Outdoor Entertaining Ideas to Impress Your Guests This Summer

This season, we’re overcoming our fear and embracing the last-minute gathering. Here’s your Liberty guide to stress-free outdoor entertaining

By: Laura Kennedy

A formal party with weeks of advance planning is all well and good, but what happens when people are coming over on short notice? No need to panic, Liberty is on hand to transform sheer ‘planxiety’ into uber chic outdoor entertaining ideas in the blink of an eye. And when it comes to hosting said guests, Liberty has just the guide to reclaiming the last-minute gathering...

Read More: Consider these BBQ hosting tips your failsafe shortcut to a successful alfresco meal

When There Aren’t Enough Chairs...

We’ve all had people over and realised that we’re short on seating but not to worry – there are plenty of workarounds. Two tablecloths layered over one another on the grass give more texture and colour, encouraging people to sit and relax. A scattering a of plump, patterned cushions will up comfort levels, if that's a worry. For cushions that are comfortable yet stylish look to the new Liberty Garden Outdoor Cushions – a collection of botanical and geometric cushions guaranteed to add life and colour to any Al Fresco setting.

Read More: How to dress a sofa with throws and cushions, the Liberty way

Getting creative with what you have lends a lovely, homely feel to any gathering. If you’re feeding people, it is so much nicer to have a substantial table to sit at than struggling with bits of garden furniture, so consider going the whole hog and carrying your dining or kitchen table outdoors. For longer stints, the furniture you use daily is just more comfortable and helps create the feel of an outdoor room. This is bringing the indoors, out.

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When You Don’t Have Matching Dishes...

If this talk of tables makes you feel a pressured to create elaborate tablescaping or a formal meal, there’s really no need. It’s important that you don’t feel as though you have to have six or eight or ten matching plates. This version of a gathering involves just pulling together what you have, and it’s sometimes more enjoyable. If you’re putting some food together for guests, the mismatched feel can itself become your theme. With place settings, make it a casual mezze sharing situation. It’s beautiful to have lots of dishes that don’t overtly match, but will still look nice together. Not everyone’s place setting needs to be the same.

Read More: What to take for a picnic to keep all your guests happy

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When There’s Nothing in the Fridge...

There’s no need to stress about food, either, if you’re not the sort of person who just so happens to somehow always have the makings of a meal for ten ready to go in the fridge. Consider leaning into the casual vibe of a last-minute gathering. While there's a time and place for a fully fleshed menu, there is something so comforting and lovely about just ordering in pizza. Stack some beautiful crockery and everyone can pile in. That actively enhances the social element of the gathering. It is also a refreshing cure to hosting anxiety – you’re creating the gathering as it happens rather than curating it in advance.

When You Need Some Finishing Touches...

1. On a still, balmy evening, ensure to light scented candles outdoors. They add a lustre and luxury that lingers in the air, enriching the space, rather than fighting with the natural scents of your garden, or the food you're serving.

2. Create a DIY bar, ideally away from the food station as this area can become quite congested. Set up a table and cover it with a colourful table linen on which you can place an array of glasses, ice buckets, stirrers, lime wedges and, of course, your favourite refreshments. For evening affairs, add fairy lights around the table to ensure visibility.

3. Don't let the great British weather win: always be prepared in case it takes a turn for the worse. Guarantee guests aren't left eating in the cold by setting up blanket baskets and serving both hot and cold food just in case.

Read More: Discover the smell of Liberty print via Liberty scented candles