Summer brings many opportunities for backyard parties! They can be a rite of passage for many folks who love sunny days and balmy nights in their own outdoor wonderland socializing with friends and family. If you’ve been eagerly waiting for the first get-together after spending an icy winter on the couch, you can give your yard a party-ready makeover in one weekend or less. Here are some recommendations for yard preparation and some decorating tips that are fairly easy to follow and won’t drain your entertainment budget.
1. Clean Up
Get out your broom, rake, leaf blower, and power washer (if you have one) so you can sweep and rinse away the remnants of fall and winter. Any areas where your guests will be gathering are the places to target: the deck, patio, concrete or stone walkways and also the driveway.
2. Trim Shrubs and Weed Your Gardens
This is a good time to trim bushes and tend to flower beds that need to be weeded.
3. Mow the Lawn
You may have already provided TLC for the grass in the spring. Hopefully, healthy rainfall has given your lawn an emerald color to look its best.
4. Prepare Seating Areas
Do you have enough chairs? If not, you can rent some or you can dress up indoor chairs with covers that can be color-coordinated with your other decorations. You can also check out other outdoor seating options like benches or cushions.
Do you want some shade? You can cover your sitting spots with canopies such as table umbrellas, pergolas or canvas tents. Pergola brackets can be used to build a pergola that will perfectly fit any space. Canvas tents can give you an exotic cabana look when the entry flaps are tied back.
Do you have a fire pit? If not, consider purchasing a chiminea. Fire pits need some planning and construction, but you can purchase a chiminea with a pretty design and bring it home the same day. A Chiminea is safer than an open pit since it is enclosed. Just be sure to put it in an approved area (Not on your deck!) on top of a concrete slab or sand.
5. Prepare Grilling and Dining Areas
Whoever will be the chef for this shindig, will want storage for utensils, seasonings, and containers for all the meat. You can use a wheeled cart if you want or a small table covered with a tablecloth. This setup will make it easier to get the food from the grill to the serving area.
For dining, you might only need one table or you could have a few smaller ones scattered throughout the yard. If you want things to be casual, you could just have one buffet area where everyone grabs plates and utensils and serves themselves. Then they can choose wherever they want to sit.
6. Set Up a Drink Station
A self-serve drink area could be as simple as a few coolers filled with bottles and cans or a linen-covered table with ice buckets, cups and beverages in bins of ice.
7. Have Fun Decorating
You can have a blast choosing a color scheme, shopping around for good deals on lawn and patio furniture, pillows and cushions, and plants in containers. Also, think about the evening and how lighting could add a whimsical vibe to the yard. You have many options including string lights, lanterns, candles, battery-operated tea lights and tiki torches.
This checklist doesn’t include all the other details needed for party planning (Time to make the food!), but prepping the backyard venue will be covered! With a little searching and some DIY elbow grease, you can create a stylish and welcoming space that will spark summer memories year after year!
