With houses becoming bigger & blocks getting smaller Clear blue skies and a fiery sun usually mean Christmas Day is set to see temperatures soar, with many of us choosing to head for the water. If you’re blessed with a cool, inviting swimming pool in your garden, then creating your very own Christmas Day outdoor celebration for family and friends is sure to be a breeze.

In Australia, backyard get-togethers are an essential ingredient for the festive season. If you’re planning one, start by having a good look at the space you will be working with. Is it a warm, rustic patio setting overlooking a pool, or a lush green lawn surrounded by plant-life? Whatever palette you’ll be working with, try to give the area you’re decorating a sense of fun and festivity. Popular colours to work with are green, white, red, silver and gold, so get to work hanging baubles from the trees and draping tinsel around the garden.

Once you have your garden sorted, it’s time to plan your table setting. Start by working on a colour scheme that will complement the surroundings, such as white and green. Decorate the table with a sense of occasion – use a crisp linen tablecloth, good-quality cutlery, glassware and crockery and a centrepiece, such as a candelabra, flowers or an item with a Christmas theme. Ensure your chairs are comfortable for guests by using low cushions or padded seating, which will add to a feeling of luxury.

Next comes the fun part – the food. A relaxed, light menu is the brief for Christmas Day, with seafood and salads being firm favourites. Go retro with a refreshing, zingy prawn cocktail as a starter, or fire up the barbecue and smoke a plateful of oysters. For mains, forego the heavier dishes for lighter options, such as barbecued whole fish, skewered salmon kebabs or cold Christmas ham. Salads make the perfect accompaniment for summer dining, and exotic fruits such as mango, figs and pawpaw will add gourmet flair. Go all-out luxury with desserts – think decadent berry trifle with lashings of cream, or a traditional pavlova laden with colourful fruit. After all that indulgence, be sure to leave a little time between eating and swimming.

If you’re planning an evening soiree by the pool, then lighting should be a key element to help move the celebrations seamlessly from day to night. There are plenty of options to choose from, such as LED or halogen lights to help highlight an eye-catching waterfall or garden landscape, or underwater lights to showcase a below-ground pool area to its best effects. These days, even floating or semi-submersible lighting is on offer to really make the party come alive.

Barrier Reef Pools Perth have been providing top-quality swimming pools to the people of Perth for many years, and we are the most awarded pool company in Western Australia. We would like to wish all our clients, both past and future, a safe and happy festive season.