Outdoor Entertaining Essentials for Every Season
Outdoor events would never be complete without some exciting lawn games! This cornhole set will bring fun for all ages and comes equipped with its own traveling case to make transportation simple.
Proper lighting creates the ambience and extends the time that your patio can be enjoyed past dark. String lights, lanterns and solar-powered garden lights add beauty while fulfilling multiple functions simultaneously.
Summer
Summer’s warm temperatures make outdoor dining enjoyable with picnics in the park, sunset spritzes on the terrace and al fresco dinners that look straight out of a lifestyle shoot. To create an ideal patio setup that is both stylish and functional, invest in durable dining essentials designed specifically for use outdoors such as large serving trays or melamine plates that enhance grilling, dining and storage needs.
When serving appetizers or light meals outdoors, this large platter allows guests to easily serve themselves. Simply place dips, chips, crudite or other treats in the center and watch as your guests spin the platter to grab their favorites bites! Alternatively, this multifunctional piece can also be used as a display piece for salads and desserts.
Paper plates can easily get caught in the wind, so for outdoor entertaining use opt for sturdy melamine sets like these instead. Not only are these shatter-resistant plates easy to clean but their chic style make them much more suitable than their paper alternatives.
Whenever hosting outdoor soirees that last into the evening, ambient lighting is of vital importance. Instead of traditional candle holders that can easily blow over in windy conditions or hurricanes that might shatter when lit up for an outdoor party, try these weatherproof travertine oil lamps that look beautiful when lit for your backyard bash.
Keep a collection of useful extras handy on your patio to help create stress-free events, from citronella candles for keeping mosquitoes at bay to portable rechargeable Bluetooth speakers that allow guests to listen to music all evening long – these essential accessories make great additions to your outdoor collection!
Fall
Fall is an ideal season to host outdoor gatherings, especially if your space can create a cozy ambiance. A propane patio heater will keep guests toasty warm through the night while a fire pit serves as an aesthetically pleasing focal point that you can use to roast marshmallows and tell stories around a cozy campfire. Plus, adding some accessories like these reclaimed bourbon barrel stave roasting sticks could make an excellent finishing touch to any fall tablescape!
At autumn entertaining events, one essential is decorative lighting such as these string lights with frosted globe bulbs. Not only will they keep the party going long into the night but their glow creates a romantic ambiance as well. Another great way to keep guests satisfied and create an enjoyable atmosphere is serving tasty snacks and beverages; this wooden platter comes equipped with its own lazy susan so that it can easily spin around to serve everyone their favorite snack or beverage!
As with any tablescape design, having the appropriate table linens on hand is crucial. If you’re creating an autumn-themed tablescape, these vintage cottage floral napkins make for the ideal fall table linens; toss a couple of these napkins into a basket with other table linens and accessories for easy hosting of an autumn dinner party!
Don’t forget the essentials that will ensure a pleasant party experience for guests and help the event run smoothly, such as outdoor umbrellas to provide shade on hot days and citronella mosquito coils to repel bugs that might ruin your backyard celebration. Other helpful items may include handheld microphones and portable speakers so you can give speeches as needed, machine-washable outdoor rugs in case there are spills, as well as handheld microphones so impromptu speeches can take place without interruption and handheld microphones/portable speakers for speeches when needed and handheld microphone/portable speaker systems which allow impromptu speeches without hassle or even needing to worry about having enough equipment when planning for an impromptu speech giver could use handheld microphone/portable speaker system to give impromptu speeches without worry or worrying if needed gear ever again when planning another get-together! These entertaining basics can be used anytime throughout the year; never worrying about having all necessary gear ready when planning another get-together with friends/family!
Winter
No matter if it’s an outdoor barbecue, heartwarming family picnic, or serene car-camping excursion under the stars, having the appropriate gear makes outdoor enjoyment easier than ever. Essential items include durable all-season seating (such as plush weatherproof sofas and chairs) as well as versatile food prep equipment that doubles up as servingware during outdoor gatherings.
An efficient multipurpose lazy susan makes serving chips, crudites and other small bites simple and stylish. Guests can easily reach what they’re searching for while its rotating platter allows them to find exactly what they need, while its clear glass lid enables easy monitoring without opening up the entire tray. This versatile yet stylish option makes an essential patio addition that comes in several sizes.
Be sure to purchase outdoor-ready dinnerware and drinkware, such as melamine plates and bowls for easy meals; acrylic glasses for stylish entertaining purposes; stainless steel utensils are stylish yet tough enough for use outdoors; for maximum versatility consider investing in dishware that doubles up as unbreakable cups for picnics and car camping trips.
Other items to have on hand when hosting an outdoor gathering include a portable heater to maintain comfortable temperatures, a rechargeable bluetooth speaker for playing music during dinner conversations and citronella candles or torches to repel mosquitoes from entering. Don’t forget a cozy blanket stash as well; the party may extend past dusk.
Spring
Be it an exciting backyard barbecue, an intimate family picnic, or an exciting camping excursion under the stars–any outdoor activity requires careful preparation. By keeping some useful tools like party tents, grill trays, drinking glasses, coolers, sheet pans and folding chairs handy, your outdoor events are bound to run smoothly and successfully.
Serve fresh salads and tender beef ribs outdoors using durable dinnerware that’s suitable for outdoor dining. Melamine and enamel dishes are durable enough for picnics and car camping trips while looking just as beautiful as fine china dishes.
If your gatherings tend to extend into the night, create a cozy ambience by choosing ambient lighting that won’t get dissipated by wind gusts. String lights, lanterns and solar path lights all produce soft illumination to highlight landscaping features while string lights or lanterns could provide string lights are good ways to light up a space with an intimate glow that adds flair and character. Electric fireplaces double as coffee tables while fire bowl tables create the feeling of real fire flames without the risk of blowouts from gusts of wind!
Though luxurious tablescapes with crisp linens and delicate china may be associated with summer, casual dinner parties are more appropriate to its relaxed ethos. When hosting outdoor dinner parties this season, opt for neutral color palettes like coastal blues or terra-cotta tones, using natural textures and materials for an inviting outdoor ambience.
As an alternative to a centerpiece, place a large serving tray filled with dips, chips or crudite in the center of the table – this keeps food and drinks within reach for everyone at the table! Additionally, pot some herbs in mini terra-cotta planters for decorative touch.
Hosting an outdoor party can be daunting and can quickly lead to forgetfulness if not prepared properly. To avoid this from happening, add a handy checklist on your patio as a helpful reminder of items you might require – keeping extras such as citronella mosquito coils or discreet bug zappers handy may come in handy should pests make an unwelcome appearance!