There’s nothing like an outdoor party to bring family and friends together for drinks, alfresco dining, and comfortable conversation in the fresh air. At Williamsburg Wicker Patio & Home, we love helping our clients design and furnish their outdoor spaces to make them beautiful and functional for all kinds of events. If hosting an outdoor party is on your calendar, here are five tips to make it memorable for your guests.
Bring the Dining Room Outside
Don’t rule out using anything from your dining room in an outdoor setting. Linens, dishes, and glassware can elevate your outdoor dining sets without making them too formal. Use the same decorating and furnishing sensibilities for your patio, deck, or yard as you would for the inside of your home. Incorporate colorful tablecloths and napkins to add flashes of color and use contrasting materials such as wood and metals to create textures.
Provide Comfortable Seating
Even when you host a party indoors, getting your guests to sit down and relax can be tricky – everyone ends up in the kitchen, right? To create an outside environment where guests will take a seat and chat, you need have a good mix of options. Chairs with armrests, cushioned seats, chaise lounges, and end tables for drinks and food can work together to keep everyone comfortable. You can also lay out the seating in a way that promotes conversation and keeps guests from getting isolated or all gathering in one crowded spot.
Decorate Outdoor Space Naturally
Even though your outdoor party space may already have green grass, flowers, and trees, you can still add natural elements to enhance the outside atmosphere. Flowers, or even herbs placed in decorative pots or containers create textures, colors, and fresh scents that contribute to the relaxing feel. You can choose plant varieties that are in season to match your décor and mix in accessories that that the team at Williamsburg Wicker always says are the key to completing every great design idea.
Make Sure There’s Shade
Here in Virginia, the sun can warm up your outdoor party in a hurry. If you have shade trees, set up seating underneath them to make sure guests stay cool and comfortable. Patio umbrellas are also great for protection from the sun and even a sudden rain shower. No matter what kind of outdoor furniture you have, umbrellas are available in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and models to help you create a cooler outdoor area that’s still stylish.
Light the Way
When the sun goes down, it’s essential for your outdoor lighting to create a warm ambiance, but you also need to make sure pathways and key areas are well-lit so guests can walk around safely and comfortably after dark. Strategically placed and designed lighting elements can include a combination string lights, lanterns, candles, and even a firepit.
At Williamsburg Wicker Patio & Home, we know how to elevate your outdoor party experience with high-quality furniture and accessories that will “WOW!” your guests. Our design team can help you build the best layout and choose the perfect outdoor products for your patios, pool areas, and deck spaces. No matter what your style preference is, from all-weather teak to wicker furniture to poly Adirondack chairs, we’ve got a full selection of the leading brands. Browse our products online and visit us at our Williamsburg, VA location to learn more about our patio and home furnishings.
