Summer Entertaining ~ making the most of your patio decor

It's the season for outdoor living and it's time to plan your summer entertaining. Whether you plan to throw a few juicy hamburgers on the grill after a day around the pool, or barbecue a feast under the summer stars, you'll want to be sure to have everything in place for a relaxing and enjoyable time.

Summer entertaining is often more relaxed and easy-going than other seasons, but you can still create your own personal style with patio accessories such as patio lights, candles and tableware. Pick a theme to create a 'patio party' for your friends and family to enjoy.

Set the Mood for Summer Entertaining

Enjoy the sunshine with bright and colorful summer tableware and patio accessories. Summer entertaining means lots of color! Celebrate the sunshine with bright colors and patterns that reflect a fun and fabulous theme! Retro pop colors are hot and colorful, or go for a tropical theme with a tiki bar and caribbean colors in tableware and linens. Palm-tree lights put on a sparkling finishing touch.

Patio decorating with outdoor lighting ideas:

• candles - lots!
• lanterns
• solar deck and garden lights
• umbrella lights
• decorative hanging lights

If your summer entertaining style is more 'beach' than 'backyard'...add colorful beach chairs for easy guest seating with colorful plastic tableware, lots of candles (use citronella to keep the bugs away) and don't forget the seashells and drfitwood!

Popular summer entertaining themes:

• tropical
• tiki
• southwestern, desert
• French Garden
• beach

If your summer entertaining tastes are sophisticated and contemporary, bring your good crystal outside and set an elegant patio dinner table surrounded with lots of patio accessories such as candles and flowers, flowers, flowers everywhere. Set the mood with smooth jazz music coming from your outdoor speakers and share a wonderful starlit evening with friends and family.

Prepare ahead of time so you can relax with your guests. Take advantage of outdoor coolers to keep the drinks at hand and take time to sit and enjoy summer entertaining!