Warmer weather is right around the corner, and with it comes backyard entertaining. It may feel strange to think about cookouts and lawn games right now, but a little thought and you’ll be ready to host the best backyard parties on the block.
The Look
First up, we have to lay the foundation for a well-organized outdoor space. That means mowing your lawn, weeding, and tidying up any flower beds. A little mulch goes a long way when making a visual impression on your guests. Think of this as the curb appeal for your backyard gathering.
Gathering Spaces
This is where we think about the the “flow” of your party. Guests tend to congregate around food, drinks, and activities. Try to spread them out as much as possible, then use seating and decor to define each area.
An outdoor lounge area with central coffee table says “relax with snacks.” A drink station next to a high table or two will encourage guests to mingle instead. If you’re offering a buffet instead of sit-down meal, it’s best to leave it inside. That way, the food is protected from sun and insects. Your guests also have an excuse to enjoy the air conditioning if they get too hot.
In the dog days of Summer, you can use shade to define a space. Tents and sun-sails make easy (and inexpensive) ways to provide relief from the afternoon sun, and guests will naturally gather in the shade.
Seating
There are two things to keep in mind when adding seating to your outdoor entertaining area: purpose and size. The purpose is how you see you guests using the area. Do you want them to mingle and float from one space to another? Or do you envision a sit-down backyard gathering? Size considers how much of your backyard each seating arrangement takes up.
If you prefer lively movement to your gathering, consider hard surfaces (like benches) and temporary seating solutions like folding chairs and high stools. They still provide your guests a place to sit, but they’re more likely to move after 20 minutes or so. By contrast, outdoor lounge furniture provides a comfortable location where guests will sit for much longer periods of time.
Your options might be restricted by the overall size of your outdoor space. If you have a smaller backyard footprint, having no seating is perfectly acceptable. Instead, provide high tables, bars, and ledges to rest drinks and food on. Guests will naturally gather around places where they’re not holding refreshments while having a conversation. There are plenty of ways to maximize a smaller outdoor entertainment area.
Lighting
Exterior lighting options have seriously expanded in the last 10 years. From the renewed excitement around the Edison-style bulb, to glowing cubes, and even illuminated seating, you have loads of options. Here are a few of my favorites.
Overhead string lights (Edison-style or otherwise) are easy to install and take down. If you already have some gutter clips for your holiday lights, use those as your anchor points. string lights provide a nice overall ambience once the sun sets.
Firelight lends a warmth to outdoor entertaining (see what I did there?). I prefer a few oil torches in areas my string lights don’t reach. You can also purchase insect-repelling oil to keep the mosquitoes away!
This last tip is my number-one: put a string of battery-powered fairy lights inside a mason jar. They’re portable and super-cheap! Place them on tables, bars, porch railings, anywhere really. They add wonderful atmosphere where other lighting types can’t reach.
Bugs
Outdoor entertaining can be a double-edged sword when the sun sets. Various insects love to come out around dusk. Aside from the insect-repelling oil I mentioned above, I always keep several options of bug spray next to the door. Guests can apply it when they get outside, and it’s in easy reach if it wears off.
If you’re leaving food outside for guests to snack on, place an upside-down strainer (yep, the one you use for pasta) over the dish. It helps keep flies and other pests away from your delicious snacks.
Activities for Backyard Entertaining
Not to be outdone by furniture and decor, activities are a great ice-breaker for different groups of guests. Horseshoes and cornhole are simple backyard games that don’t take a lot of space. They’re a great way for guests to get to know each other.
I personally have friends with small kids, and try to work in ways to entertain them as well. Sidewalk chalk is my favorite solution. Trust me: when the first adult starts drawing, others (with kids or not) will remember how much fun it can be.
Make it Yours
This is certainly a broad approach to getting ready for backyard entertaining. But take each of these elements into consideration as you plan your gathering, and guests will be talking about it for weeks to come.
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