6 Tips to Create the Perfect Patio for Entertaining

It’s almost Memorial Day—a time to honor the men and women who lost their lives serving our country. For many of us, Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of the patio party season.

While many of these tips for sprucing up your patio may come too late for your Memorial Day celebrations, they’ll be perfect for the summer season ahead.

If you are looking to become the host(ess) with the most(ess), follow these ideas to help create the perfect patio for entertaining.

1. Seating. Make sure you have enough seating to accommodate the number of guests you are expecting. While many (especially the host) will be up and about mingling, it is a good idea to have enough spots for everyone to sit and eat.
2. Music. A fun playlist is a great way to set the stage. Having music playing quietly in the background provides a fun ambiance without keeping your guests from socializing.
3. Gas or Charcoal. Running out of gas or charcoal in the middle of a cookout can bring the party to a quick halt. Avoid having to stop the party by making sure you have enough before you start.
4. Bug control. Here in Wisconsin, it seems like the bugs make an appearance before the nice weather does. The words cookout and mosquitoes often go hand in hand. There are many bug control sprays that can be safely applied to your yard to keep away these unwanted pests.
5. Games. This is especially important if kids will be attending your party. Having kid-friendly toys or games to keep the little ones entertained can help make sure both the parents and kids have fun.
6. Lights or Shade Umbrellas. Depending on the time of your party, you may want to outfit your patio with lights or umbrellas. Lights allow you to keep the party going after the sun has set. Umbrellas provide relief from the hot sun during the day.

These are just a few ideas to help lead you on your way to a summer of entertaining. Do you have any patio entertaining tips you’d like to share?