8 Outdoor Entertaining Ideas for Easy Backyard Gatherings

Now that warmer weather is here, it’s time to start planning some outdoor gatherings! Whether it’s a BBQ, pool party, or simple get-together, hosting a backyard gathering is a fun and easy way to entertain family and friends. Today I’m partnering with Wayfair to share eight simple outdoor entertaining ideas to help make your next get-together a breeze.

From creating self-serve drink stations to setting the scene with lighting and keeping bugs at bay, I’ve got you covered! And since Wayfair is having their Memorial Day Clearance (now through 5/30), you can get up to 70% off everything you need plus fast shipping 🙌🏻. Let’s get to it… (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here})

1. Create Self-Serve Drink Stations

Let’s start our outdoor entertaining ideas off with drinks! Creating self-serve drink stations is not only convenient for your guests, but it keeps you enjoying your own party instead of having to constantly check whether anyone needs a refill. Here are a few tips for setting one up:

• Consider using a bar cart on wheels since you can easily roll it to a new spot to keep it in the shade as the sun moves. I have and love {this rattan bar cart} from Wayfair that I roll from its normal spot inside to our back porch for outdoor gatherings:
  
  It’s the perfect size for having an ice bucket, pitcher, and a few extras on the top tray:
  
  and glasses on the bottom. The bottle holders are a super nice feature too:
  
  As an added plus, the top tray is removable:
  Right now my bar cart is not only on sale, but you can take an extra 20% off with code SAVE20! These are some other on-sale bar cart favorites, including several budget-friendly finds (click images to shop them):
  
  
• Place canned and bottled drinks on ice in beverage tubs. {This white beverage tub} is the perfect size for a small gathering (and I love those cute rope handles!):
  
• Label any drink options that are homemade or outside of their original container so your guests know exactly what they are choosing.
• Add fun extras like sliced lemons and limes in pitchers of water or colorful paper straws for guests to use in their drinks.

2. Set the Scene With Lighting

Adding lighting to your outdoor space helps create a cozy and inviting atmosphere once the sun goes down. Weather resistant string lights such as {these globe string lights} set a magical mood when strung across your yard or along the edges of your porch, patio, or deck.

Another fun outdoor entertaining idea is using portable table lamps like {these darling rechargable mini lamps}. You simply plug them in to charge them:

and they can then be used wirelessly, both inside and out to create the perfect glow:

They’re also awesome to have for lighting when your power goes out 😊. {This pack of three} is the best deal per lamp (consider splitting them with other family members if you don’t want all three!) but you can also buy them individually {here}.

3. Turn Ottomans Into Extra Seating

We have a long porch so in addition to our main seating area, Jeff and I have a little two person lounging spot where we can kick up our feet and enjoy an evening cocktail. Instead of buying reclining chaises, we bought a pair of teak lounge chairs with {these matching ottomans}. The ottomans allow us to relax with our feet up when it’s just the two of us and then serve as extra seating for guests when we entertain:

Our ottomans can also double as coffee tables with the simple addition of a tray on top! And did you notice our cute new area rug? You can find it {here} (ours is the 6’7″ x 9′ size). (Note: Our teak chairs are out of stock but {these armless chairs} are the companion chairs to our ottomans. We just conditioned our chairs and ottomans so at the moment they’re darker than the original finish and will lighten with time)

If you have room to add an additional conversation area to your outdoor living space but don’t want to spend much money, check out {this 4-piece set} that’s a steal at the current sale price!

Other sources: Patterned blue outdoor rug | Patterned outdoor pillows | Solid blue outdoor pillows |

4. Pick a Theme

Another one of my favorite outdoor entertaining ideas is to elevate your gathering by choosing a theme. Your theme might simply be based on a holiday, such as a Fourth of July party involving sparklers and red, white, and blue dinnerware and decorations. Or you can base your theme on an activity for your gathering such as a family movie night. Along with showing a movie on an inflatable outdoor projector screen (I love that it takes up such little space when stored!), don’t forget the popcorn and these other must-haves:

Source links: Inflatable outdoor screen | Tabletop popcorn machine | Popcorn stand with cones | Red checked bowls | Glass lidded jars | Reclining lawn chairs | Tiki torches

Other outdoor entertaining theme ideas include an ice cream social, beach party, garden party, Hawaiian luau, seafood boil, wine tasting, retro theme (’80s, etc.), or casino night.

5. Keep the Bugs At Bay

Outdoor entertaining ideas need to be practical too! Mosquitos LOVE feasting on me so keeping bugs at bay is always in my mind when I’m outdoors in the evening. Along with making sure you have bug repellent sprays available for your guests, you can incorporate bug repellents into your decor with {this darling set of tabletop TIKI torches} (note: mine just went out of stock 😫 – {these tabletop torches} are a cute in-stock option):

Simply fill them with {this citronella torch fuel} or {this plant based option} and place them on outdoor dining tables or side tables to help keep the bugs away (and look super cute doing it):

Also, if you’re leaving out any food for guests to graze on, consider using mesh food covers like {these} to keep flies and mosquitos from landing on it.

6. Keep Centerpieces Simple

If your outdoor gathering is over dinner, it’s nice to have flower centerpieces at your table but you don’t need to do anything fancy when simple backyard flowers can do the trick! It took only a few minutes to pick these white wildflowers from the woods behind our backyard and place them in a glass hurricane similar to {this one}, but they make such a pretty arrangement:

7. Provide Cozy Blankets for Chilly Nights

As the sun goes down and temperatures drop, having cozy blankets for your guests is an outdoor entertaining idea that will help keep your party going into the night. Draping them over the backs of chairs also adds some extra color and texture to your outdoor space and makes them easy to grab. I have and love {these blue striped tassel throws} for our porch:

These are a few of my other favorite throw blankets, several of which are part of Wayfair’s clearance:

Source Links: 1. Green plaid throw | 2. Light blue striped tassel throw | 3. Herringbone throws | 4. Blue plaid throw | 5. Striped tassel throws | 6. Chevron stripe throw | 7. Patterned blue throw with fringe

8. Extend Seating Into Your Yard

For large outdoor gatherings, don’t limit seating to your porch or patio. Extend it into your yard so guests will make full use of your outdoor space. One easy way to do this is by scattering outdoor seat cushions such as {these} on your lawn area. Instead of randomly scattering them about, arrange them in a circle or semi-circle to create a seating area that encourages conversation and relaxation.

Pairs of Adirondack chairs on your lawn are a great option too. {These Adirondack chairs} that fold for storage are awesome! My sister has one that she uses on her front porch:

and it’s super easy for her to fold up,

and carry around to her back patio for extra seating. Also check out {these Adirondack chairs} that are on big sale.

A few of our other outdoor pieces from Wayfair that we have and love include {this white outdoor coffee table}:

and our hanging planters that you can find {here}:

Wayfair also has bedroom furniture up to 50% off including {this favorite upholstered bed} in Zuma White that’s on sale plus an extra 20% off with code SAVE20, entryway furniture up to 50% off including {this flip top storage bench},

living room seating up to 60% off, and mirrors & decor up to 60% off including {this pretty tasseled tablecloth}:

These are a few of my other favorite sale finds:

I hope you found some outdoor entertaining ideas you can use at your next outdoor gathering or something to treat yourself to for prettying up another space in your home!

XO,