30 Tips for Easy Outdoor Entertaining
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30 Tips for Easy Outdoor Entertaining

 Rob Howard
1 of 30 Amy Neunsinger

A successful dinner party doesn’t demand anything elaborate―just simple food, good company, and a convivial setting.

Looking for more fun summer party ideas? Find creative themes, menu ideas, decorating tips, and entertaining shortcuts.

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2 of 30   Minh + Wass

Thick, comfortable cushions on the chairs will encourage guests to linger at the table.


3 of 30 Marcus Nilsson

Lay brown craft paper across a table for a casually finished look―and super-easy cleanup.


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4 of 30  Minh + Wass

Don’t get overly fussy with china: An eclectic mix feels more laid-back.


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5 of 30 Richard Felber

An umbrella not only has the obvious task of providing shade, it also helps define your outdoor dining room.


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6 of 30  Elizabeth Zeschin

Keep food simple for a backyard picnic: salads, fresh fruit, cold drinks.


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7 of 30 Deborah Jaffe 

Make wind less of an issue by skipping a tablecloth. Weight dishes―and greet guests―with small bowls of fresh fruit.


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8 of 30 Jonny Valiant

Repurpose indoor furniture to create an outdoor “room.” Here, a cot covered with pillows becomes a settee.


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9 of 30 Miki Duisterhof

Set up tables in separate areas―say, drinks in one spot, dessert in another―to encourage guests to roam.


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10 of 30 Jonny Valiant

Stock a bar cart with essentials: glasses, plates, ice, a cocktail shaker, and swizzle sticks. Wheel it back to the kitchen if you run low.


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11 of 30 James Baigrie

Floating peonies and gardenias make a pretty centerpiece. Just pour water into a large serving platter, and trim the stems off each flower.


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12 of 30  Rob Howard

To keep dairy-based dips chilled, fill a large bowl with ice, and sprinkle it with kosher salt. Place the dip bowl on top.


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13 of 30 Miki Duisterhof

Keep bugs away from food with an upended wire-mesh colander. Use Popsicle sticks to distinguish the rare burgers from the well-done.


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14 of 30 Amy Neunsinger

A summer party should be relaxed. Not enough seating to go around? Even tree stumps will do just fine.


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15 of 30  John Kernick

Set up a lemonade stand to keep guests hydrated on hot afternoons. Place glasses within easy reach on a dessert stand.


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16 of 30   John Kernick

Create ambience with themed decorations. Here, a starfish is tied to a basic napkin ring for a beachy feel.


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17 of 30 James Baigrie

Bring the seashore to your backyard by filling colorful buckets with sand and sunflowers.


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18 of 30 Rob Howard

On a steamy night, your guests will be happy with simple fare: sparkling drinks and savory little bites, like fancied-up crudités.


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19 of 30  Michele Gastil

At twilight, make sure you provide plenty of lighting. Paper lanterns draped from tree limbs (with dark extension cords that blend in) are charmingly festive.


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20 of 30   Michele Gastil

Circle your party area with citronella candles or incense sticks to light when night falls.


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21 of 30   Beatriz Da Costa

Twinkling strands add instant ambience to any evening party. (Secure with plastic hooks―nails and staples can pierce the wire.)


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22 of 30  Beatriz Da Costa

Hang glowing lanterns on low branches (be sure the lanterns’ handles are long enough that the flames sit about 12 inches from leaves and branches).


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23 of 30  Beatriz Da Costa

A solution for cautious hosts: battery-operated candles. Provides you with the same warm light, with no worries of wind or dripping wax.


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24 of 30  Beatriz Da Costa

Lend an ethereal effect to a backyard with solar lights, which run on energy gathered during the day and snap on as darkness falls.


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25 of 30  Beatriz Da Costa

Light up an outdoor dinner with bright, festive strands intertwined with foliage. 


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26 of 30 Minh + Wass

Add a touch of romance to the night with a chandelier made of fairy lights.


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27 of 30 Jonn Coolidge

All the crackle of a campfire without the need to rough it: Set up a fire pit on grass or a stone patio.


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28 of 30 Minh & Wass

Guests can sink into sturdy wicker chairs, perfect for lolling in on a lazy summer night.


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29 of 30   Michele Gastil

Create cozy seating areas (you can even add indoor furniture to the mix) to encourage conversation.


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30 of 30 Daniela Stallinger

Even when nights grow cooler, a patio fire pit lets you entertain outside.


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