Party on the Patio: How to Make Your Patio Inviting for Your Guests

Throwing a party on the patio sounds like fun, but it can also sound weird if your outdoor space isn’t set up for it. You might not be able to picture the fun that can take place in your backyard if there’s nothing out there to work with.

Luckily, a few simple fixes can have your space ready to go in no time.

So, how do you go about planning the perfect patio party? How can you make sure your guests are comfortable while still providing a relaxing environment for everyone to enjoy? Read on to learn more.

1. Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor furniture or seating is a must-have for any patio party. You can check here if you and your neighbors need new outdoor patio sets, and then take turns throwing patio parties all summer long. 

At a minimum, your patio needs ample seating and places for your guests to set their drinks. Depending on where your patio is located, you’re also going to need some shade for people to get a break from the sun when it’s warm.

2. Patio Party Lights

Throwing your party at night eliminates the need for shade, plus you can get creative with lighting. You can set a cozy atmosphere with string lighting or create a path for your guests to follow with lanterns placed around your yard.

You can hang overhead LED lights around your patio that emit a bright white light so the scene feels like day, or you can keep things mellow with warm yellow lighting.

3. Create Party Areas

While the point of a patio party is to stay on the patio, if you have enough guests over, then that may simply not be an option. If you have to take some of the party into your backyard, you can also use furniture and lights to create different party areas for guests to hang out in.

While a bonfire and chairs is a pretty obvious place to sit and talk, you can also create game spaces and other lounging spaces with a little creativity.

Keeping food and drinks on your patio is especially smart if it’s screened in, however. This can keep unwanted pests from finding their way into places they don’t belong.

4. Fire and Games

Nothing starts an outdoor party like a bonfire and games for everyone to play.

Whether you gather around the patio table with board games or the fire with cornhole boards, having games for your guests to play is sure to take your patio party to the next level.

If you don’t want to partake in either of these options, you can get creative and create your own games!

5. Create a Playlist

No party is complete without music. Creating a playlist before your party can set the mood you’re going for, and you can even match it to whatever party theme you’ve chosen for the occasion.

6. Don’t Forget the Food

Recipes are plentiful when it comes to finger foods for parties, and the options are limitless.

You can opt to keep things simple with hamburgers and hotdogs or jazz it up with different BBQ stations for guests to enjoy. If you’re looking for simple snack options, chips and dip, fruit trays, or vegetable boards are always a classic option.

If you’re hosting your party later in the evening and have a bonfire roaring, adding chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers to create smores is perfect! Creating a bakery bar filled with cookies, cupcakes, and other pastries is also sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.

The thing with food is to not overthink it. Getting fancy with your entrees at an outdoor party in the middle of summer may not be the best thing for keeping bugs at bay, and if that happens then nobody is going to eat anything.

Keep it simple here, and it’s sure to be a success.

7. Party Cocktails

If you’d like to put some thought into sprucing up your patio party, creating a signature cocktail can be the way to go. If you have kids or younger guests present, then you can create a signature drink for them to enjoy as well!

Strawberry lemonade is easy to spruce up with vodka, or you can opt for sangria with plenty of chopped fruit that can be fished out and enjoyed as well.

Big-batch cocktails are easy to create and can be kept safe in large glass jugs and a spout that guests can use to pour the drink (safely) into their own cup. This eliminates any chance of bugs finding their way into your drinks, and any party guests knocking things over as they pour their drink.

8. Stay Hydrated

While you can make a custom party cocktail, it’s also important to make sure everyone stays hydrated with water and other non-alcoholic beverages!

While you can stick with the typical cooler, there are other ways to keep drinks cold and refreshing throughout your entire party.

If you have a kiddy pool, fill it up with frozen water balloons. The drinks stay nice and cool while the balloons melt. Once they’re thawed out, it’s time for a water balloon fight.

Have a Party on the Patio

Throwing a party on the patio is safe and fun for everyone, no matter who you’re entertaining. You and your guests are free to spread out and not have to worry about space or overcrowding inside your home.

Having a patio party also means you’re free to have a bonfire or play outdoor games with your guests, as well as enjoy the outdoor weather all year round.

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