Entertaining friends and family throughout the year often poses a dilemma—should you host indoors or out? Limiting your event planning to one or the other also means limiting the space available to you. The good news? With a bit of adaptation and creativity, you can easily transform your indoor and outdoor areas to create memorable and comfortable gatherings, no matter the season or weather.
In this guide to successful year-round entertaining, we’ll offer tips on adorning porches, patios and outdoor space to shelter guests from the elements while keeping the party spirit alive.
Creating multipurpose spaces
Taking your entertaining game to the next level requires spaces that can adapt and change with the seasons. The key is to incorporate flexibility into both indoor and outdoor areas of the home. With some adaptive decor and furnishings, you can creatively host parties tailored to the season no matter the weather or location.
When choosing furniture, select pieces that serve dual purposes indoors and out. For example, weighted all-weather wicker, steel or high-density plastic furnishings hold up outside but also lend well as styled seating inside. Adding covers will help protect them when they’re not in use so you can quickly prepare comfortable seating areas at a moment’s notice.
Transitional areas like awning-covered patios, enclosed porches, sunrooms and pergolas, provide protection from the elements while retaining an outdoor vibe. Outdoor rooms that fall somewhere between fully interior and exterior spaces allow for maximum seasonable versatility when entertaining.
When decorating outdoor rooms that sit adjacent or attached to the main house, bear in mind they resemble an extension of the house rather than a permanently outfitted outdoor area. If you’re going with a theme for your party, extend those decorations to the outdoor space, and vice versa, so the setting feels cohesive.
Provide entertainment for indoor and outdoor fun
When hosting across multiple areas, provide entertainment options suited for both indoor hangouts and outdoor amusement. This creates a seamless vibe that invites guests to wander from space to space chatting with other people, enjoying music and taking part in activities wherever they gather.
For audio, invest in a multi-room wireless speaker system, positioning speakers indoors and out to stream music everywhere via Wi-Fi so that no matter where guests are congregating, they’ll feel part of the action. You can then control the audio from your smartphone, adjusting zones and volumes to vibe with each space.
It’s also a good idea to supply a mix of games and activities to suit different interests, such as board games for quieter indoor fun and giant versions of connect four, Jenga and dominoes to encourage outdoor play. This keeps the atmosphere lively and festive, but also means that people can move easily from one spot to another depending on their mood, without feeling like they’re missing out.
How to host a memorable party
Incorporating cosy indoor touches outdoors
When using outdoor areas for entertaining, apply some indoor creature comforts to keep your guests relaxed and comfortable in the open air. Shelter from sun, rain and wind should take top priority to preserve the party ambience. Beyond that, soft textures, layered lighting and cosy heaters lend outdoor spaces some indoor flair and create a seamless transition from one area to another.
Layer lighting, adding strings lights overhead along with candles, lanterns and torches to cast a warm glow at night that looks great year-round. For enclosed or covered areas, consider mounting heating panels to the ceiling or walls, and choose units with thermostats to easily control the temperature no matter the season.
Mobile food & drinks to mix and mingle
When hosting a party across multiple indoor and outdoor areas, opt for bites and beverages that guests can easily carry and consume while they mix and mingle. Self-contained offerings allow your visitors to nibble and sip as they please while flowing freely from space to space. For beverages, set up multiple easily refilled punch bowls with fruity blends for summer soirees and warming spice options in autumn and winter. Guests can help themselves as and when they need a top-up.
Foodwise, mobile munchies allow guests to snack and roam effortlessly. Have canapés and small plates available during cocktail hours or, better yet, have a food station set-up with hot plates that will keep food warm throughout the evening – a great addition to winter celebrations when guests may want warming up when gathering outside. With an array of snackable drink and food options, your ‘foodie’ friends will be delighted and can wander and nibble anywhere their socialising takes them.
Creating an ideal entertaining space, ready to host gatherings rain or shine, doesn’t require major renovation or expansion. With some creative styling and furnishings, you can transform your existing indoor and outdoor areas to accommodate parties whatever the weather or season.
