When you live in a temperate climate, it’s relatively easy to enjoy a holiday meal on your patio no matter if it’s a Fourth of July picnic, a Thanksgiving celebration or even a New Year’s Eve party. There are just a few considerations when planning a party under your patio cover, to assure that some of the outdoor factors do not ruin it for you. Rain, sleet, snow or high winds are reasons to bring the party inside, but food, heat and cold and insects shouldn’t make it necessary to stop your party on the patio.
Planning your meal
When you have an outdoor party, there is no need to adapt the menu from an indoor party unless your kitchen is on the other side of the house. You may need, however, space to set serving dishes, condiments or bread trays while enjoying the meal. Side tables along outdoor furniture may work, but a sideboard of some sort may be helpful, or if you have shelving, then be prepared to clear off a shelf or two to set items on. You may want to stock napkins, extra water and condiments on a cart that you can roll back into the house for more items if needed. The cart will also work well with bringing a heavy entrée or multiple side dishes out at once.
Outdoor comfort
Comfort outdoors can come in many different ways. Since we’re discussing a dinner party, you will most likely want your guests to linger at the table after eating. One way to keep them sitting and enjoying coffee and dessert or an after dinner drink is to have comfortable seating. If you typically have wire mesh or wooden chairs, you may want to consider purchasing some cushions to place in the seats. These can be found at most home improvement stores as well as large retail one-stop stores in the outdoor department.
Another comfort item is the temperature, and having a patio cover can affect the warmth or coolness to a benefit. If it gets chilly when the sun goes down a patio heater will provide warmth for those sitting next to it and will radiate enough heat for several people. A patio cover will hold in the heat somewhat, depending on whether it is solid or slatted on the roof. The heaters can be very ornate or just a basic propane heater. A large patio will function well with more than one heater. During warm weather, a fan or two installed in the patio cover ceiling will cool things down, just as the shade created will make it more comfortable.
The insects are not invited
No one wants to smell insecticide while enjoying a meal, no matter how natural the ingredients may be. There are natural insecticides to spray before your guests arrive, and burning citronella candles will keep them away as well. Flies are distracted by an old trick of placing water in a large Ziploc bag with pieces of foil in it and hanging it from your patio cover. It’s said that because of their multi-faceted eyes that they prefer not to fly toward the bags and will stay away from your table if hung around the perimeter.
Throw an easy clean-up party
When a party is held outdoors, it’s expected to be casual. There are hundreds of paper plates and cups, napkins, plastic eating utensils and disposable tablecloths that are attractive and can be tossed instead of time spent in the kitchen cleaning up.
With any holiday party, indoors or out, offering comfort and ease will enhance both you and your guest’s experience. Start planning your holiday party under your patio cover today!
