(BPT) - If you love spending time in your outdoor space over the summer and autumn months, you probably also look forward to inviting friends and family to hang out with you. But does your backyard area need upgrades to make it more welcoming, functional and relaxing?

Here are easy tips to elevate your space, while also bringing more warmth and a sense of luxury to your backyard.

1. Enhance outdoor get-togethers

Everyone loves to gather around a cozy fire on a summer or autumn evening. To add a heightened level of design and elegance to your gatherings, consider a Kindred Outdoors & Surrounds Fire Bowl. These unique creations have subtle variations in color and texture similar to natural limestone. Made from strong, glass-fiber reinforced concrete, they feature a patent-pending brass burner system that uses half the fuel of conventional fire rings, yet produces higher flames and a brighter appearance. Fire Bowls come complete with lava rock and match-lit components.

Each of the nine different styles of Fire Bowls is available in four color choices that reflect the authentic look of natural limestone. You can opt for either Honed (smooth surface) or Travertine (more textured surface) to complement the look of your overall outdoor space design. To increase functionality, you can also use your Fire Bowl as a beautiful table when fire is not needed with the addition of a Wood Top.

Note: Fire Bowls must be covered from the elements when not in use. The Wood Tops are not designed to be protective covers for the fire bowl when it is not in use.

2. Embrace outdoor cooking

If you've always thought that creating an outdoor kitchen was too difficult and time-consuming, think again. With Kindred Signature Kitchens, you'll get a pre-designed, ready-to-install kitchen setup that allows you to construct the perfect outdoor kitchen in just days instead of weeks. Each kitchen is pre-designed to fit a variety of size and style configurations, and ships complete with all the necessary cabinets, bolts and end-caps.

Kindred Outdoor Signature Kitchens are an easy solution to help you create the timeless look and feel of a stone masonry kitchen. You can finalize your outdoor design by selecting stone or brick finish, appliances and countertop materials of your choice, in these configurations:

• Coastal Ranch Signature Kitchen: One of Kindred's most popular L-shaped kitchens measures approximately 11 by 8 feet, and is designed to maximize appliance space while providing room for entertaining with its raised bar counter.
• Metropolitan Signature Kitchen: This 12-foot linear kitchen is designed to save space as compared to traditional L-shaped kitchens, yet provides ample counter room for preparation of an elegant night of dining al fresco.
• Parkview Signature Kitchen: The simple configuration and manageable size of this 9.5 by 6.5-foot L-shaped kitchen allows for the perfect entertaining center in a variety of outdoor settings.

3. Design your own custom kitchen structure

Want more flexibility in designing your dream outdoor kitchen? Kindred's Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets offer a modular solution that lets you build a layout tailored to your cooking and entertaining needs. The outdoor cabinets offer a virtually limitless combination of configurations and can be assembled in just hours. Additionally, cut-outs for custom features such as barbecues, sinks, refrigerators and storage drawers can be done on-site.

Each piece is made of glass-fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC), which can be installed on any solid flooring surface without concrete footings or rebar. They eliminate construction waste and reduce the additional time that's associated with traditional masonry block installations.

4. Imagine your perfect outdoor space

Need help bringing your dream space to life? The new Kindred Outdoors & Surrounds Outdoor Design Tool offers designers, architects and homeowners an interactive platform that aids in visualizing how Kindred's products would appear in your outdoor setting. You'll be able to try out various styles, sizes and colorways to see what works best for your space and your design aesthetic.

Whether you're starting from scratch or enhancing an existing project, the Kindred Outdoors & Surrounds Design Tool provides helpful images and inspiration to support the creation of your ideal outdoor entertainment space.

To find more resources to help you enhance your backyard, visit MyKindredLiving.com.