Outdoor Entertaining Ideas
Last updated August 21, 2024
Chloe Mackintosh is the voice and curator of Boxwood Avenue, which she describes as a “blog for the creative”. Chloe lives on a 160,000 acre cattle ranch in northern California with her husband and cows, sheep, chickens, kittens, horses, and one adorable dog.
A Note From The Home Depot
These five easy outdoor entertaining tips will help you make the most of your patio or deck this spring and summer.
These tips are from consummate entertainer Chloe Mackintosh of Boxwood Avenue. She explains how lighting, seating, activities and more can make your evenings on the deck with friends and family something truly special.
Table of Contents
5 Easy Outdoor Entertaining Tips
Include Lots of Outdoor Lighting
Set Up Multiple Sitting Areas
Plan an Activity
Add Fresh Flowers and Living Elements
Provide Comfortable Seating
5 Easy Outdoor Entertaining Tips
With warming weather in springs comes the anticipation of backyard entertaining with friends and family. The Home Depot has everything you need to host a fabulous evening full of comfort and style. Try these five easy tips to elevate your next family get together!
Include Lots of Outdoor Lighting
Lighting is one of the key elements you should keep in mind when designing a beautiful room, and your outdoor space is no different! Using multiple light sources ranging in warmth and brightness will dramatically improve the overall feel of your outdoor gathering.
I combined beautiful string lights with candlelit lanterns and light from the fire pit to create a warm and inviting space for guests. I love the glow that string lights create, and I don’t think it’s possible to over-do candlelight – I say, the more, the better!
Set Up Multiple Sitting Areas
I love hosting dinner parties because it is a way for me to invite my closest friends into a private setting for meaningful conversation, laughter, and memories. I like to keep in mind that guests will naturally drift off into their own conversations before and after dinner. To accommodate this, I like to create multiple sitting areas for everyone to gather and relax. Not only does a fire pit provide warmth, but it is also a comforting place for friends to chat.
Tip: I love my all-weather wicker poufs because they can store firewood, but double as extra seating!
Plan an Activity
Planning some sort of activity for post-dinner fun is a great way to extend the night and keep the party going.
Rather than sending your guests out the door right after dinner, plan something interactive for everyone to participate in. That might be grilling peaches over the fire pit, a game of Charades, or in this case, making a classic campfire dessert.
S’mores are one of the easiest desserts for you to prepare, and are a hit no matter what. You can get creative and place out different types of chocolate like peanut butter cups, or caramel-filled bars.
I used my round metal garden stool as a side table and placed the ingredients on a galvanized serving tray to create a DIY dessert bar which is just as easy to clean up as it is to set up!
Add Fresh Flowers and Living Elements
As a rule of thumb, I keep something living in each room of our house; whether that is fresh flowers, a plant, or a pet, I think it adds life into our home. An outdoor living area should get the same treatment!
Adding fresh flowers and potted plants to a patio is an easy way to breathe life into the space, making it feel welcoming and lived in.
I love getting creative and using unexpected objects whenever I can, so rather than putting a potted plant into a planter, I used a large glass vase making the roots visible.
Instead of using my galvanized serving caddy for utensils and napkins, I filled it with ice and water and then placed fresh flowers and cold drinks inside. This is an easy way to surprise and delight your guests (an outdoor entertaining tip I learned from my wedding planner)!
Provide Comfortable Seating
When it comes to outdoor entertaining tips, one of the most important is to provide plenty of comfort for your guests. Supplying blankets and bug spray, and making sure your seats are cozy are little details that your guests will appreciate.
The wicker chairs from theLemon Grove outdoor collection are incredibly comfortable, and I love that the cushion slipcovers can be easily swapped. The Lemon Grove outdoor rocking chairs would be a great addition to your patio collection, providing comfort and style!
I hope you have enjoyed these easy outdoor entertaining tips. For more easy entertaining tips, visit me at BoxwoodAvenue.com!
Follow our Patio Style Challenge board on Pinterest for more patio decorating ideas and inspiration. And check out our Patio Style Challenge playlist on YouTube.
Browse The Home Depot’s online Patio Furniture section for patio sets to fit any style or budget.
This post was created in partnership with The Home Depot. The author may have received compensation for this article and associated images or video, potentially in the form of products and/or services. All expressed opinions and experiences are the author’s own words.
