Garden Parties - Dunelm

1. Garden Parties Outdoor entertaining ideas for fun-packed summer days www.dunelm.com

2. Decor • One of the best things about garden parties is that you don’t need to worry about your interior décor being warm and welcoming. The great outdoors provides plenty of atmosphere without the need for perfect tableware and pristine presentation. • However, a little bit of decoration in your garden can help create a sense of occasion and life guests’ spirits sky high. • Here are a few ideas to turn your backyard into a beauty spot that’s perfect for parties: • Some well-placed topiary (real or artificial) can make your garden look sophisticated and stylish, and is perfect for special occasions. Try defining your party area with some evenly spaced trees or hanging balls. • Bring a bit of indoor cosiness to your garden by hanging canvas wall art. (But make sure you take it back in if it rains!) • Garden thermometers look great and can help you see if the temperature’s right for a party. • Use solar lanterns to mark out pathways and key features. These will help guests get around the garden safely, and help sustain the atmosphere if the party continues into the night. Wall lights that can be set on a timer will also help. • To really take advantage of the twilight atmosphere, try draping outdoor fairy lights over your gazebo or wall. www.dunelm.com | 1

3. Food Good food is crucial for a good party, especially when everyone’s out enjoying the warm summer sun. Unless you’re planning an outdoor dinner party, it’s best to keep things simple. Moreish food and ice-cold drinks are a recipe for success. Think hummus and other dips, along with breadsticks, salads and finger foods. Keep these all on display so guests can pick at your food as they party. Complement your food with soft drinks, bottles of beer and jugs of deliciously cold water. Home-made punch or lemonade will also go down a treat. Barbecues are perfect for warm days. If you’re planning a barbecue party, turn to the next page for our barbecue checklist. Hot Smoking Barbecues and finger foods are foolproof garden party fodder, but if you’re looking for something a little different, why not try smoking your own meat or fish? There’s nothing like the sweet smell of smoking food wafting across your garden to get everyone in the summer mood. You don’t need expensive specialist equipment either – just get your hands on a barbecue that doubles up as a miniature smoke house. These modern marvels make it easy to hot smoke fish, meat and other tasty morsels. The only other things you need are some hardwood smoking chips and a few hungry guests! www.dunelm.com | 2

4. Barbecue checklist www.dunelm.com | 3

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6. You might be having lots of fun, but remember: barbecues can be dangerous if they’re not used properly.Follow basic barbecue safety principles and you’ll make sure everyone stays happy and healthy.The NHS has put together a helpful tool with lots of outdoor cooking safety advice: http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/barbecue.aspx www.dunelm.com | 5

7. Entertainment www.dunelm.com | 6 Good food and good company go a long way. But if you’ve got some great entertainment up your sleeve, the good times can go even further. Entertainment is especially important if there will be children at your garden party. They’ll need lots of (supervised) things to do while the adults enjoy the sun, fun and conversation.

8. For kids If you’ve got kids of your own, you might already have garden games and toys for them to play with. But if not, this is the perfect opportunity to invest in some! Slides, swings, sandpits and other fun toys will be welcomed by the youngsters at your party, and they’ll give your own kids plenty to do for many months to come. If you’re not used to entertaining children, then it’s a good idea to ask guests with kids to bring their own toys. However, if you’re cooking food outdoors, remember to be careful with things like balls or other loose toys, as these can be dangerous if they fly in the direction of your barbecue. Got a big garden? Why not put together a ‘treasure hunt’ for the little ones? Create a trail of clues that kids can find around the garden, with a special surprise at the end. Best of all, even the most ‘grown up’ of grown ups can have lots of fun helping the kids work out the riddles and hunt down the next clue. Let them join in – safely! Kids are a curious bunch, so you might find they want to help with serving food and even cooking on the barbecue. However, it goes without saying that it’s not a good idea to let children get involved with sharp cutlery and hot charcoals. One way to help them feel involved is to provide child-friendly versions of your barbecuing appliances and cooking utensils. With a toy kitchen, or even some simple plastic cups and plates, kids can put on their own pretend barbecue, safely out of the way of the real thing. For adults The way you choose to entertain grown-up guests will depend on the kind of party you want to have. Rather than viewing it as a challenge, think of entertainment as a way of fostering a certain atmosphere, and bringing structure to your party. If your idea of a perfect garden party is warm weather, great conversation and an altogether relaxing vibe, you don’t need much in the way of entertainment. In fact, an MP3 player loaded with your favourite summer tunes will provide all the atmosphere you need. However, there is plenty of scope for getting adults involved in party games and other fun activities – especially if you’re aiming for a more structured party. The best games are those that have simple rules and don’t need lots of equipment. Think word games, physical challenges, quizzes and other easy-to-do activities. www.dunelm.com | 7

9. Keeping guests happy You’ve made your garden look great, dished out some quality grub and laid on some great entertainment. Now do you make sure everyone carries on enjoying themselves until the sun goes down? The trick is simple: keep everyone comfortable. If guests are kept warm and happy, they won’t even notice the hours go by. Garden heating Even in the midst of summer, it can get chilly at night. If you get caught in a cold snap, you could always usher everyone indoors – but you’d be missing a trick. With a little preparation, a night-time garden party can have a very special atmosphere, without the need for big woolly jumpers. There are plenty of garden heating products available to keep even large gardens feeling warm and cosy. Chimineas have a great rustic look, so will fit perfectly into your garden – and because they burn wood, they give off a gorgeous natural warmth that your guests will love. You could also invest in a fire bowl, which makes a great focal point for your party. Encourage everyone to sit in a circle around it as night draws in. You could even toast marshmallows as a special evening treat! www.dunelm.com | 8

10. Garden furniture Nobody wants to be on their feet for hours on end, so give your guests somewhere to sit and chat under the warm sun. Big wicker chairs with comfy cushions are perfect for chilled-out parties. They go really well with lazy summer days and home-made cocktails! You’ll also need a few sturdy tables for guests to rest drinks on, and to serve up your party nibbles. A full dining furniture set with chairs, a table, and a parasol makes for a fine investment if you’re planning to entertain fairly regularly. However, if you really want to take outdoor entertainment to the next level, a rattan furniture set is the way to go. These sturdy and stylish furniture collections bring true indoor comfort to the great outdoors, creating a smart area for guests to loll about, chat and enjoy one another’s company. If you’re not too fussed about sophisticated furniture (or muddy knees!) you can create a really relaxing space by throwing a few bean bags around your lawn or patio. This setup is ideal for those days when you just want to relax with some good music and a cool drink – and bean bags are super comfortable, so guests will be encouraged to stay ‘til kicking out time. More tips Use cushions! In the rush to get your party ready, it can be easy to overlook the need for comfy cushions on chairs, but they’re essential if you want to keep your guests happy. Make sure your friends enjoy the whole garden. Place drinks and other nibbles away from the main seating area so guests are encouraged to walk around and mingle. www.dunelm.com | 9

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