How to Make Your Backyard the Best Summer Hangout Place
Welcome to Best Summer Ever , your guide to making the most of the sunny season. Whether you’re dreaming of the perfect summer of going on epic adventures or doing as little as possible (preferably somewhere with good air conditioning), we’ve got you covered, because the best summers don’t just happen. You must do this.
Summer is about to officially begin, which means it’s time to spruce up your yard for the upcoming holidays. Every neighborhood has a home with a bustling backyard that is comfortable, beautiful, and has a casual party atmosphere—the kind of home everyone wants to be invited to. What’s the secret to the best summer hangout spot? Planning. You can’t just cross your fingers and throw something together. You need to make a plan and start executing it today if you want your meetings throughout the summer to be memorable.
Don’t worry, it’s not that difficult or even that expensive. All you have to do is provide comfortable seating, snacks and drinks, and a few recreational activities, and everyone will want to hang out in your backyard all the time. Just remember that with great power comes great responsibility; If you create the world’s best summer hangout spot, you owe it to yourself to share it with your friends and family on a regular basis. This is international law. Here’s what you’ll need.
Seating and environment
Before you can host grand gatherings in your backyard, you need to make it an attractive place in a fundamental sense. This means that people should be comfortable spending time:
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Seats. Nobody wants to sit on the ground, so have a comfortable seat ready. A flexible modular seating area like this one from Wisteria Lane is a great idea as it can be organized in different ways and includes a table for casual dining. You can also opt for a more formal outdoor dining option with dinner service . To encourage that feeling of summer laziness, a porch swing like this that doubles as a napping spot captures the ambience perfectly.
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Rug. No matter how nice the deck, flagstone, or patio is, a high-quality outdoor rug makes people feel comfortable kicking off their shoes while also bringing a much-needed touch of color and pattern to your outdoor space.
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Lighting and shadow. For daytime get-togethers, a shade sail is essential unless you have an awning or covered area to protect guests from the sun on hot days. Alternatively, you can set up a geodesic dome tent like this for rainy or chilly weather. When the party stretches into the evening, you obviously need to light up the space—that’s where these smart lights come into play. You can program and schedule them to create any mood at any time, turning your backyard into a special place for any occasion.
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Music. Every video meeting needs music to set the mood, but you don’t have to be constantly thinking about the speakers. These rock speakers are waterproof, solar powered, and will fit seamlessly into your outdoor space, creating the magical feeling of music coming from everywhere at once.
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Fire pit. Fire pits add visual interest to a backyard entertaining area, but they provide a little warmth when summer nights get a little chilly. This fire pit table is propane-powered so it can be placed anywhere convenient, and it also doubles as a table for drinks, instantly creating an intimate setting that encourages conversation.
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Error control. Finally, make sure your guests keep mosquitoes away all night with this rechargeable repeller from Thermacell . No annoying sounds, smells or smoke that could get into people’s eyes – just a bug-free night.
Food
Okay, you have a team and you have a calm, comfortable place where everyone can sit and chat. Now you have to follow the first rule of parties and feed them:
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Kitchen. Sure, you have a grill, but why not upgrade to a full outdoor kitchen so you can cook some truly memorable meals for your guests right in your backyard?
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Bar. Of course, a refrigerator full of cold drinks and a table stocked with cocktail paraphernalia will do the job. But why not switch to an open-air bar ? Stock it with everything you need for summer cocktails and deploy the awning if the weather turns unfavorable.
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Tables with drinks and snacks. One thing about backyard gatherings: If you’ve done your job of creating a comfortable space for everyone, no one wants to get up just to grab a snack. That’s where these folding tables with bars come in: They can hold drinks and snack plates, and they even come with a built-in bottle opener so people can stand next to the refrigerator without moving.
Activity
Now everyone sits comfortably and enjoys their favorite cocktails and snacks. The final piece of the puzzle for your world-class backyard hangout is entertaining:
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Movie. A portable projector and a large outdoor movie screen are all you need to turn your backyard into the best movie theater known to mankind (or at least your neighborhood).
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Yard games. Some classic yard games will keep everyone active and allow them to take full advantage of the sunny weather. You can go classic with a corn hole or horseshoes , or go neo-classical with a pickleball court . Whatever games you and your friends play, keep them on hand to keep the party going.