{"id":4252,"date":"2015-05-15T10:35:40","date_gmt":"2015-05-15T15:35:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cushionsource.com\/blog\/?p=4252"},"modified":"2019-07-01T14:28:44","modified_gmt":"2019-07-01T19:28:44","slug":"prepare-for-outdoor-entertaining","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cushionsource.com\/blog\/design-ideas\/prepare-for-outdoor-entertaining\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways to Prepare for Outdoor Entertaining"},"content":{"rendered":"

Memorial Day weekend, known as the unofficial official beginning of summer to many, is just a couple of weekends away. I love the idea of entertaining, decorating, and all things patriotic, so this is one of my favorite holidays. I thought I\u2019d share a few tips on how to get your patio ready for the outdoor entertaining season.
\n
\n\"Have<\/p>\n

1. Deep clean:<\/strong> Start by deep cleaning your patio or deck. Power washers are perfect for this and easy to use. Don\u2019t worry if you don\u2019t own one. Most hardware stores will have them for you to rent. Just be mindful of what you use this on so it doesn\u2019t ruin anything. While you\u2019re at it, take a water hose and spray down any furniture, cushions, and umbrellas. Only some fabrics and fillings are suitable to sustain outdoor use. For help on figuring out how to clean your specific fabrics,\u00a0check out\u00a0our Fabric Care page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Contemporary Deck by Seattle Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Exteriorscapes llc<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

2. Revamp your furniture:<\/strong> Now that you\u2019ve washed off your furniture, take a look at it. Does it look a little loved? If it\u2019s still functional, give it a little DIY makeover instead of going and buying new stuff. Metal or wood furniture can be painted or stained. Teak furniture can be pressure washed and, once it\u2019s dry, preserved with a teak sealer. Plastic furniture can be scrubbed down with a little bleach and soapy water.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Farmhouse Porch by Raleigh Photographers Adrianna Beech<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Add some life:<\/strong> Inspect your greenery. Start by removing dead branches and pruning. After this cold winter, some shrubs may need to be replanted. There are many plants<\/a> such as horsemint, marigold, and ageratum, to name a few,\u00a0that serve a dual purpose, like repelling mosquitoes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Contemporary Patio by Minneapolis Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Southview Design<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Seating:<\/strong> The perfect seating for your patio can make a world of difference. Make sure your cushions and pillows are still in good condition, creating a relaxing and comfortable space for you and your guests. Cushions and pillows are a good way to brighten up your space and make it custom for your home. If your cushions<\/a>\u00a0or throw\u00a0pillows<\/a>\u00a0aren’t in good condition consider new replacement fillings or cushion covers<\/a>. We have many outdoor fabrics<\/a> to choose from. While these fabrics may be designed for outdoors, they will still get wet<\/a> and dirty<\/a> if left outside for periods of time.<\/p>\n

\"Add
Add custom throw pillows to complete your outdoor living room.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Drapes:<\/strong>\u00a0Outdoor drapes<\/a>\u00a0can dress up your outdoor space, along with creating privacy and blocking the harsh sun during peak hours of the day. Drapes\u00a0can also help personalize your patio and accent your cushions and pillows.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Contemporary Deck by Chicago Real Estate Agents Leslie Glazier @ Properties<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. Umbrellas:<\/strong> A patio\u00a0umbrella<\/a> can create the perfect shade. While it\u2019s nice to soak up some sun, it\u2019s important to protect your skin. Did you know, May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Sunbrella\u00ae<\/a> is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation as a way to help prevent skin damage from the sun. An umbrella not only protects you from the sun, but it also creates a shady spot that feels a few degrees cooler.<\/p>\n

\"USA
Feeling Patriotic this summer? Add this umbrella to your patio!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7. Lighting:<\/strong> There are so many fun and beneficial ways to light up your yard for those summer night barbecues. It\u2019s also an easy way to make a big impact on your space. My two favorite ways are candles and those big clear bulbs strung across the yard. Bugs, of course, are attracted to the light, so citronella candles not only provide light, but they help keep those pesky bugs away.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Midcentury Patio by Santa Barbara Architects & Building Designers Native Son Design Studio<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8. Storage:<\/strong> Outdoor storage doesn\u2019t have to be an eyesore. Dress it up and make it functional for more than just what it is. Find a good piece that can be used for other purposes, such as additional seating, a table top, a center coffee table, and so on.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Contemporary Patio by Brooklyn Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers New Eco Landscapes<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

9. Eating:<\/strong> If you don\u2019t have room to have a full outdoor kitchen, get creative. Find a cute cart and set up a drink station. Use trays for your food and condiments. Make things simple – sometimes simple is better.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Farmhouse Spaces by Raleigh Photographers Adrianna Beech<\/em><\/p>\n

10. Relax:<\/strong> Once you\u2019ve got everything ready, sit back and enjoy your patio. Have some fun with the family and create this yummy summer snack. I recently found this recipe for an easy pizza thanks to Southern Living<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"2362701_Cooki_SuperFastSupperJW_Dec30935-1_WEB\"
Quick BBQ Chicken Pizzas | Photo: Jason Wallis<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ingredients:<\/p>\n

\n
Cooking spray<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
3\/4 cup chopped red onion<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
1 1\/2 cups shredded skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast (about 6 ounces)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
1\/4 cup unsalted chicken stock<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
1\/4 cup lower-sodium marinara sauce<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
1\/4 cup barbecue sauce<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
3 (7-inch) thin pizza crusts<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
2 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
1\/3 cup chopped green onions<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
1\/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Preparation:<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
1. Preheat oven to 450\u00b0.
\n2. Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion; saut\u00e9 2 minutes or until translucent. Stir in chicken, stock, marinara, and barbecue sauce; cook 3 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Remove pan from heat.
\n3. Spread about 1\/2 cup chicken mixture over each crust; top evenly with mozzarella cheese. Place pizzas directly on oven rack; bake at 450\u00b0 for 9 minutes or until cheese melts. Top with green onions and pepper. Cut each pizza into 4 wedges.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Memorial Day weekend, known as the unofficial official beginning of summer to many, is just a couple of weekends away. I love the idea of entertaining, decorating, and all things patriotic, so this is one of my favorite holidays. I thought I\u2019d share a few tips on how to get your patio ready for the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4536,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-design-ideas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cushionsource.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cushionsource.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cushionsource.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cushionsource.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cushionsource.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4252"}],"version-history":[{"count":49,"href":"https:\/\/www.cushionsource.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4252\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7934,"href":"https:\/\/www.cushionsource.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4252\/revisions\/7934"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cushionsource.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cushionsource.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cushionsource.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cushionsource.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}