add Entertainment Elements

Consider how you plan on using your backyard space for entertaining. Will you have many young children running around? If so, consider staying away from pools and fire pits, which can be dangerous, and add space for backyard games and playground equipment. If you plan on having dancing, install a smooth, level area for a dance floor, and install wireless speakers for music. If you hope to serve guests food, invest in a great kitchen space that could include anything from a simple grill to a full-scale kitchen with cupboards, wine coolers and sinks. You could even set up an outdoor movie theater with a projector and lounge chairs.

The size of your yard or the size of your budget does not have to limit your creativity when it comes to designing an outdoor entertaining space. Such options as reclaimed wood, thrift-store furniture and hand-constructed pergolas can save you money while still providing stylish eating, playing and relaxing spaces. The key is to create a space that mirrors your personality and design choices without being too over-the-top.