Now that summer seems to have (thankfully) arrived, the mood to entertain outdoors has taken over the city. Before you host your next soirée, there are a few key tips to keep in mind when creating the ultimate patio party.
First, pick a theme that stays true to your design style: choose an outdoor decor that suits your personality and interior decor so that it doesn’t feel contrived. Continuity will allow you to bring textiles and details from your interior (ie: rugs, throws and pillows) to create softness and carry the theme from indoors out.
Second, create intimate and functional gathering areas with modular furniture. Rather than a full set of solid furnishings, choose a variety of styles of seating to allow guests to sit where and how they choose. In addition to the traditional outdoor sofa, consider also using poufs, stools that can double as side tables, and even floor cushions to create an entertaining space that can easily be adjusted to suit the crowd.
Next, the key to nailing to ambiance of any party is the lighting. To effectively light the mood, use a variety of outdoor lighting to create the desired effect. Combining outdoor lanterns, string/ twinkle lights, candles and outdoor chandeliers allows you to control the vibe all night long.
Another factor to a successful summer soirée is tuning in on the tone: every party needs a playlist and the patio party is no exception. Invest in portable outdoor speakers that are Bluetooth compatible with your iPad or phone so that you can keep the beats in tune with the mood from wherever you are.
Lastly, don’t forget to serve in style: outdoor serving ware doesn’t get a design pass just because plastic is preferred. Choose outdoor stemware and dinnerware that suits your decor - even the fanciest of dinners lose appeal on a paper plate. A chic way to display the outdoor dishware is a rolling bar cart; not only can you wheel the cart to wherever you wish to serve your guests, but the dishes can get stored on the cart and rolled out of sight when not in use.
