Learn how to host a fabulous summer gathering while keeping your cool with these helpful summer entertaining tips!
Entertaining during the summer months should be relaxing and enjoyable. Let me show you some great tips to help you achieve your perfect summer gathering!
Tip 1: Provide some shade if your party is during the afternoon hours. Too much sun will make everyone head inside!
Pergolas, umbrellas, sun sails, and even some well-placed trees help everyone keep cool during an outdoor gathering! If your deck or patio are in full-sun, consider your shade options.
Tip 2: Consider making a DIY air conditioner! I promise it’s easier than you might think. You can find the step-by-step tutorial here.
Tip 3: Add cozy toss pillows to your seating area. You could also put out some floor pillows for kids if you need extra seating. Be sure to take your pillows back indoors once the party is over to ensure they last multiple summers.
Making your outdoor spaces feel as cozy as an indoor room is easy to do simply by switching up the accessories. I often use indoor accessories outdoors just for the evening when entertaining. Here is the same space with two different looks! You can find the sourcing and details for my neutral-themed patio here.
And here it is in blue! You can find the sourcing and full details for my blue patio theme here.
Tip 4: Have some fun games for anyone who would like to play. Games always bring laughter and merriment!
You can find lots of fun outdoor summer games here: 30+ Fun Outdoor Games and 17 DIY Games for Outdoor Family Fun.
I created these cornhole boards several years ago and shared the tutorial for them here: How to Build a Cornhole Board.
Tip 5: Set up a drink station so guests can hydrate and help themselves at their leisure.
Outdoor beverage stations are the perfect hassle-free way to keep guests hydrated and refreshed. I converted an old sewing table into a beverage station by placing a cooler inside the table and using shoe organizers on the side to hold glasses. You can find lots of other great backyard hacks here: 50 Backyard Hacks.
Looking for summer drink recipes? Here are some 20 Delicious Summer Cocktail Recipes and Summer Cocktails and Mocktails.
Tip 6: Serve some appetizers or foods to nibble on before the meal is served. People love charcuterie boards. They are great for noshing while talking!
You can find this gorgeous charcuterie board here, and other amazing appetizer recipes 100+ Appetizer Recipes and Snack Ideas: Easy Recipes to Try.
Tip 7: Consider serving a meal that can all be made on the grill, including the dessert! For recipe ideas check out: Grilled Side Dish Recipes: Delicious Grilled Fruit and Vegetable Recipes for Summer Grilling
My family loves this Mexican Street Corn Recipe which goes great with many different grilled meats!
Tip 8: Set the table using seasonal fruits and flowers. If anyone needs a quick zest of lemon, you’ve got it covered!
You can find this gorgeous Citrus Themed Outdoor Tablescape here and if you are looking for even more table setting ideas click here. I love to design beautiful and attainable tables!
Tip 9: Hang string lights to create gorgeous evening lighting! These lights are solar powered and do not require a plug.
Solar powered string lights are not as bright as plug-in string lights, but are perfect for those difficult-to-power areas! I have them over our shed deck as well as in our firepit. You can find all of the details and sourcing on our shed deck here. If you’re looking for creative ways to hang string lights, I highly recommend checking out this post on How to Easily Hang Outdoor String Lights Without Trees. 
Tip 10: Always end the evening with s’mores!
S’mores for dessert are always perfect! Check out these 14 Smores Recipes for all the chocolate marshmallow goodness. We add the firepit to our property last summer and I show how we made it here: DIY Gravel Fire Pit.
I hope you have a great summer gathering! You might be interested in these ideas as well:
