Setting the Stage for Summer Entertaining

This post is sponsored by Pier 1 Imports

The minute the weather warms up and the evenings get longer, I start dreaming up the first summer party of the year. I absolutely love to entertain in our backyard but our space really needed an update. In fact, our old outdoor dining table had all but fallen apart so we had to build our entertaining space back up, from scratch. Working with a blank slate is always exciting to me. A must-have for us was well made outdoor furniture.

Before we could set the stage for summer entertaining, we had to lay the foundation –and this dining collection was the perfect choice!

Today I'm sharing with you how we took this foundation, added a few of my go-to summer party essentials, and transformed our space to one fit for guests. These pieces will help you create an inviting (and functional) space to gather with family and friends –this summer and beyond.

Outdoor furniture: Create an inviting space to dine and relax. A nice outdoor dining table can be used regularly by your family and also when entertaining. My tip is to invest in a good quality table and chairs (I am loving these outdoor stacking chairs) to be sure they stand up against the sun and weather. Be sure to grab a couple colorful pillows to add a pop of color!

Servingware: Just because your outdoors does not mean you have to use paper. Invest in some neutral or basic white plates and linen napkins and they will match any party theme you can dream of. Perfect for any occasion and a simple way to "up" your entertaining game. (I also love using these gold plated forks I snagged at Pier1. Aren't they pretty?)

Interesting Pieces: Overall, I keep my tabletop really simple. Great furniture, basic serving pieces all work great for any occasion. However, I love to add a couple interesting pieces to the mix to create interest. For our upcoming summer party, I am going to use these coasters as individual cheese boards and serve a salad in these recyclable berry baskets. When you're setting the stage for your next party, try to create one interesting element that will delight guests.

Glassware: You don't want to bring the fine stemware outside (I get that), but that doesn't mean you can't have nice glasses. I love these acrylic glasses. They aren't going to break but they will look great serving everything from water to wine.

When it comes to setting the stage for summer entertaining, I suggest gathering the basics I outlined above and adding to your outdoor entertaining collection each year. You can see the items I purchased last year (here), they all mix in nicely with the new additions above.

So..... when's your next summer party?

Find what speaks to you. See the Outdoor Living collection in stores or at pier1.com/outdoorliving