With spring in step and summer just around the corner, it’s time to show off your home and your hosting skills. Take advantage of your yard, and turn it into the greatest party place ever for your friends and family to enjoy! Read more to find out the top ten tips for outdoor entertaining from The RTA Store!
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Outdoor Night Lights: You can easily transform a dark
backyard into a tropical paradise by brightening things up. Don’t settle for average fluorescents or overhead floodlights, which are overbearing and costly. Opt for a smaller glow to create a welcoming and relaxing ambiance. Try glass hurricanes as holders for table candles, to keep them safe from the wind, and place them as a centerpiece or in designs around the table. Add torches or heating lamps around the corner edges of the party area to create cool shadows and a tropical vibe. -
Show Your True Colors: Use vibrant colors as accent pieces to ensure your party has the right amount of pop! Although neutral and tropical prints are popular, they will blend in and disappear with your backyard grass, plants, trees, and garden. Go outside the lines by using melon, fuchsia, aqua, and lemon yellow in solid or geometric patterns, which will complement your surroundings nicely and toast off to a lively spring and summer!
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Don’t Forget Your Trash: Often forgotten and never enough, trash disposal is very important for a party, especially if you don’t want a mess to clean up afterward! Do yourself a favor by putting several trash cans close to tables and corners where your guests can easily find and reach them. If you can, designate recyclable cans for all the drinks you’ll be serving.
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Have Fun In The Sun: If your party is during the day, make sure there is plenty of shade for your guests. Go for things like a covered patio, gazebo, umbrellas, and fans. You may even need to rent a tent or canopy. Don’t let your guests sunburn or overheat before the food comes out.
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Beware of Bugs: Being prepared is always a good idea; especially before a party (where you’ll be having too much fun to worry about anything later)! Spray insecticide to your trouble spots beforehand. For a green approach, plant marigolds, lemongrass, citronella, or lavender around the perimeter of the party area, as they are natural mosquito repellents.
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Have Enough Table Room and Seating: Set up extra tables,
trays, chairs, stools, or a portable kitchen cart for your party. You always need more room than you think. Especially with all those yummy appetizers, drinks, and desserts! -
Make Scents: Plant natural blossoms around your patio for a fantastic fragrance all season long. Eleagnus, jasmine, mock orange, and passion vine are excellent choices. Visit your local farmer’s market or plant nursery for more ideas.
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Light Your Fire: Build a backyard fire pit with natural stone or landscape pavers, or choose a simple alternative like a chimenea or portable fire pit. This cozy feature will keep your guests enjoying the warmth it brings outdoors. Get back to nature, and enjoy the extra perks of heating up bite-sized treats like s’mores, hot dogs, and shish kebabs.
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Pretty Plates and Place Settings: A great way to add personality and flare to your party is to purchase melamine plates and cups. They come in a variety of fun colors and designs, and are unbreakable and lightweight — the perfect choice for outdoor parties! -
Terrific Tunes: Find a great station or make a mix of your favorite party music to sing and dance to. Spice things up by playing chart toppers and karaoke to salsa, reggae, rock, and pop hits. The memorable music will keep the party going and be an entertaining addition.
Celebrate the coming of spring and summer, and take advantage of the warm weather and extra space it affords by moving the party outdoors!
At TheRTAStore we help make your dream kitchen a reality with RTA (Ready To Assemble) cabinets, Pre-Assembled cabinets, and accessories with the same (if not better) quality you would find at any retail store but for a fraction of the price. Stop by our website or give us a call and let one of our friendly kitchen designers help make your kitchen dreams come true!
By Justine Delmonico
