25 backyard entertainment ideas for summer
By Nichole Talbot•Last updated Jun 13, 2023
Last updated Jun 13, 2023
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Summer’s around the corner, and warmer days means more time spent relaxing and entertaining outdoors. If you’re like us, you can’t wait to invite your favorite people over for backyard barbecues, poolside parties and starry night soirees.
Whether you’re on a budget or ready to splurge, we’ve got design tips galore — from adding twinkly lights to setting up the yard games. Read on to get your backyard in top entertaining shape before your first get-together.
Outdoor landscaping design ideas
Invest in upgrading your landscape design this summer. From lighting to outdoor seating, here are a few landscaping ideas to make your backyard more functional for your next gathering.
1. Set the mood with string lights
Twinkling string lights create instant ambiance and add a warm glow. They also come in many sizes, shapes, and brightness levels to match your style. If you don’t have an electrical outlet nearby, battery-powered and solar options are available too.
String them along a gazebo, pergola, or umbrella. Or hang them between trees and along a fence. For more permanent installations, such as adding posts for hanging, consider contacting a professional for help.
2. Layer your outdoor lighting
String lights help set the mood for your soirée, but you’ll want more ambient lighting for the evening. After all, your guests need to see each other and what they’re eating and drinking.
If you have a covered patio, gazebo, or pergola, install pendant lights with warm white bulbs that are rated for outdoor use. If you’re on a budget, invest in a few solar-powered outdoor lamps for your dining table.
3. Add candle lanterns
Don’t forget candles when planning your outdoor evening lighting. They cast a warm glow and make your backyard feel magical. Place them in candle-safe lanterns of different heights on your dining table and along your patio, deck, or main seating area. This helps keep them lit on breezy nights.
For an enchanting Southwest twist, place luminarias or paper bag lanterns along your outdoor walking paths. Use LED tea lights instead of candles for safety.
4. Install safety lights
The last thing you want at your outdoor get-together is for someone to get hurt. Proper lighting is an easy way to help prevent slips and falls. Install pathway lights anywhere people will be walking, including paths, patios, decks, and steps. Add some overhead light too. A bright bulb or two near your doorway will help guests move inside and out with ease.
5. Build a paver patio
A paver patio is a beautiful alternative to a concrete slab, which is susceptible to cracks and breakage. It’s a great choice for people who live in areas where temperatures fluctuate significantly between winter and summer. Plus, it looks great beneath an outdoor rug, seating, and a fire pit. There are also hundreds of stone sizes and configurations so you can create a custom look. Yes, this one’s a splurge, but you’ll enjoy it for many years to come.
There’s a lot that goes into a paver patio project, and it can be tricky to excavate and grade properly for drainage. Unless you're willing to do your homework and sacrifice several weekends, this one’s probably better left to the pros.
6. Decorate with potted plants
Never underestimate the design power of potted plants. Greenery is eye-catching and makes for lovely outdoor decor. It can also create visual breaks between backyard areas, helping define seating and dining spaces while highlighting your other outdoor furnishings.
“Decorate your space with plants that climb and give color pops, potted plants to decorate side tables and awkward corners that need to be filled,” recommend Melissa and Isabella Chinchilla from landscape design firm Hex & Root.
Arrange potted plants and small trees of varying sizes along steps, around a patio, or lining a pathway. Tip: Use wheeled plant stands for easy portability.
7. Put in a deck
A wood deck in your favorite stain or color is a wonderful backyard addition. And if you keep it clean and properly resealed, you can enjoy it for many years.
While a deck installation is on the pricier end of projects, costs will vary depending on the wood type and availability. Contact a professional deck installer to get a custom quote.
8. Zone your outdoor space
If your backyard is a blank slate or in need of a serious makeover, take this opportunity to thoughtfully plan the space. Create activity zones for things like dining, kids’ play, flower or vegetable gardens, and maybe even a water feature.
A professional landscape designer or installer can suggest how to create a visually appealing design that maximizes your space.
9. Take the living room outside
Take your everyday living outdoors to truly soak up the season. Create a beautiful backyard oasis with comfortable seating and small tables for drinks and snacks. Chinchilla of Hex & Root suggests an outdoor daybed. “When hosting in the backyard, we advise clients to have multiple seating that allows more than one person to sit or lay down.”
Make things cozy with texture by layering throw pillows, blankets, an area rug, and fabric poufs for lounging. And don’t forget ambient and accent lighting — hang a pendant or string lights overhead, and bring over some candle lanterns to create a relaxed evening vibe.
10. Savor outdoor meals with a dining set
Is there anything better than dining al fresco? Food magically tastes better outside, so be sure to invest in or upgrade your backyard dining set before summer gatherings.
The size you choose will depend on how often you plan to host and for how many people. You’ll also want to consider cleaning and maintenance. For example, it may be hard to resist the warm beauty of a teak set, but it will require regular cleaning and resealing. If you prefer something lower maintenance, consider coated wicker, composite, or metal. Whatever you decide, find a cover to protect your investment during cooler months.
11. Protect guests from the sun
Daytime entertaining is sublime, but nobody wants a sunburn. Offer your guests some relief from the sun and heat on bright summer afternoons. How you do this will depend on your space, but a brightly colored market umbrella, awning, gazebo, or roller shade are functional and stylish options.
12. Cook in style with an outdoor kitchen
A swanky outdoor kitchen takes outdoor living to the next level. Outdoor kitchens have become increasingly popular with home buyers, and because of that, they can raise a home’s sale price up to 2.2% according to Zillow.
Fortunately, there’s an outdoor kitchen to fit almost any budget and backyard size, from small modular units to ultra-luxe spaces with custom cabinets and countertops. Your best bet is to contact a professional installer near you for guidance and a quote.
13. Gather around a fire pit or fireplace
Make your backyard celebrations cozy with a custom fire pit or fireplace. Fire pits may remind you of your child telling ghost stories by the campfire or beach bonfire. They’re the perfect place to roast marshmallows with the kids, enjoy your favorite adult beverage, or stargaze into the wee hours.
While you can easily purchase a freestanding unit, a professionally installed fire pit or fireplace can be tailored to your backyard and preferences.
14. Create a secret garden
Give your guests a few places to mingle outside. A small garden is an enchanting addition to any backyard and will quickly become your new favorite outdoor hangout. When planning your garden, think about design features that delight the senses — a stepping stone pathway, a romantic vine-covered fence, or an arbor. The possibilities are endless.
Andra Delmonico, lead designer at the design blog Trendey, takes this idea a step further. “Homeowners are also considering using edible plants for their landscaping or gardening. Instead of just growing decorative plants, they are growing carrots with lush greenery, tall tomatoes, green bean plants, or fresh herbs that give off desirable scents.”
15. Cool off with misters
When you want to cool off during the dog days of summer, a mister will do the trick. Misters make you feel like you took a dip in a pool without getting drenched. Plan the right number of mister nozzles for the perimeter of your covered patio, deck, or gazebo. For example, you will need about 10 nozzles for a 10’ x 10’ area.
If you’re unsure or don’t want to fiddle with your plumbing system, contact a local professional for a quote.
16. Chill out in a hammock
Nothing beats the slow rock of a hammock. It’s the ultimate get-away-from-it-all feeling. String one between two trees, purchase a freestanding hammock, or indulge in a couple of hanging rattan chairs to create a boho vibe.
Backyard entertainment ideas for summer hosting
Now, check out some of our best tips for decorating your backyard and creating fun experiences your guests will enjoy.
17. Create a colorful tablescape the next time you eat outside
Your outdoor dining table is a great spot to surprise and delight your friends and family with thoughtful design. Spruce up your meals with a colorful, bright, or patterned tablecloth, napkins, plates, and cups. Tip: Cut some fresh flowers from your garden or gather branches and greenery to make a centerpiece in a snap. Use the flowers and greenery to decorate around the plates and dishes.
18. Take the party outside with a beverage cart
Picture this: You’re relaxing in the shade with your favorite people, snacking with the music turned up. Your friends need their drinks refreshed, but the bar cart is all the way inside. What’s a good host to do?
Keep the good times flowing with an outdoor bar cart. There are colors and styles to suit any preference, and you can still be part of the fun while you’re mixing drinks. Some carts even have wheels so you can take them indoors during fall and winter.
19. Host a backyard movie night
Surprise your friends with a movie night under the stars. It’s not as hard as you’d think. Go lo-fi with an affordable projector and white sheet, or upgrade with a screen and streaming stick. For seating, set out blankets, pillows, and low-back chairs. Make it even more enjoyable by incorporating some of the ideas on this list, like a self-serve snack bar and outdoor beverage cart.
20. Encourage play
If you have young children and enough space, give them a special area of their own to play, roam, and get the wiggles out. Remember the activity zones recommended earlier? Create a special section just for kids, no grown-ups allowed. Think: swing set, sandbox, art station, game area, or even a fairy garden. It’ll give you a much-deserved break. If you purchase a playground set, you can find pros near you to help assemble it.
21. Graze on a snack bar
It’s summertime and the living should be easy. Setting up self-serve food stations is a game-changer when you’re hosting outdoors. Throw a tablecloth over a folding table and set out your favorite snacks, drinks, and goodies. If you’re feeling fancy, create a theme like a s’mores bar, taco night, or candy concession stand.
22. Groove to great music
It’s time to take your playlist outside. Great tunes make any outdoor party come alive, and you don’t have to spend a fortune to integrate outdoor speakers into your home stereo system, although go for it if you’ve got the cash.
Invest in a few portable speakers, connect them to your phone or tablet, and place them around your backyard. Tip: Hide a couple of speakers under fake rocks so they blend in with your landscaping.
23. Host a lawn games tournament
Give your guests fun activities to do so you’re free to finish any last-minute food prep. Set up a few outdoor games like cornhole, horseshoes, lawn bowling, or life-sized Jenga to get them mingling and encourage a little healthy competition. A lawn game tournament isn't just for kids either — it’s a fun backyard idea for adults too.
24. Go camping in the backyard
You don’t have to go to the campground to get outside in nature. Pitch tents on a level spot in your backyard and plan an evening of fun activities for kids — and kids at heart. Grill burgers and hot dogs and satisfy your sweet tooth by indulging in s’mores. Set up lawn games and tell ghost stories after dark.
25. Go all out with catered food and entertainment
If you have the cash, or can convince your friends and family to pitch in, consider throwing a big summer bash. Find a catering service or a food truck to supply all of the refreshments. Book a bartender to serve up fresh summer cocktails. And look into child entertainment options near you such as face painters, clowns, magicians, balloon twisters, and more.
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