Recommendation points
If you ask summer residents what kind of place on their site is the most favorite, then the picnic area will surely win all the other applicants. Indeed, if in the garden and in the beds you have to work, work and work again, then it is in this cozy corner, allocated by the owners “for barbecues”, that you can finally relax.
In general, a picnic area can be located anywhere – in the garden, under the branches of a shady apple tree, near the house, in a specially built gazebo, in the yard entwined with grapevines. And, of course, in order to have a meal in nature, you don’t have to buy something (except for food, of course). It is quite possible to get by with improvised means – a blanket spread directly on the grass, for example.
And yet, more often than not, each inhabited suburban area has a separate corner where family members and their guests like to gather to fry meat on coals and sit in good company in the fresh air. And it is most convenient to do this not on the ground, but at the table..
In this article, I would like to offer you several options for arranging a picnic area – from the most economical and simple to expensive and even luxurious..
A picnic … Fragrant barbecue, dark red wine, fresh air, sun and slight fatigue from work on the site. We are waiting for this moment all winter, because, for some reason, it is in nature that all dishes seem especially tasty.
Economy option
Most summer residents, unfortunately or fortunately, strive to equip their site, including the picnic area, at the lowest cost. Well, the truth is, really, I really can’t build a bench, a table and provide a place for a barbecue myself, thinks almost every real owner. And he’s absolutely right!
Indeed, if you approach the arrangement of a picnic area without pretensions and frills, you can not spend a penny on it or get by with the necessary minimum.
A striking example – a shish kebab can be fried and over a shallow hole in the ground, fenced with old bricks, four or six pieces will be more than enough, and the meat will turn out to be no worse than in a brick oven. Oh, you don’t have old bricks at your dacha? Let me doubt it, but in extreme cases, one brick costs from 7 to 38 rubles, so because of six pieces you will definitely not go broke.
Have you never cooked barbecue on such a homemade grill? Maybe not very convenient, but it’s delicious, really?
Another very inexpensive option is an ordinary iron box, you can even without legs and stands (in extreme cases, if you want comfort, you can build stands out of the same old bricks). Yes, and the box itself can be made independently, however, more significant costs already begin here – a sheet of steel 1.25 by 2.5 meters in size will cost at least one thousand rubles. Of course, it all depends on its thickness and quality, however, metal thinner than 1 millimeter is not recommended to be used, like galvanized steel – its coating burns and your meat may not smell very pleasant.
A ready-made metal brazier box with fairly high legs will cost from 600 rubles (the simplest model, without unnecessary devices and amenities, is small, designed for eight skewers). And one more obligatory item of expenditure, since we are talking about skewers – a set of six such skewers for frying meat 60 centimeters long will cost from 240 rubles (in this case, the principle also applies – the longer the product and the thicker the steel, the more expensive).
Even an old system unit from a computer can act as a barbecue. Just do not forget to burn it well beforehand to remove all the paint, otherwise the meat will not smell at all as aromatic as you would like.
But a brazier for a picnic is not the most important thing, you also need furniture. The minimum set – a table and two benches – will not be difficult to build, even for a person who rarely encounters a hammer, saw and nails in everyday life.
What do you have to buy? If you don’t have old planks left over from building a roof or shed, you will need to purchase this basic material. A cubic meter of unedged and unpolished boards 30 millimeters thick costs about 3.4 thousand rubles. However, you can save money – find a nearby wholesale warehouse and purchase wooden pallets, of which there are usually a lot. One second-hand pallet with a size of 1200×800 millimeters costs only about 100 rubles.
The benches and the table can be made stationary, that is, you can simply dig the legs into the ground, or you can also portable.
Yes, such a homemade set of furniture does not look very beautiful, but you can always cover the table with an elegant tablecloth, and lay a colorful bedspread on the benches. And why not a picnic spot?
Not a bad homemade option – the table and benches are a single unit, which makes it easy to carry the set. By the way, such a modular picnic table can be purchased ready-made. A model measuring 1900x1600x750 millimeters will cost about three to four thousand rubles, depending on the quality and finish of the wood
And another cheapest, if not to say free option – furniture made of wooden blocks left after sawing a large tree that threatened to destroy the roof of the house or fall on the neighbors’ plot. Nice and comfortable, just do not forget to sand the table and hemp-seats so as not to drive a splinter during a picnic
Average price category
Of course, stump seats, an uncouth bench and bricks on the ground instead of a barbecue are not bad either. But I want something more comfortable and attractive. Then go to the store for a ready-made set of picnic furniture and a full-fledged barbecue.
How much will such a pleasure cost? The range of prices is very large and depends on the material of manufacture, the quality of the product, its size and other parameters..
So, first of all, we get a grill with a roof, which will allow you to fry meat even on a rainy day. The cost of such braziers ranges from 8 to 60 thousand rubles. The simplest option differs from the usual metal box with legs by the presence of a roof made of the same metal. And the more expensive and stylish models are distinguished by elegant forging, openwork decorations, a shelf for food and firewood, in addition, they come with a full set of tools – from a poker to a spatula for cleaning coal. Some models are able to simply amaze the imagination, as they are made, for example, in the form of an old steam locomotive, an elegant gazebo or a chest.
An old model of a barbecue with a roof and a chimney. In the presence of everything you need – and a shelf at the bottom for firewood, and a shelf on the side for a bowl or tray of meat, and hooks for a poker and a shovel
As for furniture for a landscaped picnic area, the cheapest models, of course, are made of plastic. They are not too durable, but they will last two or three seasons, are convenient and easily transferred to a house or utility room for the winter..
Poor-quality plastic burns out in the sun, so it is better not to purchase the cheapest options, otherwise very soon you will regret it.
A familiar, simple and inexpensive furniture set that will decorate the picnic area and allow you to sit in the fresh air in comfort. By the way, a seemingly impractical white color may turn out to be a good choice in the end, since it will not change its shade in the sun. The average price of such a kit is 1,500-2,500 rubles
Another fairly budget option is a set of folding furniture, in which metal legs are combined with a plastic or wooden table top. When choosing folding chairs, remember that the weight that they can support is very limited – about 100 kilograms. Yes, and sitting on such lightweight structures is often not very comfortable..
The folding kit “everything for tourists” is convenient and easy to use and will perfectly take its place near the barbecue. You can buy a table of normal height – about 75 centimeters, and a small one, such as a magazine, with appropriate chairs. The average price of such sets depends on the size of the table and varies from 2,500 to 3,500 thousand rubles
The third option, a little more expensive, but much more convenient than a folding kit and more representative than plastic, is wooden furniture. Such kits can also be foldable, which is very convenient, or stationary benches that can be simply dug into the picnic area..
The cost of a standard set of furniture made of thin wooden planks, that is, a table and four chairs, is about 2,000-4,000 rubles
Of all types of wicker furniture, only products made from ordinary willow or walnut vines, as well as plastic wicker sets, can be attributed to the middle price category. Rattan and bamboo, of course, have a much longer service life, but they cost a lot, so we’ll talk about them in the next section..
Today, it is fashionable to combine wicker parts with a glass tabletop..
If the wicker chairs have soft pillows, remember to bring them inside after your picnic. The average price of such plastic kits is from 3000 to 6000 rubles, the vine will cost significantly more
And the last more or less inexpensive option is wrought iron furniture. Of course, such products, created by the hand of a master in a single copy, can also cost quite a lot, but factory sets are quite affordable.
Remember that wrought iron chairs require reliable support and in the garden on the grass they can simply fall into the ground under the weight of the person sitting. In addition, in the sun, metal tabletops and seats will turn into a real stove, so you also need shade. And since sitting on the iron is also not very comfortable, you will need soft pillows or at least a blanket folded several times.
The price of such a forged table set starts at 12 thousand rubles
We spend on a grand scale
If there is no need to save money on arranging a summer cottage, you can choose much more expensive options and create a truly unique, luxurious picnic area.
The most expensive barbecues are solid stationary brick structures, real ovens that allow you to cook any food on an open fire. Of course, in order to build such a barbecue oven on your site, you will have to pay for the work of a master stove-maker, purchase refractory bricks, build a foundation, and provide a reliable roof or at least a visor. The total cost of building a brick barbecue can reach 20-40 thousand rubles. Only bricks will need at least 400 pieces for a medium-sized barbecue, that is, about 10 thousand rubles will have to be spent on the main material. Plus the work of a master stove-maker, who will provide reliable traction, as well as the cost of other materials – concrete for the foundation, reinforcement, and so on. More precisely, you can calculate only by deciding on the model of the barbecue.
A real home, however, located in the fresh air, in a special annex, on an open terrace or simply under a metal canopy. Cooking on such a grill is a pleasure, but its construction will also cost a substantial amount, especially if the owners do not have the skills of a stove-maker
The second item of expense for a comfortable picnic area is furniture. As mentioned above, the most expensive and prestigious are rattan and bamboo furniture sets for summer cottages. They are not afraid of the sun and rain, but a set of a table, a sofa and two armchairs costs an average of 120 thousand rubles.
Rattan furniture looks very beautiful and allows you to create a real outdoor living room. It is durable, comfortable and will last a long time. The only drawback is the high price
And another important point – in this article we are not trying to calculate how much it will cost to lay paving slabs on a capital picnic area, build a canopy and other arrangement costs. This is a very large scope of work that deserves a separate discussion..
A canopy, evenly laid paving slabs, wicker or wooden furniture, a brick oven – a cozy corner for relaxing in the country is ready. It’s a pity that such splendor is too expensive
It’s up to you, of course, to choose how the picnic area at your dacha will look like. And the financial capabilities of the family in this matter play an important, and often the main role. However, don’t be upset if your outdoor seating area is limited to an economy option. In the end, it is he who is as close to nature as possible, and capital construction and massive furniture can turn a picnic into a pretentious reception.
The main thing in a picnic is precisely a good company and a cheerful mood, so it is not known who will be more fun in the end – the owners of a huge brick barbecue and solid furniture, or a company that has gathered at their own hand-made table under a shady tree.
Are there any picnic tables or designated spots for a picnic at the summer cottage?
Yes, there are picnic tables and designated spots for picnics at the summer cottage.