Many Canadians will celebrate summer parties featuring freshly grilled food, delicious cocktails and laughs with family and friends this season. When hosting an outdoor dinner party, a stellar menu is only half the battle. For the ultimate al fresco dining experience, a refined, comfortable space to gather is just as important.
Sharon Grech, colour and design expert at Benjamin Moore, shares her tips on how to get your backyard party ready.
Get the deck ready
Refreshing your deck with stain is one of the easiest ways to transform your outdoor space and will maintain, protect and beautify wood so you can glide through many summers to come. Examine wood for rotting and previous coatings before getting started. If needed, use an appropriate restoring or cleaning product to bring the surface back to its original form. Sanding with an 80-grit sand paper is recommended.
Choosing a colour and finish will depend on the look you’d like to achieve. A semi-transparent stain will enhance the natural look of wood and works best on a newer deck. A solid finish masks imperfections and is great for decks in need of a refresh. Charcoals or deep browns are popular colours that add depth, which plays on the current trend of bringing the inside out.
To apply stain, use a roller and brush. Using a roller or pad applicator to paint multiple boards at one time is an easy way to apply stain. Once stain is applied, back-brushing or smoothing over those same boards with a brush on a long handle helps speed up the process, minimizes knee discomfort and ensures the wood is properly penetrated.
Light it up
Illuminate your outdoor architectural features and enjoy the party ambiance with lighting. There are many unique, luminous lighting solutions for any backyard.
For easy and inexpensive lighting, string party lights under a patio umbrella, or do a lighting DIY. Tie tree branches and twigs together with LED lights, then suspend them from a gazebo or patio overhang. For even more intricate illumination, add a pop of colour to the branches with bright paint colours such as Benjamin Moore’s Ravishing Red 2008-10 or Patriot Blue 2064-20.
Easy updates
Create a stunning and functional party atmosphere with an easy patio set update. Revamp dining chairs with wood stain or paint and update seating and cushions with new outdoor fabrics in vibrant colours and patterns. Long outdoor harvest tables are perfect for accommodating multiple guests, so scour garage sales or vintage markets to find one of your own.
Handmade centerpieces
A centrepiece will complete your look and will serve as a focal point for guests. Multi-functional accessories are one of the biggest design trends this year and will make hosting that much easier. Consider filling mason jars with garnishes and condiments and place them on a decorative serving tray. When not used for condiments, the jars look beautiful with tea lights at night, or function as a vase for fresh flowers.
Add your personal flair to an existing serving tray by painting or stenciling the tray’s centre base. This multi-functional centrepiece will also serve your guests in style. Place in the middle of your table, fill with drinks, and enjoy this "tray-chic" centrepiece!
Additional tips for choosing the right shade and type of paint for your outdoor space are available online at www.BenjaminMoore.ca.
Over the years I’ve also come up with some clever outdoor entertaining ideas. Here are just a few:
Instant cocktail table
Insert tomato cages into the ground and place a dinner plate (large enough so it sits on top of the cage) on top to use as a cocktail table. You can decorate the cages with lights or silk garland. (Hot glue the plate to the cage for stability. It’s easy to remove after the party.) These can be placed anywhere a table is needed by your seating.
Invert empty tomato cages and string with lights to create a conical topiary for the evening. Flank your doorway with them for added impact.
Fun displays
Use an old wooden stepladder as a decorative element by stringing it with lights and potted plants. Place it in a corner of the deck as a focal point. Use an old metal washtub as a cooler. When filled with ice and canned drinks, guests can serve themselves from this vintage ice chest.
Manitoba summers are short but wonderful. Get outside and enjoy!
Connieoliver2016@gmail.com
