Decorating & Design
3 Patio Parties That Will Welcome Guests In Style
Chairs, HomeSense. cushions, drinkware, IKEA. straw hat, H&M.
Decorating & Design
3 Patio Parties That Will Welcome Guests In Style
A romantic evening, dinner with friends or a special celebration in the sun – we’ve set up three patio parties that will welcome guests in style.
Alfresco entertaining is all about relaxing with guests, not fussing over finery. Keep table settings informal, but add decorative touches that evoke a mood.
Aperitifs, poolside
A pre-dinner bevvie to begin the evening with your special someone slows the pace of a busy day. Be sure to use unbreakable drinkware outside, especially around pools. Curvy chairs invite lingering.
Table for two
Sit back and savour the moment. A long dinner, tête-à-tête, calls for a table setting that adds to the atmosphere. Black and white ticking on the table and striped chairs is graphically strong and plays off of the cabana’s awning; textural wicker placemats and accents soften the scene.
Tablecloth, placemats, plates, napkins, wicker food dome, H&M Home. chairs, glassware, IKEA. vintage brass, Folly and Fine.
Simple & sophisticated
The burnished polish of vintage brass brings romance to this mostly modern table and will reflect the candlelight after dark. A centrepiece of succulents is sculptural.
Tablecloth, placemats, plates, napkins, wicker food dome, H&M Home. chairs, glassware, IKEA. vintage brass, Folly and Fine.
Palm tablecloth, napkins, H&M Home. Fluted glass pitcher, IKEA. Plates, CB2. Melamine platter, wineglasses,
HomeSense. vintage flatware, Folly and Fine. cushions, Real Canadian Superstore.
Summer dinners start in the sun and last till long after dark. Candles are a must, as well as brighter lights for safety around steps and pools.
Tropical table
Alfresco dinners with friends are a welcome summer ritual. A palette of coral and aqueous greens and blues – with yellow accents for extra pop – strikes a tropical tone off the top. Opt for a statement tablecloth in an exotic print to solidify the theme. Potted palms and ferns add lush greenery and last all season.
Exotic Isle
Bring an island vibe to the event with orchids, palm fronds and exotic fruit as decorative accents. Don’t forget the cocktail umbrellas – dot the table with them for colour, texture and a spark of fun. Vintage bamboo flatware alongside inexpensive outdoor dinnerware in the colour scheme is a successful mix of high and low that feels right.
Rosy Rosé
A glass of vino in an unbreakable glass hits the spot post-swim. Add layers of interest in tropical-pattern towels for guests. Even if you don’t have a pool, a plush towel doubles as a perfect wrap when the evening breeze picks up.
Chairs, IKEA. table, plant pot (used as ice bucket), HomeSense. beach towels, Real Canadian Superstore.
Chairs, IKEA. beach towels, throw, H&M Home. glasses, Real Canadian Superstore.
A harmony of hues makes a table setting special without much effort or expense. Layer in tones of a main colour and add an accent for interest.
Sun shower
Shades of pink, from coral to candy floss, create this feminine setting, perfect for a bridal or baby shower, birthday or special get-together with girlfriends. Frilly florals – carnations and ranunculus – casually arranged in bowls and vases give a flower garden feel. Light blue accents tone down the parade of pinks. Make ahead: tropical punch (with a choice of an alcohol-free version) makes pouring bevvies carefree.
Tablecloth, coral printed plates, gold forks (on tray), H&M Home. Gold flatware (at placesettings), West Elm. Acrylic drinkware, tableware, TRAY, small bamboo bowl, Real Canadian Superstore.
Be cool
The pale blue water glasses (acrylic, for safety), serving tray and bowl add welcoming cool tones to the warm pinks. A glimmer of gold flatware is fresh and modern against the coral tablecloth and elevates the occasion.
Pretty party
Unbreakable drink- and dinnerware in blush and coral (we used two patterns alongside plain white plates) are complemented by fuchsia florals.
Tablecloth, coral printed plates, gold forks (on tray), H&M Home. Gold flatware (at placesettings), West Elm. Acrylic drinkware, tableware, TRAY, small bamboo bowl, Real Canadian Superstore.
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