Outdoor Party Planning: 20 Tips and Tricks
Make your garden party a fun affair to remember with these ideas
When it comes to planning a get-together, fickle weather can make things tricky. If you would like to have the party outdoors, there are basically three ways to go: host an outdoor party but have an indoor backup plan; have both indoors and outdoors open during the party; or hold the party entirely outdoors but have a sheltered area just in case.
No matter which scenario you decide on, these 20 ideas are sure to kick-start your party planning.
No matter which scenario you decide on, these 20 ideas are sure to kick-start your party planning.
3. Throw a fancy lawn party
Dress up your regular backyard furniture with new cushions, or simply drape a few yards of colourful fabric over the existing cushions to refresh the look. Cover any old table (even a giant overturned planter will do) with a floor-length tablecloth for instant elegance. Bring out the nice dishes instead of relying on paper plates and plastic utensils.
Dress up your regular backyard furniture with new cushions, or simply drape a few yards of colourful fabric over the existing cushions to refresh the look. Cover any old table (even a giant overturned planter will do) with a floor-length tablecloth for instant elegance. Bring out the nice dishes instead of relying on paper plates and plastic utensils.
4. Make centrepieces … with lettuce!
For a fun centrepiece that’s also budget friendly, fill any round containers you have with pillar candles and big handfuls of fresh lettuce. Be sure to keep the leaves away from the tops of the candles, or use battery-operated candles to avoid the problem of burning leaves entirely. The centrepieces will hold up best if your party is on a cool spring day and your table is not in full sun.
For a fun centrepiece that’s also budget friendly, fill any round containers you have with pillar candles and big handfuls of fresh lettuce. Be sure to keep the leaves away from the tops of the candles, or use battery-operated candles to avoid the problem of burning leaves entirely. The centrepieces will hold up best if your party is on a cool spring day and your table is not in full sun.
6. Have multiple light sources
Just like indoors, lighting can make or break an outdoor room. For the most flattering glow at an evening soiree, try to include at least three light sources. For instance, hang string lights overhead, light the fire pit and place a few small landscape lights in the bushes around the edge of the patio.
Just like indoors, lighting can make or break an outdoor room. For the most flattering glow at an evening soiree, try to include at least three light sources. For instance, hang string lights overhead, light the fire pit and place a few small landscape lights in the bushes around the edge of the patio.
7. Try a theme party
Why not? Theme parties are fun for kids, and adults can get surprisingly excited about them, too. Try a Paris party with crepes, French pop music and a giant cardboard Eiffel Tower for photo ops.
Why not? Theme parties are fun for kids, and adults can get surprisingly excited about them, too. Try a Paris party with crepes, French pop music and a giant cardboard Eiffel Tower for photo ops.
8. Make the kiddie table a place kids want to be
Whether the party you are throwing is kid centred or not, if kids will be present, it’s better for everyone if they are kept happily occupied. A few simple, creative touches can make all the difference. Try one of these:
Whether the party you are throwing is kid centred or not, if kids will be present, it’s better for everyone if they are kept happily occupied. A few simple, creative touches can make all the difference. Try one of these:
- Cover the tables with butcher’s paper and set out textas and stickers to decorate the “tablecloths”.
- Set out buckets of chalk for drawing on the patio floor.
- For younger kids, try a sensory experience like a water table, Play-Doh table or sandbox.
- Put out bubble machines and turn on fun music for an instant dance party.
- Let older kids document the party with instant cameras and post their photos on a big corkboard.
9. Embrace indoor-outdoor flow
Wash the windows, pull back the curtains and open the doors – it’s party time! The benefits of hosting an indoor-outdoor party are immense. More space means more areas for partygoers to cluster and converse, and when people are moving around, a party always seems livelier and more fun. And if the weather takes a turn for the worse, the guests can easily come in.
10. Move the furniture
If guests will be wandering in and out of your home, it’s probably a wise move to rethink your furniture arrangements. Push back some of the chairs and the sofa in the living room to give guests more space to congregate; push the dining table against the wall and use it as a buffet (or bar), and place spare chairs in each room.
Wash the windows, pull back the curtains and open the doors – it’s party time! The benefits of hosting an indoor-outdoor party are immense. More space means more areas for partygoers to cluster and converse, and when people are moving around, a party always seems livelier and more fun. And if the weather takes a turn for the worse, the guests can easily come in.
10. Move the furniture
If guests will be wandering in and out of your home, it’s probably a wise move to rethink your furniture arrangements. Push back some of the chairs and the sofa in the living room to give guests more space to congregate; push the dining table against the wall and use it as a buffet (or bar), and place spare chairs in each room.
11. Put a rolling table to work
Want to be able to wheel your meal from the outdoor kitchen to the cover of your sheltered patio if it starts to rain? A sturdy restaurant-style metal table on casters could be just the ticket.
Want to be able to wheel your meal from the outdoor kitchen to the cover of your sheltered patio if it starts to rain? A sturdy restaurant-style metal table on casters could be just the ticket.
12. Take advantage of a pass-through window
Have a window on your verandah or deck that leads into the kitchen? Count your lucky stars – you just found the perfect spot to create a party pass-through, ideal for handing out plates of appetisers or playing bartender.
Have a window on your verandah or deck that leads into the kitchen? Count your lucky stars – you just found the perfect spot to create a party pass-through, ideal for handing out plates of appetisers or playing bartender.
13. Make your party spaces multi-functional
People are likely to carry food and drinks everywhere during a party, so try to have plenty of little tables and stools on hand for setting things on, both indoors and out. Hard benches are ideal for parties, because they can be used as seats and tables, and fit more people than individual chairs. Try not to make any indoor or outdoor space too full of furniture, though – some folks will want to stand up and chat, so leave some space for that, too.
People are likely to carry food and drinks everywhere during a party, so try to have plenty of little tables and stools on hand for setting things on, both indoors and out. Hard benches are ideal for parties, because they can be used as seats and tables, and fit more people than individual chairs. Try not to make any indoor or outdoor space too full of furniture, though – some folks will want to stand up and chat, so leave some space for that, too.
14. Whip up some DIY furniture
Backyards, verandahs and decks are the perfect places to experiment with upcycled furniture. Turn a few pallets into a table and benches, or cover one with a futon mattress and lots of pillows to make an outdoor sofa. Tree stumps make great stools and side tables, and kerbside finds can be easily disguised with strategically draped textiles.
See how to make a deck chair from discarded pallets
Backyards, verandahs and decks are the perfect places to experiment with upcycled furniture. Turn a few pallets into a table and benches, or cover one with a futon mattress and lots of pillows to make an outdoor sofa. Tree stumps make great stools and side tables, and kerbside finds can be easily disguised with strategically draped textiles.
See how to make a deck chair from discarded pallets
15. Use found containers to hold drinks
Old enamelled buckets, galvanised bins, troughs, wire baskets, clean flowerpots and more can be creative stand-ins for the typical cooler or ice bucket. Just be sure to check that your container is watertight before adding ice, and add a plastic liner if it’s not. To reduce traffic around the bar, set up mini drinks stations around the party, both inside and out.
Old enamelled buckets, galvanised bins, troughs, wire baskets, clean flowerpots and more can be creative stand-ins for the typical cooler or ice bucket. Just be sure to check that your container is watertight before adding ice, and add a plastic liner if it’s not. To reduce traffic around the bar, set up mini drinks stations around the party, both inside and out.
16. Use every scrap of outdoor space
Even if you have the tiniest balcony, do what you can to make it look its best, and fling those doors open for your party. Cover an ugly patio floor with a cheerful outdoor rug or fake grass, set out a cafe table or lounge chair, and make the space extra appealing with fresh flowers and bright cushions.
Even if you have the tiniest balcony, do what you can to make it look its best, and fling those doors open for your party. Cover an ugly patio floor with a cheerful outdoor rug or fake grass, set out a cafe table or lounge chair, and make the space extra appealing with fresh flowers and bright cushions.
18. Embrace hammocks and swings
Adults love them just as much as kids! Try stringing up a hammock on the verandah or hang an old-school tyre swing or rope swing. Just be sure to get some pro help when installing your swing or hammock to ensure safety.
Adults love them just as much as kids! Try stringing up a hammock on the verandah or hang an old-school tyre swing or rope swing. Just be sure to get some pro help when installing your swing or hammock to ensure safety.
19. Bring indoor comforts outside
Having real dishes and serving pieces, vases of fresh flowers and nice indoor cushions on the verandah or patio makes a space feel extra special. Look around your house before the party and see what you can borrow from indoors.
See more of this gazebo
Having real dishes and serving pieces, vases of fresh flowers and nice indoor cushions on the verandah or patio makes a space feel extra special. Look around your house before the party and see what you can borrow from indoors.
See more of this gazebo
20. Make use of an outdoor hideaway
If you have a teahouse, gazebo or other structure in your backyard, by all means put it to use during your party. It can house the food and drinks, protecting the refreshments from bugs and weather, and if it starts to rain, your guests can duck inside, too.
TELL US
Are you planning an outdoor party? What is your favourite party planning tip? Let us know in the comments section below.
If you have a teahouse, gazebo or other structure in your backyard, by all means put it to use during your party. It can house the food and drinks, protecting the refreshments from bugs and weather, and if it starts to rain, your guests can duck inside, too.
TELL US
Are you planning an outdoor party? What is your favourite party planning tip? Let us know in the comments section below.
When the weather is likely to be good, you may want to plan an outdoor celebration. Just be sure to have a backup plan in case a sudden thunderstorm rolls through. At the very least, this could mean making sure to tidy up your living and dining rooms before the party, and hustling some of the chairs indoors at the first sign of rain.
2. Hang paper lanterns
Colourful paper lanterns can be found for a song online or in a discount store. The least expensive ones do not have lights inside, but if you are hosting a daytime party, they are perfect for adding colour and ambience. For evening parties, spring for lanterns with battery-operated lights inside.