Summertime is all about soaking up the sun and enjoying time outdoors with family and friends. If you’re like me, you love to a host a gathering and know it’s all about food, fun and presentation. From colorful dinnerware and bar carts stocked with libations to twinkling lights and a relaxing place to sit, getting your outdoor space ready should be an enjoyable experience.
Gazebo
A galvanized roof for year-round use is supported by a heavy-duty steel frame with a rust-resistant powder-coated finish. The two-tiered vented roof also protects from gusting winds, and bonus, it’s easy to assemble. Mosquito netting can be ordered separately, but with your purhcase of the gazebo, you will get a three-year limited warranty. This allen + roth gazebo retails for $1,498 at Lowe’s.
Outdoor String Lights
Illuminating your backyard and turning it into an enchanted place for a moonlit stroll is simple with the addition of some string lights. Whether you choose to drape them around your deck and doorway or hang them around the deck, you’ll be giving faeries and fireflies a run for their money. Find these and more options at www.partylights.com.
Bar Carts
Beverage anyone? This neutral metal and wicker brown bar cart features both an upper and lower tray, providing ample storage room for glasses, ice buckets, lime wedges and spirits. The wheels allow for easy mobility and its size is perfect for being a statement piece or when you need to tuck it away. The Savona Outdoor Wicker Bar Cart by Christopher Knight Home is available on Overstock for $88.
Chaise Lounge
For those whose style is coastal, relax in luxury with this double chaise lounge, complete with a pair of cushions. An outer frame of solid wood surrounds a synthetic outdoor all-weather mesh material, that is perfect for the elements of summer. A curved base adds to the sleek style and a canopy adds extra protection from the sun. The Mistana Tillis Double Teak Chaise Lounge from Wayfair retails for $289.99 and will make a stylish poolside addition to any home.
Dinnerware
Just as you have a nice set of everyday dishes, it’s always fun to carry that sophistication outside. The best outdoor dinnerware is crafted of shatter-resistant melamine, that is also dishwasher-safe. With so many patterns and colors to choose from, you can mix and match season after season. These sets are available at Pier 1 and range in price.
