If you’re doing any hosting this spring and summer, you’re probably planning ahead. If you’re doing any DIY’s inside, an outdoor party might be hard to plan for. Especially with the 4 seasons we can expect in one day! We have thought of everything, so let’s get into it!
If the weather isn’t great, or if it’s still a bit chilly for your liking, you’ll want to think about your living room, dining room, and kitchen. If you’re like us, and ever hopeful for the sun to come out, maybe a BBQ is what you’ve planned. Most of the time, you can still get away with this if you have a large enough umbrella! But your guests will still need to sit somewhere, and you’ll need somewhere to put all the yummy food.
The Filo White Extending Table is the perfect table to host around. The table can be extended so you’ll have enough space to sit around it and still display your food! Extending up to nearly 3 meters, you can seat up to 14 people. Or less, and have a centrepiece in the middle full of gorgeous food and décor.
While we could probably tell you to buy one (or more) of our gorgeous chairs, we won’t force you! Chairs for a table like this can be difficult to source, especially if you don’t host often. We would recommend getting a bench or two, this way you can tuck them into a corner and create a temporary storage space. Chuck a few big cosy cushions on there, and you have a makeshift reading nook! Then when your guests come, grab your dinnerware sets and tablecloths from under the benches, and you’re done!
The kitchen is usually the hub of your home. If you’re thinking of, or halfway through a DIY in there, it could make things tricky. If you’re planning to repaint your cabinets, check out our Guide to Paint your Kitchen Cabinets here. If you’re stuck between replacing, or repainting, our furniture experts have created the ultimate checklist to help you decide, and you can read that here!
If you’re going for a full reno, opt for kitchen cabinets with ample storage to keep countertops clutter-free. Choose light, bright finishes like light grey or white gloss to reflect the season’s airy feel. The colours also go with any home décor and colours, so if you’re prone to redecorate your kitchen seasonally, these would be timeless.
In the event that you are hosting mid Kitchen reno, lets make sure you have your priorities:
Obviously, you’ll have some pantry goods and food items that you won’t be using while you’re hosting. Consider installing a larder unit to use as a pantry. This way, all your canned goods and unused food can be out of sight and out of mind, letting you focus on your guests! If you need summer lunch menu ideas for entertaining, we have a few recipe blogs you should check out!
You may have a fancy plate set that you’ve had tucked under your little reading nook, that you’ll be using for your guests. But what about your daily use dinnerware? Add in a small base unit to hide them away.
We all have too many glasses and mugs (or maybe just some of us). Installing a glass display unit, you’ll be able to show off your most aesthetic or colourful pieces, and hide a few of the rest not in use in the other section.
After you’ve devoured all the food in sight, most people tend to head into the lounge to do exactly that. Lounge. To create a welcoming space, and enough space, you may not want or need a big coffee table in the centre. Add in a few smaller, yet functional coffee tables like these. Available in different colours, add some coasters, and your guests can put down their tea, coffee or whatever they might be enjoying! These are also great for storing magazines, knick-knacks and adding a few plants into the space.
Onto the hopeful weather! (You can never really tell in Spring and Summer) You won’t really need to worry about the inside of your house. Even though you’ll probably be panic cleaning for 2 hours the morning of. Adding a shoe cabinet, or a small sideboard close to your entrance way, so guests can put down their belongings will create a safe and comfortable feel instantly. While on their way outside, (no they won’t be looking at your clock to check if it’s been dusted) they’ll be looking at your outdoor space. We all just want to be outside as soon as the sun is actually out!
Even on a budget, you can make your garden feel cosy and inviting, and here’s how!
You can DIY almost everything in your garden. The weeding is simple, but painstaking. Mowing the lawn is about the same. But jet washing is great, not only is it super satisfying, it makes so much difference, especially after winter! Adding in some flowers can be very budget friendly, especially if you grab some from supermarkets. They usually require repotting, or putting into the ground, but the pops of colour will really brighten the space up. Even if you grab a couple of colourful pots and packets of seeds, the colour will still be there!
Pallets can be found or brought for very cheap and sometimes free. They’re so useful in your garden, we’ve tried telling you before! If you’re not bothered about reading that blog, I’ll sum it up for you. Planters, Tables, Chairs and Benches. All made from pallets.
What I think you should do, is make a pallet bench, or two, and a table. It’s a lot easier than you may think! The table (or tables) are great to have as outdoor coffee tables, or to chuck the food onto when its finally all done. The benches or seats could be made to be modular. (So you can rearrange them depending on your guests) And to make the benches or seats cosy, add some pallet cushions so comfortable your guests won’t want to leave.
Alternatively, you could bring out your extending table and set up a gorgeous tablescape with fresh flowers, arrange your food exactly how you would inside, and use garden chairs around the table (so you don’t sink into the grass!).
In the UK, we love the outdoors. We love to host. So we hope these tricks and tips help you make hosting (in all weather conditions) easy and enjoyable, rather than stressful! Also please don’t forget to follow us on social media to see the latest updates, BBQ’s and Impact news!
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