It’s very nearly spring, folks. So get. Out. Side. The best outdoor entertaining space is the one in which your living room, dining room and kitchen metamorphose, like a butterfly, into their best al fresco selves. Here’s how to do it.
Outdoor Dining
Make this the year you invest in a proper outdoor dining setup beyond the folding chairs and the card table. (Aren’t you worth not knocking your knees and tipping over a chair every time you go back and forth to the house?) We’re smitten with this bestselling San Clemente outdoor rectangular dining table, here with its matching outdoor dining chairs. Got a little space? Set up a gorgeous teak side table with drinks, ice, snacks, or a cocktail station.
Outdoor Living
You know what screams “luxury” without your breaking the bank? A knockout outdoor sofa. Look at this number from Lanarca, which effortlessly conjures the French Riviera or Italian countryside. Can’t you see yourself sipping some Beaujolais or Barolo on this baby? Especially with some cozy outdoor throw pillows?
Heat
The best hosts anticipate a party that can linger into the evening. Fire is an instinctive gathering place, and you can absolutely find a fire pit at your price point, like the Cuisinart one seen here.
There are also some extraordinary options, like this one from Larnaca, that double as tables, so folks have places to put their plates and cups while they warm their hands.
Lighting
Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you should neglect lighting. It’s like jewelry for an outdoor event. So consider a hurricane for the table, a well-placed sconce, and romantic mood lighting, such as these solar-powered string lights or gorgeous lanterns. You’ll be glad you did.
Outdoor Kitchen
Grill
How many months of the year would you say you spent outside? Make it more like a vacation every time you step out the door. Forget rusty tongs and the 20-year-old grill. Invest in being happy every time you cook out there. See what outdoor entertaining, with a kitchen to match, can look like. Maybe it’s this extraordinary chef’s kitchen from Hestan. Perhaps it’s the Traeger Timberline, which combines the versatility of a traditional oven with the delicious wood-fired flavor of an outdoor barbecue. No matter your budget, we’ve got a grill for you.
Cookware
Another epic way to make the warm months more pleasant? Upgrade your outdoor cookware. (You don’t have to use the business half of your turkey roaster!) We’re talkin’ grill-safe, high heat nonstick outdoor roasters, skillets and more.
Dinnerware
It’s true: There’s no shame in paper plates. But it’s cooler to be kinder to the environment. And the sheer beauty of our Michelle Kim melamine dinnerware will knock you sideways. It’s just the thing for a special lunch, hosting a shower or just enjoying your Tuesday lunch… al fresco. And if you’re a lover of all things Italian, go do check out our stunning Sicily line. It’s also melamine, and is as mood-brightening as a plate of good pasta.
