There are advantages to hosting an outdoor party – you can invite more guests to join in on all the fun, it provides a very relaxed atmosphere and your house will stay clean as well. Everyone loves summer outdoor entertaining in Sydney, but what about when the nights grow colder and the days grow darker?
Here in Sydney it has just dropped to around 10 Degrees in the evening, particularly in Western Sydney. Although the outdoors isn’t the most inviting at the this time of year, it isn’t necessary for winter to cramp your style for outdoor living and entertaining. Fully embrace the colder season and add some cozy scenery and a crackling fire to your door parties. Although there are some challenges to hosting a winter party, we have been able to compile some excellent ideas to fight off the urge to hole up and make the most out of the colder weather.
1. Build a Fire Pit or Fire
It can be an incredible experience to gather around a roaring hot fie on a long and cold winter’s night. Fire pits, outdoor fireplaces and bonfires are the perfect thing for keeping all of your guests warm and providing a focal point for your outdoor party.
Outdoor fires provide a very festive feeling to them and are perfect for making your guests feel warm and comfortable. If you aren’t crazy about having an open fire, then fire pit tables or fit pits can make an excellent addition to your party. It will also provide your guests and you with another place for resting your drinks. Just make sure to have marshmallows handy for people to toast with.
2. Keep all Of your Guests Warm
Your fire will help keep your best warm, however it is also a good idea to have a few other things on hand just in case. Make sure to have a pile of blankets handy that your friends can wrap up in as well as some hats and gloves for some added layers of clothing.
3. Serve Cold Drinks and Hot Food
Having the right drinks and food is critical for your outdoor party. When it is cold outside then it is definitely ideal to have hot food. Having a barbecue is usually the easiest option when throwing an outdoor party, but you can always have toasty snacks and winter warmers if you want to offer your guests something a bit different.
It is great to be able to pass out finger foods such as hamburger slides at a party, or you can try pizza and mini hotdogs. A pizza stone can be used for keeping slices of pizza warm and appetizers can be store in a small outdoor burner to keep them warm. Offer winter drinks to your guests that will really set the tone, like liqueurs and mulled wine that can warm you up nicely. If you are going to serve cold drinks like soft drinks and beer, set a few ice buckets up to keep drinks cold.
4. Design A Good Surface For Entertaining
An alfresco timber decking surface can provide the idea area for year round outdoor entertaining and living. It can be ideal if the area is covered to make sure your furniture and guests don’t get wet. It will also provide you with a good space for setting up cozy cushions or couches to lounge on. Outdoor decking is among the best investments you can make for your home – particularly if you love outdoor entertaining and living.
5. Select the Right Music
It is quite an art to choose the right music to play at an outdoor party. You want to have a bit of everything since if you only choose the music you like it might not appeal to everybody – try to keep everybody’s best interests in mind. Music can really make or break any outdoor party so you need to make sure to have a good selection for individuals to choose from and to mingle to. You might want to use a music streaming system that allows guests to add songs to, or get a party list created with some classic to get everyone up and dancing.
6. Make Sure To Tell Your Guest That It Is An Outdoor Party
Your guests need to be as comfortable and prepared for the night as possible. Therefore make sure you tell everyone that the party will be taking place outside. That way your friends can wear the right attire and bring along a couple of extra layers for keeping warm in. If you don’t have a sufficient number of blankets, ask your guests if they can bring along some extra ones so no one ends up being cold.
7. Install Some Outdoor Blinds
OK, OK. We may be a little bit biased on this one. But installing a few outdoor patio blinds will allow the warmth that you generate in all of the other steps to be captured and kept in your patio area. It will also protect you from directional rain, a patio with an awning is great, but a bit of Sydney’s directional rain can soak your patio and your guests instantly.
8. Light Things Up
It is essential to have adequate lighting at an outdoor party. It only help to create a cozy ambiance and good mood but is very important for safety considerations as well. If there are going to be guests there that haven’t been to your house before, then you will want to ensure that the front of your house is appropriately lit and that the path is lit to the outdoor living area so that guests don’t end up walking through your house to get to the party.
The eating area and outdoor tables should well-lit to ensure that your guests are able to eat comfortably. If there isn’t enough outdoor lighting or power points, mason jars or glass holders with candles in them can be used. Don’t forget that some outdoor light will also be provided by the fire. You will want to try to find the balance between things not being too awkward and bright but having enough illumination for your guests so that people can still get around comfortably. The right lighting will complement your decor as well as provide your guests with a warm and nice glow.
8. Create a Space for Dancing
Although not everyone might be into dancing, you will want to have an area where people can dance if they want to. If your outdoor area is small that can be a but tricky. But if you plan things ahead of time you can eliminate any potential problems in advance.
Locate a space that can be separated from the tables and chairs. Also, having the right lighting will once again be important. It is ideal if the dance area is set up close to the music. That will encourage guests to get up and dance when the right song comes on.