En Plein Air - Outdoor Hosting Tips and Ideas

It's warm weather season - the season for enjoying beautiful blooms, fresh fruit, and everything about the great outdoors! One of my favorite things about Summer, or l'été in French, is hosting outdoors on my patio. Having a garden party or backyard soirée is a perfect way to take advantage of the warm weather and longer days with friends and family!

Here are a few of my tips and ideas for hosting a party en plein air (outdoors):

1. Give Your Patio a Little Refresh

With just a few simple touches, you can refresh your patio and give some life to your outdoor living space. Firstly, clean up a little by dusting cobwebs and sweeping your patio to remove leaves and debris. Next, dust off your outdoor furniture and fluff up your chair cushions.

One of my suggestions for keeping your outdoor furniture fresh year-long is to purchase a waterproof cover to keep your furniture protected from the elements. This will also protect your chair cushions from sun bleaching and fading. Outdoor furniture covers come in a range of prices and can be found online. I recommend covering your outdoor furniture any time it is not in use.

Another quick way to brighten up your patio is to refresh your potted flowers. Remove any dead plant material from your pots and plant fresh blooms in their place. Give overgrown plants a little trim, and shape your boxwoods.

2. Bug-Proof Your Outdoor Space

Nothing puts a damper on a private party quite like an unwelcome party crasher, and bugs are some of the worst culprits! Bug-proofing may sound impossible, and while it is challenging to keep these curious critters away, there are a few easy tips to keep them at bay. If you want to read more about bug prevention outdoors, read my blog post on Bug-Proofing Your Patio 

3. Set the Scene with Lights

Part of the fun of an al fresco affair is dining under the stars. If you're hosting a nighttime dinner outdoors, think about lighting. Lanterns, string lights, tiki torches, and LED candles are all great options to help spark up some fun.

4. Consider Comfort

With the glory of Summer comes hot weather! If you are thinking of hosting a daytime party, consider shade structures and umbrellas to keep your guests cool and add a little extra dimension to your event space. Keep food in the shade, and make sure your cooler is protected from the heat and packed with ice to keep the drinks flowing.

At night when temperatures drop off, a propane patio heater can help keep your guests warm, although these can be quite expensive. Fire pits are also wonderful conversation areas and can act as a warm respite for chilly guests. However, fire pits and outdoor fireplaces can also be pretty expensive and they can be dangerous if you live in a dry area. Instead, consider putting out a basket of blankets to help keep you and your guests warm. I suggest buying thinly woven blankets as they are less likely to catch debris from the great outdoors, and they are typically inexpensive.

5. Pick the Perfect Playlist

Music is essential to any gathering. Pick a playlist that suits your particular occasion. For instance, a tea party could be complemented with instrumental music. A backyard BBQ might go well with some Country or R&B. And of course, a French-inspired dîner en plein air goes perfectly with French café music !

Hosting outdoors is fun because it allows you to open up a new part of your home to your guests and enjoy the great outdoors. I hope you find these tips useful as you plan your next outdoor party to ring in the Summer!

Cheers !

Lauren