Once you’ve designed the perfect patio for your home, you want to get ready for all the outdoor entertaining you’ll be doing this summer. Whether you are hosting a 4th of July BBQ or a spur-of-the-moment event, these outdoor entertaining ideas will help you prepare a party that everyone will enjoy.

1. Pick a theme to make it easier to decorate and settle on a menu. For example, if you decide to host a Hawaiian luau, you’ll want to serve island cuisine and offer guests leis to wear.
2. Schedule accordingly during the summer. It’s hottest between noon and 3pm every day so when entertaining outdoors, host mid-morning brunches, evening happy hours, or nighttime dinners so your guests aren’t sweltering during your party.
3. Clean up your yard to make sure it is free of debris or unwanted surprises. You don’t want your guests to take an unfortunate misstep.
4. Make everyone comfy by adding cushions to outdoor seating areas. This will prevent the evening from being cut short because the furniture has taken a physical toll on your guests.
5. Short on seating? Spread blankets on your freshly manicured yard. This is ideal for parties where there will be lots of kids.
6. Brown craft paper makes an outstanding table runner that is easy to clean up. Include some markers on the table so your guests can doodle as they dine.
7. Eating outside of the kitchen means you should keep dishes simple and easy to eat. Salads, skewers, and finger foods are best served when entertaining outdoors.
8. Look at your indoor furniture pieces and consider if any of them can serve double duty outdoors as well. This will help you establish a welcoming, comfortable space outdoors for your guests.
9. Set up separate tables with different courses and beverages so guests can roam throughout your outdoor space and appreciate all the beautiful work you’ve done.
10. Consolidate adult beverages on a bar cart. When you need refills inside, it’s easy to roll it into the house and back outside again.
11. Keep dairy-based dips, salads, and dishes cool by setting them atop bowls filled with ice, sprinkled with kosher salt.
12. Use popsicle sticks to mark the cooking temperature of any meats served so party attendees know which burgers are well done or rare.
13. Evenings fade into nights quickly when you’re enjoying a lovely get-together with friends and family. Hang simple strands of lights and lanterns to add lighting to your outdoor entertaining space. Use battery-operated candles on tables to avoid any accidents.
14. Stake torches filled with citronella candles to welcome guests and keep away pests.
15. Every outdoor party needs ice but think outside of the plastic cooler for different storage options. Antique tubs or buckets serve as excellent cold drink containers when filled with ice.
16. Stock up on everything you need. For instance, if you are using a grill, double check to see that you have enough charcoal or propane to get you through the event.
17. Let loose with fun outdoor games like badminton, horseshoes, cornhole, bocce ball, or croquet.
18. Cover dining areas as best as possible to help keep everyone cool and discourage bugs from attending. Umbrellas, shades, and covered patios are great for eating outdoors.

Even though your guests will be outside most of the time, you still want entryways, hallways, and bathrooms inside your house to be clean. Use a privacy lock on your sliding modern door to keep guests from wandering into other rooms. (Don’t have a privacy lock for your modern barn doors? Use code FREEDOM30 between June 29 and July 6 to save 30% on your order!)