Al fresco fun, the art of outdoor entertaining

Summer days are just around the corner and I’m busily transforming my garden into a blissful entertaining space. Scrubbing the patio so it gleams, potting beautiful, white hydrangeas and preening the plants. I love nothing better than opening a bottle of chardonnay in the relaxing surroundings of my garden and I can’t wait to have friends over for some al fresco fun. The long bank holiday weekend is looming, so why not plan ahead for an outdoor soiree? All we need now is a glorious Summer’s day…  or three!

Elegant patio

You can have a little fun when styling a table for outdoor entertaining. Remember to experiment with colour as it’s not as formal as dressing your dining room for guests. Whether it’s tropical colours, French inspired splendor or sleek sophistication, the options are endless. So try a few different styles and just have fun with it.

Pink and orange table setting

French style outdoor dining

Sleek, sophisticated outdoor dining

I usually shy away from plants inside the house as there are more than enough growing in the garden! But I absolutely love pot planters as centre pieces at the moment, they look so beautiful and bring a very natural quality to a table. I think this idea would translate really well to a kitchen table too.

French inspired table setting

Gorgeous planter as a table feature

It’s so important to get the lighting just right and candlelight sets a really lovely mood. Use lanterns, votives and candle holders to create a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere. I am a massive sucker for white fairy lights, they look amazing wrapped around trees or a garden trellis and add a sophisticated party vibe. Or take some inspiration from the image below and create your own outdoor cinema! Just imagine watching your favourite films from a pile of cushions under the stars… Or hosting a garden party to watch the Golden Jubilee celebrations, the Olympics or Wimbledon.

Relaxed outdoor cinema area

We’ve seen that the potential for your outdoor space is endless so, as Summer is almost here, why not show your garden some love and prepare for some al fresco fun of your own?