Amazing Ideas for Outdoor Entertaining This Season

Do all of your summer parties follow the same format and offer the identical menu? Although there’s nothing wrong with tried-and-true recipes and activities, sometimes it’s nice to revamp your entertaining style. These four ideas will help you throw a spectacular party for your family and friends at your New Jersey home.

Add a Few New Menu Options

Nearly everything tastes better when it’s grilled. Although hot dogs and hamburgers will always be summer grilling staples, your guests may enjoy a few new menu options. Pinterest, Country Living, Bon Appetit and other websites offer interesting meat, poultry, fish, shellfish and vegetable recipes ideal for parties or everyday meals.

Are you planning a 4^th of July party? Try one of the tasty offerings in Real Simple’s July 4^th roundup, such as grilled bread with zucchini, ricotta and basil, grilled corn with cheese and lime, or grilled lamb kebabs. When the temperatures eventually drop, substitute summer barbeque favorites with heartier options, including grilled sweet potatoes, stuffed burgers and thick, juicy steak sandwiches.

Set the Mood

Outdoor picnics used to be exercises in endurance. Seating, if it was available, consisted of a spot on the ground or a splintery picnic bench. Patio umbrellas provided a little relief from the hot sun, but only if you were one of the few people lucky enough to score a seat at the table.

Today’s outdoor furniture is designed with both durability and comfort in mind. Plush cushioned sofas and chairs encourage guests to sit and visit for a while. In fact, many outdoor sofas and chairs would look perfectly at home indoors.

Shade may be in short supply if you live in a newly constructed home. Although trees and shrubberies will eventually grow and provide a little cover, you may want to create your own shady spaces until they do. Pergolas, awnings and shade sails keep the sun away from patios or decks, while permanent or temporary gazebos provide a shady oasis in your yard.

Embrace the Darkness

Extending the party into the night is easy when you have a fire pit or outdoor fireplace. As the sun sets, your guests will enjoy swapping stories or roasting a few marshmallows around the fire, while the kids entertain themselves with glow sticks or sparklers. Although wood-burning fire pits are the most common option, manufacturers also offer propane, natural gas and gel-fueled models. A gel-fueled fire pit doesn’t produce smoke, making it an excellent alternative if any of your favorite people suffer from allergies or asthma.

Drive-in movie theaters may be almost extinct these days, but there’s no reason you can’t enjoy single and double features in your very own open air theater. In fact, a projector, screen and speakers are the only equipment you need. Although a white sheet serves as a perfectly adequate screen, you may want to invest in a permanent screen if you plan to show outdoor movies often. Your screen can be freestanding or incorporated into the design of your patio or deck.

Safety is important when hosting nighttime events. In addition to stringing lights over railings, trees or shrubbery, you may want to add LED lights to decks, patios and pathways for increased visibility

Invest in a Good Sound System

It wouldn’t be a party with lively music. Thanks to innovative technology, you can enjoy the same high-quality sound whether you’re indoors or outdoors. Although the number of outdoor speakers will depend on the size of your space, it’s best to keep speakers at least 10 to 12 feet away from conversation areas. Digital Trends suggests placing speakers no higher than 10 feet, noting that installing them at higher elevations will spread sound farther, but thin sound quality.

Outdoor speakers are designed to endure wear and tear, but they’re not indestructible. It’s a good idea to place them in places that offer a little protection from the weather, if possible, such as under eaves. An occasional cleaning will help preserve good sound quality. Remove windborne debris or dead bugs from inside speaker casings every month to prevent annoying crackling sounds.

No matter when you read this post, it's never too early or too late to create an amazing outdoor space at your fit for entertaining through the day and night!