Barbecue Party

On the continuum of casual, cookouts rank just above picnics. Keep the ease while upping the ambience with all-paper tableware that you sweep into the trash when the party is over.

The Table
What’s more natural on a summer day than colors as hot as the sun? Mix solids, stripes, and prints to keep things playful. Bright yellow plates (with a glossy coating that stands up to barbecue sauce) really pop when set on larger, patterned plates that serve as chargers. Using butcher paper as a runner or a table cover creates a white background for colorful settings and eases cleanup. Final touch: Place flowers in mod geometric cardboard vases you’ll never have to wash.

Creature Comforts
To keep ants from crashing the party, place outdoor ant traps around the dining area the day before. Short on seats? Drag chairs from the den onto the lawn, or place the coffee table and some pillows on a blanket.

Recipe for Success
Grill only one or two foods so you’re not hovering over the flames all day. Serve make-ahead dishes, such as a big platter of grilled vegetables, suggests Steven Raichlen, author of The Barbecue! Bible (Workman, $20, www.amazon.com). “They look gorgeous and taste great at room temperature,” he says. “And the dry, high heat of grilling caramelizes the sugars, adding depth of flavor.”

Set Out a Basket of…
Sun protection — spray-on sunscreen, heavy-duty sunblock, lip balm, even sun visors and hats.

Party Favor
If you make your own marinade or barbecue sauce, why not let guests enjoy it again at home? Fill plastic squeeze bottles (found at party stores), wrap them in butcher paper, and tie them with twine or raffia bows.

For tips, menu ideas, and recipes, go to www.realsimple.com/outdoorparty.