My Summer Essentials for Entertaining Outdoors

I’m doing all I can to be outdoors so far this season, before the weather gets completely unbearable with heat. So, the second we moved in, I started getting things in order for our covered patio in the backyard. It’s not finished yet, BUT I wanted to share a sneak peek with you today, since it’s starting to come together. And, also wanted to share how I’m entertaining for the start of summer, with Memorial Day just a few days away!

I teamed up with Article to put together my summer essentials for outdoor entertaining – just in time for their huge Memorial Day sale (up to 50% off), which is happening right now through May 28th! Click through for all my summer entertaining favorites.

Our covered patio is through a double set of doors, right off the living room and I swear when we walked through the house the very first time, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this space – right down to the table and chairs.

That may sound a little extreme, but it’s true! I keep a running list of my favorite furniture and accessories pieces for our ‘dream house’. And while we’re only renting right now, this house feels more like home than any other we lived in before.

My Summer Essentials for Outdoor Entertaining

A place to gather. Personally, I love gathering around a big table with comfy chairs. So, I’m a little partial to that setup…especially because the table and chairs I found at Article are my dream outdoor set. Both the table and the chairs are from the TEAKA collection. And just like the name suggests, they’re made from solid, raw, unsealed teak, which means they wear really well outdoors (and you’ll have them forever). Teak develops a really pretty silvery tone through use and weather wear. So, it just gets better with time. And the minimal silhouettes are high style without feeling forced or over-the-top. Almost like something you’d have indoors as a dining room set, right? In fact, I’ve seen people use this collection indoors as well (here’s an example). So that’s an option as well, if you don’t have an outdoor space.

All that said, my picks for an outdoor table and chairs are… the TEAKA table for 6 (the perfect size table in my mind), 4-6 TEAKA chairs (literally my favorite outdoor chairs ever and super comfy too with the added seat padding), and the MIRA bench for good measure (this would be a great option for extra seating that you could pull up to the table when you need it).

Great food. Always have a have a little food! Guests often come to parties on an empty stomach, so they’re going to want something to nibble on…like right now! I usually grab a couple of pre-made things from a specialty store and then make the rest.

Some of my favorite summer recipes for entertaining are: grilled shrimp kabobs // lemon herb corn on the cob // grilled peaches and cream.

Textiles. Neutral napkins and a cozy or textured rug are also on my list of essentials for summer. The napkins are a must for entertaining and a simple rug (I like jute for covered patios like mine because they’re protected from the rain) helps ground the space. You could also throw in a few blankets and pillows for a pop of color or pattern (and function of course).

My picks for summer entertaining textiles include: my favorite lightweight blanket // neutral napkins  (I also like these) // the perfect jute rug (this is the one I have).

A few good drinks! I like to have a couple of special drink options for guests (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic so no one feels left out) at parties. And during the summer, light recipes are the best.

My summer picks for a good drink would be either: this cucumber gin cooler or a light pineapple rum punch. And then as a non-alcoholic option, an infused waters would be perfect for staying hydrated outdoors.

Other summer entertaining essentials. Things like plates, cups, flatware, and serve ware are all filed under this category. And while it’s at the end of the list here, in my mind, they’re just as important as the rest.

My picks for those remaining summer essentials are: simple white ceramics // recycled glass cups // basic flatware // a unique tray or two.

Photography Amelia Lawrence

So that’s it for my summer essentials for outdoor entertaining. Did I miss anything that should be on the list? How do you like to entertain during the summer months?

And be sure to visit article.com between now and May 28th to shop their big Memorial Day sale! They offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee so if you’re not completely happy with your purchase, they’ll pick up the furniture and provide a refund, minus the delivery and pickup charges which is $49 in most cases. Pretty cool!

P.S. Like this outdoor space? Check back next week for a peek at my upstairs balcony progress. Can’t wait to share! Told you I’m doing all of the outdoor things right now. 🙂 

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This post is in partnership with Article. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Paper and Stitch running.

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