The story below is from our July/August 2023 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
Formal or informal, planned or impromptu, your backyard gatherings have never been so much fun — or looked so good!
Summer is the season of getting together, the heat and the late light encouraging us to linger just a little longer, to have just one more drink, to wave over your neighbor to join you. The fragrance of summer blooms and the sleepy magic of passing fireflies create a natural ambience that begs for a little music and maybe a string of twinkle lights or two. Whether you’re throwing a backyard barbecue, a kid’s pool party or just gathering some friends for an impromptu get-together, it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to transform your own yard, porch or deck into something special.
START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE
Nothing irritates me more than how-to articles that tell you that you just need to buy a bunch of stuff. That is not very hard, nor very creative, but also sometimes you just don’t have outdoor party supplies in the budget.
The great news is you probably already have almost everything you need to create a lovely and festive space to enjoy a summer gathering. So let’s start with the basics:
CLEAN OUT THE SPACE
Scrub, weed, power wash and toss any dirt, garden overgrowth or general outdoor detritus that’s collected over the season. (If you let Fido out back on his own, you should probably do a lawn scan for whatever he’s left back there as well!)
Wipe down all furniture, getting the bird poop and pollen off of anything you plan for people to sit on or eat off of. Start with a space that is as clean and clear as possible.
TAKE STOCK
From a functional standpoint, most gatherings only require a few needs to be met: places for people to sit, places to put food and drinks and places to put trash. That’s it! (We’ll talk decorations and activities later).
Places to sit: chairs are the obvious choice (don’t be afraid to raid your home for kitchen and dining chairs or even any stools you might have), but unless you’re having a formal sit down meal, you probably won’t want to clog up your space with bulky seating. Consider throwing down some quilts, rugs, picnic blankets (or even canvas drop cloths!) for casual, easy places where people can lounge. Toss some throw pillows (from your couch and beds – why not? If they have removable cases you can wash, even better!) to make the areas even more inviting and comfortable.
Places to put food and drinks: picnic tables, card tables, even folding TV dinner trays can all work. If possible, you can even move your dining room table right out onto the lawn – don’t overlook any furniture in your house that’s easy to move and clean!
More places to put food and drinks: Disposable plates, cups and cutlery is great for very large crowds and kids, but having a non-themed set of plastic or melamine tableware is a great thing to have in your summertime arsenal. Or for an elevated option, use the real deal! If you’re nervous about breaking any of your everyday dishware and glasses, hit up some thrift shops to collect a mishmash of dishes that can be your outdoor party set.
Places to put trash: so sure, you can set out some trash bins or bags and call it a day, and honestly, no judgment! But if you want to skip the eyesore, try some big wicker baskets (which you can find at thrift stores for cheap) lined with bags. This is one of those small, quick ways you can take a utilitarian element and make it festive. Which brings us to decorating.
EVERGREEN OUTDOOR DECORATING
There are always going to be events that require a trip to the nearest party store for those ultra-specific themes (like pretty much every kid’s birthday party ever), but the beauty of a summer gathering is that they can be on-the-fly and very casual. Most of the time, all you’ll need to do is light some citronella candles, fire up the grill and text one of your guests to grab a bag of ice on the way – and there is a real pleasure in these effortless get-togethers. But if you have the time and get the itch, here are some very simple, fun and even elegant ways to doll up your space.
Tablecloths: instantly imbue the party area with color and unify mismatched tables with your table coverings. For a rustic, homestead vibe try canvas drop cloths or sheets of burlap. Gingham, checkered or stripes can also feel homey but add pops of color. If you’re mixing and matching, think about color over pattern: analogous colors (like blues and greens, or reds and pinks) or monochrome (shades of one color) can help unify polka dots, florals, tie-dye or anything you’re working with.
Lights: if you’re hanging past sunset, you’re going to want some lighting. White holiday lights will do the trick here or any string of outdoor lights that you have on hand. Drape over a railing or from your tree branches to give a soft, festive glow to your evening. Citronella candles are always welcome, but consider some lanterns and votives as well, which you can pop into glass jars and scatter on the tables or even on the lawn. Consider bringing out some of your favorite tapered candles and candlesticks for the food tables if you’re going for something a little more sophisticated.
Flowers and greenery: the beauty of being outside is that this is a step you can skip – it’s already all around you, after all! But if you’re setting up buffet tables or having a family-style sit down, flowers and greenery can help to anchor the setting, regardless of the state of the table itself (empty, stacked with food, cluttered with used dishes, etc). If you’re able, shop your own garden for wild or cut flowers, or trim some of your bushes or herbs to create a runner-style centerpiece of greenery.
Pitchers, vases and jars can help elevate any bouquets you want to display, but if you want a low-cost option with a high impact, consider picking up some cheap carnations or baby’s breath from the grocery store and create big, densely-packed bunches on your tables. Anything can look elevated and artful if you have a lot of it, so don’t be shy! Tie twine or ribbons around jars to make bunches of greenery look especially cute.
Garlands: not just for the holidays, garlands of greenery, flowers, paper, balloons and more are a cost-effective and easy way to create a party vibe anywhere. If you’re crafty, a quick Pinterest search will have you on a tissue paper journey you can pack up and keep for future parties for years.
You can also steal the aesthetics of a certain very popular British baking show and try your hand at traditional bunting: sew triangles of scrap fabrics onto ribbon that can be tied up around your party. Or, if you want to get the kids involved, have a painting afternoon where you cover as much craft paper as possible with bright colors. When it’s dry, cut into triangles and staple them to ribbon or use a needle to thread with string for a quick paper bunting that doubles as a fun kids activity.
ALL IN THE DETAILS
Make your party feel special with these cute details:
Festive ice cubes: whether you’re using them for drinks or just filling buckets for chilling drinks, this is a low-cost, high-impact detail that your guests will love. Fill ice trays with water as usual, but add in berries, small citrus slices, flowers or even sprigs of herbs for ice cubes you can use for both decoration and for drinks.
For kids, leave out cute baskets or buckets of bubble wands, sidewalk chalk or even freeze pops for them to grab (rest the pops in ice cubes with frozen dino figurines or other small plastic toys for a fun surprise!).
Unify your containers: whether you’re putting bunches of forks and straws, cans of bug spray and sunscreen or assembling a little DIY s’mores station, consider using the same type of container across the party. Baskets, plastic or metal buckets, glass jars or even planter pots are all containers you can find in various sizes to suit your party’s many needs. If you have to mix and match containers, use one kind of ribbon or twine to wrap each one, giving it a cohesive look.
PLANNING FOR YOUR FUTURE SELF
If throwing a party on a budget means you have to cut some style corners to make it work, don’t sweat it! Take this as an opportunity to start planning for your future parties. Keep an eye on thrift stores, yard sales or even your neighbor’s curbsides to start your collection of containers, tableware and seating options for future parties.
If you do end up throwing a bigger, more formal gathering in your backyard at some point, consider buying instead of renting some items that you can use again over the years. We had a large backyard wedding that we populated with thrifted dishes and silverware, but we bought some small IKEA glasses in bulk that we still use for parties and as housewarming gifts almost ten years later!
And don’t forget to ask your friends and neighbors to share if they have any tablecloths, chairs, buckets or whatever else that could save you money, time and storage space.
With the right mindset, it’s easy to transform any summer gathering into a festive, stylish and memorable celebration.
The story above is from our July/August 2023 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!