Entertaining outdoors doesn’t have to be an activity reserved for the summer months. With suitable design choices and feature additions, you can make your outdoor living space comfortable and fun in any season.
Here are a few outdoor entertaining ideas to help you keep the party going all year round:
Warm it up with fire or heat lamps
Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces are more than just stylish backyard features. Having a fire feature can help keep you and your guests warm even on chilly evenings in winter. Portable outdoor fireplaces are an excellent option for small outdoor spaces and don’t require any construction.
Heat lamps are another way to heat your outdoor party. You can use free-standing, tower-style heat lamps or opt for smaller, tabletop models. While powerful heat lamps can be expensive, they are available for rent from event supply companies and hardware stores.
Create shelter from the elements
Is your outdoor living space open to the elements? Consider adding something overhead to shield your outdoor party from rain, snow and harsh sun rays. Pergolas and gazebos make wonderful additions to any outdoor space, and can be styled in a variety of ways depending on the season.
Pop-up shelters are a good alternative if you’d rather not build a permanent structure. You can decorate them with string lights and draped fabric for instant ambiance and boho chic style. Keeping throw blankets and outdoor furniture with cozy cushions will keep the comfort level high even when the temperature drops.
“Plant” accordingly
Choosing the right plants for your outdoor space will keep it looking lush for your guests any time of year. Consider incorporating fall colors with maple, birch and oak trees. In winter, you can add color with berries like holly and viburnum.
Don’t have a year-round green thumb? Try container planters instead. With container planting, you can easily swap out plants as they begin to fade and replace them with season-appropriate alternatives to wow your guests even in the dead of winter.
Whether you’re hosting an outdoor dinner party, a casual picnic or a cozy gathering around the fire pit, keep these outdoor entertaining ideas in mind. With the right planning, you can be an outstanding host any time of year.
About the Author
Judy Szablak
With over 30 years in the industry, Realtor Judy Szablak has been on national television for her real estate expertise on the HGTV Network, featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio "Morning Living” , NPR radio as an expert real estate panelist, It’s Relevant News channel, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal for her in depth knowledge of Fairfield County Connecticut real estate.
She was also on the local NPR radio station (WSHU) as a Fairfield County CT real estate expert. Judy has provided multiple online respected news sources with her real estate expertise including The Daily Easton, The Daily Weston, The Daily Fairfield, The Daily Stamford and The Daily Greenwich, as well as in print in the New York Post. She is a weekly Real Estate Columnist for WestportNow.com, another real estate column "Real Estate With Judy” is syndicated through Hearst CT Media Online and seen in The Connecticut Post, The Danbury News-Times, The Stamford Advocate, The Greenwich Time, The Hour, Fairfield Citizen, Westport News, Darien News, New Canaan News and the Wilton Villager.
Judy is also the author of the book, The Art of Buying or Selling a Home, available at all major book retailers. Additionally, Judy has been nationally recognized in a number of national real estate trade magazines, some with distribution to over 1 million members. She was featured in Real Estate Today as early as 1994 for her commitment to, and implementation of technology in real estate. Judy appeared in the Certified Residential Specialist Magazine, as she provided advice on marketing strategies and ethics in the article titled "Marketing Makeovers.”
Judy was also featured in REALTOR® Magazine, regarding image enhancement for Realtors. She was again featured in REALTOR® Magazine, in an article on "Achieving Flow” and operating at optimal peak performance. In another article in the same publication, Judy offered guidance to fellow real estate professionals as she explored the topic of implementing and maintaining personal websites. She has appeared in The Council of Residential Specialists Magazine, which featured her ideas regarding technology. Additionally, Judy authored an article on marketing and technology for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Online Magazine. On two occasions, in 2015 and 2017, she appeared as a featured agent in Top Agent Magazine. I have a few other websites- www.TheCtrealtyBlog.com www.CtHomesAndRealEstate.com www.BestWestportHomes.com www.ThePetitePowerhouse.com www,SzablakConsulting.com
