It’s that time of year when you want to do everything outdoors: eat, relax and of course, entertain. I don’t know about you, but my patio set looks a bit ragged from all the dinners and late nights last year. If you’re like me, you’ll love this month’s giveaway: an All-Weather Wicker Conversation Set from online home decor and furniture retailer hayneedle.com.
Palazetto Arbor All Weather Conversation Set
This patio furniture set is everything you need to move your living room outside: a loveseat, two chairs, a coffee table and an end table. Plus, the durable canvas fabric cushions are water- and fade-resistant.
Wanna win it? Just leave a comment below this post. This month’s question: What’s your best outdoor entertaining tip or trick? (For ideas, check out our brand new outdoor entertaining guide.)
You may only comment once to be considered, and you don’t have to purchase anything to win; a purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Odds depend on total number of entries. Void where prohibited by law. Only open to legal residents of 50 U.S., D.C. or Puerto Rico, and you must be at least 18 years of age to win. All entries (comments) must be entered between 9:00 a.m. ET on May 4, 2012 and 12:00 p.m. ET on May 7, 2012. Subject to full official rules. By leaving a comment on the blog, you acknowledge your acceptance to the Official Rules. ARV of prize: $1,499.99. Sponsor: Scripps Networks, LLC, d/b/a HGTV, 9721 Sherrill Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37932.
This is a great prize!!!!!!!!
YEs, this is an awesome prize!
I love outdoor entertaining, but don't have an outdoor bar–so I like to have a couple of different, ready made drink pitchers in the fridge. That way people aren't running back and forth to the bar, just pouring from the pitcher!
My best outdoor entertaining tip is to let your husband fire up the grill and do all of the cooking! My hubby cooks the meat, potatoes, vegetables, and sometimes even appetizer and dessert on the grill, so the only thing I need to worry about is beverages — talk about carefree entertaining! ^_^
Do you best to make sure the weather is going to hold up! Not easy to do…but if you are planning an outdoor thing the last thing you want to do is have to make everyone come inside because it is rainy and yucky outside! Oh, and those outdoor fireplace pits – awesome for fall outdoor events!
http://www.purehome.com
be-eautiful furniture. one tip for serving food outdoors while sitting on your lovely furniture are food domes. they can usually be found at any dollar store, are made of thin wicker or screen material and you plop them over food to keep bugs away.
Having a great set like this would make entertaining outdoors easier, you want an inviting space for your guest to relax and have a good time.
My tip is to add some solar lighting for setting the mood in the evening. What makes them really great is that you can move them to wherever you need the lighting…on a path or in flower pots on the deck or patio. There is such a variety of inexpensive solar lights and kits available.
I always use trays when entertaining outside. Not only are they purposeful, but they act as an accessory for my outdoor space. Because there are so many tray options they become part of the decor. But, the best reason for using trays when entertaining outdoors it to help transport items and serve my guests with ease. This gives me more time to enjoy my friends and family.
My outdoor entertaining tip is water & weeds! The start of the outdoor season is celebrated by cleaning the fountain and starting it up in the yard. The sound of the water draws endless comments about how beautiful it sounds and looks. Then like dusting the house, making sure the yard is weeded and clean always helps me relax and enjoy every moment outdoors. Finish with a refreshing drink of anything and we are set.
A box full of slingshots and bowls of little rocks (Frozen peas do not work. They get mushy.), and a mix of targets (balloons that pop, buckets that tink.)
Tiki torches and/or citronella candles! (The mosquitoes are terrible here!)
I'm moving out this year so this set would look great on my new patio!! Crossing my fingers.
Christina
Great friends, great family, great food, and great outdoor lighting.
I can't say that it's a "tip", but stringing white lights (like from Christmas) around the patio just creates a great glow and feels relaxing when everything is green and blooming in the summer
Just put in an offer for my first home yesterday! Hopefully will be a first time homeowner next week! I would say my tip would be to have plenty of mosquito repellent…very unpleasant when the mosquito come around when your sitting outside. Another thing I love when entertaining outside is to have a fire pit (when its a little chilly outside). Nothing is better than being around a fire with friends/family
Our patio is down stairs so we try to limit the number of trips from the kitchen by using picnic baskets and trays. Also, using decorative plastic plates and cups keep things looking fancy without the hazard of broken glass.
I used to avoid entertaining outside because cleaning the table and chairs was such a chore. Now I have a table cover with elastic around the edge to keep the table top clean. You can find inexpensive vinyl table top covers online in cute prints for tables of different sizes and shapes. I also bought a cover for a stack of chairs that ties down for storage over the winter months.
We like to use citronella to keep the bugs from bugging us. We also like to have the pond flowing softly. Nothing relaxes us more than the soft sound of flowing water.
My hosting tip is to make sure that you enjoy yourself and are available to chat with your guests. You don't want to be the host who is so busy cooking and taking care of things that you don't get a chance to say hello. Smile and have fun.
Always have a Plan B in case the weather doesn't co-operate.
Yes plan B is a must… we use canopies, or tents with mesh siding to keep bugs out… we have found this helps keep the kids busy with board games and other activities when it gets to dark for hide-and-go-seek…
Don't forget the music to set the mood. The new streaming services , your MP3 player or radio can really make a good party better. Set it and forget it!
I always like to set up the food buffet style. That way my guests can help themselves and snack at their leisure. Plus a fire pit is a must. Great for when the sun goes down and it gets chilly.
I love using white Christmas lights around or porch and patio.
For a great time outdoors, I love to have friends over with a nice buffet table set to the side, at the end of the table I have a huge ice tub full of cold drinks for all ages. I have seating in multitude spaces to encourage mingling so friends may meet friends. Music plays through the whole party to keep happy guests. When you sit in beautiful cushy and gorgeous piece of outdoor furmiture, I feel great knowing my guests are in an environment to have fun.
When outdoor entertaining, I just like to keep everything very simple with a buffet-style set up of food and drinks. And we have to have some outdoor games … cornhole anyone?
Having an outdoor adventure challenged by rain is not appealing, so we purchased a canvas screened in gazebo with a three tier top for air flow. The screens can be tied back using a fabric color tied to the theme… Spring colors or 4th of July, etc. Christmas lights in the top for lighting (inexpensive and already had everything needed), Tiki Torches outside on the 4 cornors for bug control, Solar spot lights highlighting focal points of your garden, motion activated lights on each side of the home so when the kids run around they are not afraid and they think it's cool
Rock speakers for music and listening to audio books while working in the garden. Havens away from the party such as a bench under a tree for a retreat. An inexpensive water feature or bird bath, or my pond which beat me up every year while washing away Winter's signature. Being on my own, I had to move to a condo last year… life hurts sometimes… but the memories linger forever.
my tip to enjoy your back yard is: don't worry about the jones's (hell i am a jones). enjoy what u have, make the best of your back yard by working with what u have, and go to the dollar stores u'd be surprised how u can spruce up your fence and trees with decorations:):) enjoy it because most of the time u only have 3 to 4 months to enjoy it!!!!!!
Actually, I had a set similar to this in white, with burgandy, white, and rose cushions, sitting on my front porch to match the burgandy door with white & rose color hedge petunias. This is truly beautiful
Much luck to all who entered!
The only piece missing from this attractive grouping is a sturdy but lightweight rolling cart (with two shelf levels) to carry drinks and snacks from the kitchen to such an outdoor living space. It's hard to be cool and casual outdoors when trying to balance a tray full of drinks and eatables as you navigate what are usually slightly rough surfaces. The rolling cart should be as weather proof as the grouping.
All of the suggestions are great ones! Fall, Spring and Summer we utilize our outdoor space for family functions and when I just want a getway…(out of the house)
. For family functions, we use tikki torches to give off light when the sun goes down as well as helps keep insects away… Rubber maid tote (large ones with the rope handles) serves as ice chest… one for kids and others for grown ups… Tables set up in the yard to display food having lines form on each side so the wait will not be long…. I found these cute netted baskets used to cover your food so bugs dont invade, that way you don't have to keep running in and out of the house. The placement of trash barrel in different places in your yard, helps with clean up as well… And last but not least, have comfortable furniture for your guest is #1!!!!!
Thank you and Good Luck to all
I love to place tiki torches around the pool. This serves two purposes, for the mosquitos and mood lighting in the evening. Also Christmas lights under our cover which is attached to our basement. Open the doors to the basement, place tables under the cover and it becomes one big room. This beautiful grouping would be a perfect addition and would certainly make it seem as one big room. Good luck to all that have entered.
Love to be outside eating but those pesky fly's and Mosquitoes, I like to set up a couple of fans on low -med. cools the air and keeps the bugs away.
Use alot of potted plants especially around your entertainment area. I use several solar water fountains and birdbaths to lure the birds in for entertainment and enjoyment. The entertainment area should be well shaded in the heat of the day for guests and of course well lit at night with all of the great solar lights that are out there now. Friends and family love to hang out in a cozy and comfortable oasis. Simple foods and a good grill will finish off the rest of any occasion. One simple food tip especially if you are entertaining several guests outside. I put about 3 to 4 dozen of cleaned sweet corn in a cooler and pour very hot water over it, shut the lid and let sit for one half hour or longer and you can put the cooler on your deck or any place you are going to do your entertaining and when you are done with it you can just pull the plug and let the water drain out.
Prepare before the party, once it starts relax and enjoy. Your friends won't want to leave.
Always have a chilled pitcher of sangria and plenty of glasses!
plenty of water balloons and popsicles
bug repellent and a son who doesn't miss any "presents" my dogs leave in the yard!
I make sure all of the seating areas have either a plant, or fresh cut flowers, light candles, and just make my outdoor room just a cozy and friendly as my livingroom. If there are children involved, I make sure they have their own safe play area. This makes it easier for the parents to relax and enjoy the cookout! I also have a wash tub full of ice and cold drinks, available whenever anyone needs a drink.
During the summer we love to entertain outside, especially at night. It's a great way to relax and enjoy the evening amongst the stars. However the summer scorching summer heat doesnt always agree with keeping our beverages cool. In order to keep maintain a stylish outdoor decor and cool beverages without a bulky cooler, in the summer we use our silver stylish wine bucket as an ice buckets only and make it the center piece for our outdoor table. That way our guest can keep their mixed drinks cold without digging through a bulky cooler or having to go in and out the house to get ice from the ice maker. It's how we combine style and practicality for a enjoyable summer night.
Simply said, make it relaxing and enjoyable! Beverages, snacks, and great company relaxing on some comfortable furnature. We have Airchairs hanging from the deck and pull in portable chairs as needed. We'd love to add this set to our entertaining!
If serving grilled chicken, marinate and cook it the day before. Doing this will help out on time and space for the grill. Also reheating it on the grill this way will feed your hungry guests sooner.
Mow, edge and blow first. Then water the plants and rinse off surfaces. Prepare all food, drinks and snacks in advance so there's running back and forth to the kitchen. Enjoy
As long has you have a great summer meal and a citronella candle – you're golden!
Gorgeous, classic set! Would love to see it on our deck and use it for gatherings!
And to answer this months question: Having a Bocce Ball Set is our best outdoor entertainment tip! Everyone loves playing it because it's so simple and relaxing… And it is a great way to start conversations with new friends and infuse the evening with laughter!
Spend time making custom ice cubes. Nothing worse than drinks getting watered down in the heat. Iced tea cubes, lemonade cubes, etc. If it's an adult party, try making cubes out of the base ingredients, like juice or soda.
Also – be skimpy with seating. It will force people to walk around and hopefully mingle! (Be sure to have some seating around, no need to be sadistic, lol!)
Battery-operated flickering lights ("candles") add light to table surfaces without blinding you from seeing the starlit sky – and won't blow out with a gust of wind or that rowdy guest that a friend brought who insists on running circles around the table.
We love to have cold items, like sandwiches, pasta salads, potatoe salads, meat trays, they are easy to make and tasty. Then we all sit back and talk while watching the kids play in our kid friendly yard.
I don't entertain much due to lack of outdoor furniture
, but my go to tip for outdoor entertainment will always be a good music mix, refreshing drinks, and a good mix of friends.
My best tip for outdoor entertaining is to be prepared but able to go with the flow! Love this outdoor furniture set!
Making sure everything is prepared ahead of time so I can enjoy my guests.