Thursday, March 30, 2017

5 Easy Outdoor Entertaining Tips

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 consumate 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.

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

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized just how much fun game nights are. 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 desert.

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, and 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 the Lemon Grove outdoor collection are incredibly comfortable, and I love that the cushion slipcovers can be easily swapped. The Lemon Grove 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!

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A Colorful Small Patio Update for Spring

This small patio update was a long time coming, but it turned out great. Lauren Lefevre, of Edit by Lauren, made bright, splashy color the theme for her patio makeover with new outdoor furniture, outdoor poufs and a gorgeous outdoor coffee table with beautiful wicker baskets.
Take a look to inspire your own small patio update.

Small Patio Update for Spring

Our back patio has been in major need of an update. We have had the same patio furniture since our twins were born over six years ago and hadn’t made any major updates since. Our patio sits right off our kitchen and is a visual focal point. My idea was to create a cheery outdoor space that looks and feels like a cozy extension of our home. Our patio space is also pretty small, so I also wanted to maximize the area for seating and hosting guests.

The Outdoor Conversational Set

I started our small patio makeover by selecting this attractive, sturdy wicker Lemon Grove Conversational Set. This patio set is well proportioned and extremely comfortable. The ultra-durable Sunbrella slipcovered cushions were a key choice for entertaining families with children. I choose a gorgeous spa blue shade called Spectrum Mist to set the versatile and eye-catching color scheme.

The Outdoor Coffee Table

The Lemon Grove Outdoor Coffee Table is spacious for serving, and the dual baskets underneath provide a perfect storage nook.

The Garden Stool

I added two Hampton Bay metal garden stools to function as side tables. I love the stylish look of these stools and how the additional surfaces can be used to sit drinks, plants and/or patio accessories.

Outdoor Throw Pillows and Poufs

Next I selected bright coral and turquoise accents to add a pop-color to the area. I absolutely love these fun Hampton Bay Blush Medallion and Rigby Striped pillows and the way they complement the Mist blue cushions.

These chic Hampton Bay outdoor metallic poufs are some of my favorite patio accessories. They provide a comfy place to kick up your feet, can double as extra seating and add a fun style element to the space.

The Outdoor Lanterns

Lanterns are both a pretty and practical outdoor accessory. I mixed the colorful Hampton Bay ceramic lanterns and some Hampton Bay metal free-standing lanterns throughout the space, adding a lot of style both day and night. At night, when all of these lanterns are lit, along with a few strands of Hampton Bay Incandescent string lights, the space looks absolutely magical!

Speaking of night, my family loves lighting up a fire pit to roast smores and provide warmth during the cooler months. This Hampton Bay Copper Finish Bowl Fire Pit is the perfect size for a small patio area, and looks attractive even when not in use.

Fuss-free outdoor serving pieces are key for patio entertaining. This set of three Hampton Bay galvanized metal trays are chic and practical.

The Metal Beverage Holder

I also love the look and functionality of this Hampton Bay galvanized metal standing beverage holder. It doesn’t take up much space and makes serving drinks a breeze!

The Outdoor Rug

An outdoor rug plays a dramatic role in making a patio space feel more like a room. This Hampton Bay Agave Natural indoor/outdoor rug helps define the space, feels soft underfoot and adds a cozy element to our patio. It’s honestly amazing how this space felt so much more like a room once we added the rug!

The Greenery

Last but not least, every patio space needs lush greenery. The Home Depot’s Garden Center has an excellent selection of plants. I choose to mix ferns and succulents which added high impact with low-maintenance care.

I am thrilled by how our total small patio upgrade turned out. It’s truly a happy space that looks gorgeous from the inside of our home. Most importantly, it’s a place where great memories will be created with friends and family!

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.

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