I love spring! No matter how long or short our Virginia winters are, I really look forward to spending more time outside, on the patio. There seems to be some urge to bask in sunshine, plant that garden, put your feet up outside and invite friends over for the grilling — for entertaining on the patio.
It takes some planning to ensure a fun and successful gathering, though, to make sure all enjoy themselves. Entertaining on the patio is MORE than just buying lawn furniture or accessories. It’s about creating a space that family and friends will want to hang out in. There are a million ideas out there about ways to decorate a patio or backyard, but few resources on how to PREPARE your space and PLAN your occasion. And as the hosts, you’ll want to enjoy yourselves, too.
So here are 4 Top Tips to PREPARE your patio for a spring and summer of entertaining!
4 Top Tips to PREPARE for Entertaining on the Patio
Inspect:
Identify maintenance issues and repair damage to your patio, yard, furniture and equipment before your first party. Starting around mid-to late March, start walking your patio, around your yard, opening up the tool shed and turning over the furniture. This is especially important if you have stored furniture, yard art, etc. as you never know what critters may have taken up residence inside your shed and underneath your chairs. I once found not one but TWO black widow spiders under our Adirondack stools (yikes!).
List:
Make a list of all the cleaning, maintenance, repairs and additions you may need, and prioritize: decide what gets done based on timing (the wedding reception in April), weather (re-stain the deck after spring rains), cost (retire ALL the rusted out lawn chairs), or urgency (rotten boards need to be replaced for safety). Keep this list with you and share it with the family and friends – everyone can be on the lookout for those replacement lawn chairs at garage sales, or snag the deck stain on-sale at the local hardware store. Begin early to help spread out the time and effort for repairs and cleaning.
Clean:
While one of the joys of entertaining outdoors is that spills and messes can be hosed away, you want to wash away winter debris. Use a stiff outdoor broom to sweep away as much dirt as possible, and sometimes that’s all you need to do. If not, now’s the time to get out the water hose and wash down the surface. If you need a soap, I found that Shaklee’s Basic H2 is a great safe product that lifts up grease and grime. Click here to go to Shaklee.com then search “Basic H2”. Or, evaluate the need for a pressure wash.
Maintain or Repair:
Extend the proper care and maintenance on yard surfaces and furniture. Take steps necessary to repair and replace rotting pieces, loose rails, warping, etc.; stain and seal the wood deck; clean and oil the wood furniture; seal the concrete patio; paint the wrought iron: add gravel to bare spots in patios or paths or mulch to the beds. Be honest about what you can DIY and what will require a professional. The lifespan of your stuff can and will be extended with proper care and maintenance.
4 Top Tips to PLAN for Entertaining on the Patio
Consider:
This may sound obvious, but take some time and assess what kind of entertaining you want to have and what your patio or yard can accommodate. Often times, outdoor gatherings fail when the hosts aren’t realistic about the limitations of their space – you cannot have a pool party without a pool, obviously, but you have to think about all your events: a BBQ for 20 will not work when there is only seating for 6. Then you can decide what to scale up – your furniture – or scale back – your expectations.
Arrange:
With what you have, create your outdoor space and define an outdoor room. Some chairs and side tables are the ideal setting for drinks and appetizers. Or place lounge chairs around the fire pit for hot toddys and S’mores. Arranging now will help you see what needs to be upgraded — to go from drinks and appetizers to a casual dinner may need a dining table. Adding pillows make the lounge chairs more comfortable. Or a proper shade will prevent overheated guests. You will want to encourage your guests to slowdown, mingle, and enjoy themselves.
Basics:
No matter what the reason for your entertaining, there is certain décor that needs to be on hand to make it comfortable for your guests – seating, of course but also, serving ware (don’t stress about matching the dish ware), utensils and linens (or get creative with disposables). Take the time of day and weather into account – shade for afternoon gatherings as well as sunscreen, and cover for rain is essential. Also figure out how you will keep the bugs from attacking your guests – either retreat to behind a screen, have bug spray on hand (my personal favorite is NEEM Adios Outdoor Spray, or the frontline defense of containers with plants that repel the mosquitoes. A trash can should be available discreetly and make sure your guests know the way to the bathroom.
Mood:
It will help your planning if you think about a particular theme or activity for your party with everything from the decorations to the playlist. There are simple ways you can use to set the mood – think of the tone that you set when you encourage your guests to serve themselves vs plates delivered via ‘wait’ staff! Also use additional items to help create your mood — with your lighting like some cool strings lights, an outdoor drink cart, even the deserts you serve — maybe easy homemade chocolate ice cream or homemade peanut brittle crunch ice cream. Supper yum!
Please Leave a Comment
Please share your comments in the area below. What are your annual preparations for patio entertaining? What schedule do you follow? Which party planning resource do you like best?
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