Ah, balmy summer nights, a gentle breeze blowing . . . What could be better than having some close friends over for dinner and enjoying the good weather together? Today, I share my 5 ideas for creating the perfect atmosphere for an outdoor get-together of good food and conversation.
1. Set the mood with some strings of light and candles
Credit: Randy Fath
There's no easier way to create a festive mood than to simply hang up a few strings of light. I think white lights look the best (unless of course you're going for a Christmas in July look!). You don't even need a lot. I usually just hang a string over the backdoor where the guests go in and out of the house, maybe some on the fences, or I might even just throw a string or two on the bushes. It usually just depends on whether my extension cord is long enough.
If I have a portable tent set up, I think hanging lights along the edges also look really pretty. Of course, make sure you use outdoor lights that are safe for those purposes. Add some simple tea lights on the tables to complement the look.
2. Decorate with some flowers in pots
Credit: Yuliia Barabash
Unlike indoor dinner parties, I prefer not to have vases of flowers when I'm entertaining outdoors. My patio setup is just some lounge chairs and small tables. After putting out drinks and snacks, there isn't much table space left, and if you have friends like mine who tend to get more rowdy as the night goes on, I really don't want them knocking anything over. But that doesn't mean I can't have some strategically placed flower pots to brighten things up.
My favorite way is to simply take the African violets that I've been growing indoors (or whatever is blooming at the time) and just take them outside. They're small, compact, and add bright spots of color. Depending on the look I'm going for, I might switch up the pots so that they all match, or go for a different color scheme. When the evening is over, I just take them back inside. Easy! And no need to spend money to buy flowers every time!
3. Beautiful plates and glasses make all the difference
Credit: Brooke Lark
I love entertaining, but I don't love all the work that goes into preparing for it if I try to make everything from scratch. Plus, isn't the purpose of hanging out at home more for the company than the food? So, I am not shy about heading to my nearest Costco to pick up frozen appetizers, bags of chips and other snacks. The key though, is how I present them.
Sure, I can just open a bag of nachos and leave it on the table, and I can leave the just-baked appetizers on the baking sheet. But putting them in beautiful serving bowls and plates just changes everything. I prefer to serve snacks in smaller bowls and plates rather than one or two large ones, and place them in different areas to make it easier for my guests to grab. I mean, who really wants to spend the evening constantly asking, "Can you please pass the chips?"
I also don't think we need to be restricted by what we use. At the moment, I'm totally into Asian motifs, and I love using ramen bowls to put chips in. They're the perfect size – just big enough that you're not constantly refilling them, but small enough so that you can have several placed throughout and won't seem too bulky.
The same goes for wine and beer glasses. Have some pretty wine and beer glasses handy for guests to pour their drinks in, and no one has to know that those drinks just came out of a ratty old cooler in the corner!
4. Blankets and throws are both stylish and practical
Credit: Sdf Rahbar
The best parties are those where we lose track of time because we're having so much fun. Before you know it, the sun has set and it starts to feel chilly, although no one wants to go back inside. That's why before the party starts, I would put some blankets and throws over the backs of the chairs. There's so many color and design options, and are such an easy way to jazz things up. They also serve a very practical and useful purpose. Your guests may get so cozy they don't want to leave!
5. Show your personality
Credit: Abhishek Hajare
I like to think of my backyard as an extension of my house. It should reflect who I am. One time, after having just traveled to Hawaii for the first time (which truly is paradise), I threw a Hawaiian-themed dinner party, complete with plastic leis and fruity drinks with umbrellas. I happened to have yellow throw blankets, which matched the color scheme perfectly, and placed a couple of orchids on the tables.
I also used blue and white bowls and plates, because they reminded me a lot of the Pacific Ocean. Cheesy? Yup. Great fun? ABSOLUTELY! My friends all loved it. Besides, this is your party. You have the right to enjoy it as much as anyone else! The great thing about creating a theme is that you don't necessarily have to purchase something new every time. Just see what you have already at home and use your imagination!
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