Decorating Diva: Create the best outdoor space for entertaining

Patio party perfection

There’s nothing better than enjoying good food and cold drinks outdoors with friends and family. That’s what summer is all about, but the key to making any patio party a success is more than merely arranging a few chairs around the backyard. With that in mind, we put together some expert tips for creating the perfect outdoor entertaining space for summer.

Choose the perfect spot

Before you start arranging patio furniture, it’s important to be mindful of which type of space you’re working with. “Find an area you’re most likely to do your entertaining in and plan the rest of your yard around that,” advises Hollis. The spot you choose should be the area most conducive to entertaining. “It’s important that the space you’re entertaining in be comfortable for guests, so you’ll want something that has shade, that doesn’t stay too hot or too cold, something with fairly level ground so it’s easy to setup on and easy for guests to walk and stand on,” she says. “You’ll also want something that isn’t too far from your kitchen for when you’re serving food/drinks and an area that has access to outdoor power.”

Nail down a layout

One of the most important aspects of creating the ultimate outdoor entertaining space comes down to how things are arranged. “I think it’s important to figure out the best layout for your parties and then repeat the setup over and over,” says Hollis. “For instance, knowing that your patio can hold one lounge area and a bar and still have a nice flow for guests to move around means that every time you can go back to that setup, regardless of the party style and know it’ll work well,” she explains.

Hollis also suggests keeping setup fairly similar year to year so the process is easy for everyone involved in the party. “It’s also great for your muscle, aka your friends or your spouse, who often get roped into setting up with you since they’ve seen it laid out before they know exactly how to set it up,” she says.