Here's the ultimate design guide for creating outdoor spaces that are fun, functional, and perfect for entertaining.

With hundreds of fresh, inspiring photos and lots of expert advice, the Outdoor Entertaining Idea Book delivers everything you need to make your property the ideal backdrop for entertaining friends and family.

You'll find out how to:

• Design an outdoor kitchen
• Create a beautiful dining area
• Set up an elegant patio
• Arrange a poolside with panache
• Build a garden room that's colorful and bright

As you flip through the latest addition to our popular Idea Book series, you'll enjoy over 400 stunning photos that will jump-start your imagination. Plus expert tips and detailed illustrations that will help you put these great ideas into action.

Whether you're planning an intimate evening for two or a summer block party, this book has everything you need to make it happen with style.

1. Cooking Outdoors
Finding the Perfect Spot
Considering Sight Lines
Workspaces in the Outdoor Kitchen
A Simple Kitchen
A Well-Equipped Kitchen
Grills
Choosing Small Appliances
Finishing Touches
Storage

2. Outdoor Dining
Where to Put the Table
Choosing a Furniture Style
Family Meals
Dinner is Served
Dressing up for Company
Entertaining Large Groups
Tables for Two
Bars
Setting the Table
Lighting

3. Outdoor Living Rooms
Finding a Focal Point
Creating a Conversation Space
Creating Discreet Spaces
Maximizing Seating
Decorating Without Walls
Decorating With Walls
Choosing Furniture
Flooring
Finishing Touches
Lighting
Outdoor Entertainment
By the Fire
Places to Relax
Enjoying the Sights and Sounds
Places to Play

4. By The Pool
Pool Basics
Pool Materials
Deck Materials
Pool Shapes
Spas
Making Shade
The Pool House
Pool Enhancements
Water Features by the Pool

5. Garden Rooms
Formal Garden Rooms
Informal Garden Rooms
Dining in a Garden Room
Garden Room as a Destination
Garden Room Near the House
Container Plantings
Garden Lighting
Secluded Spots
Garden Structures and Ornament

As more and more Americans discover the boundless joys of outdoor living, they are inviting friends and family over to join in the fun.

Depending on what you like to do, where you live, and of course your budget, entertaining outdoors can take shape in a variety of ways. More often than not, it includes cooking and, of course, eating.

The appliance of choice outdoors is the all-American grill, which in recent years has evolved from a wobbly three-legged cauldron into a fully appointed all-in-one kitchen.

Cooking goes hand in hand with dining, which also has advanced along with demand. Manufacturers are creating durable, weather-resistant tables, chairs, and cushions that make an outdoor dining area as well-appointed and comfortable as anything you'd find indoors.

The same holds true for an outdoor living room, which can include luxuries like fireplaces, fire pits, rugs, lamps, and sofas. Only instead of wallpaper or paint, it's surrounded by the natural scenery, be it a small garden, a mountain vista, or an ocean panorama.

Adding a feature like a pool or a garden room creates even more of a draw for friends and family. Pools, for example, scream fun for children and provide some much-needed relief from the summer heat for everyone else. They come in myriad shapes and sizes, and can be tailored to fit the parameters of your property. They are an invitation for your guests to be active as they enjoy living outdoors.

A garden room, on the other hand, is a blissfully peaceful destination. It often emphasizes relaxation and serves as a place where people can sit and visit with each other, the only distractions being the chirping of birds or rustling of squirrels.

Throughout this book, you'll discover just how many options there are when it comes to outdoor entertaining. As you explore, pull the ideas that appeal to you. Then synthesize them into a cohesive plan, and make your outdoor space uniquely -- and enjoyably -- yours.