At SEQ, we always say that the best part about having a patio is the memories that you make on them. An outdoor party with your friends and family while you enjoy a cold beer and the warm Aussie weather is always guaranteed to be a great time. Below are some of our top tips for planning an outdoor party this summer:
Don’t Leave Your Guests in the Dark
When it comes to outdoor parties on your patio, lighting is the perfect way to create atmosphere. Hanging lanterns or draping fairy lights around your patio will create a warm and cosy ambience which will help people to kick back and relax. Making sure that you have lighting isn’t just good for setting the mood but also saves the hassle of having to shuffle inside after the sun sets and people are struggling to see which drink belongs to who. Our insulated patios come with a hidden cable core, that allows us to conceal and run electrical cables through the sheets, so downlights and fans can be fitted to keep the area well lit, and cool in the summer.
Set the Mood with Music
When it comes to music, you should prepare a playlist in advance and make sure you have a speaker or some means of actually playing the music. Stick with music that isn’t too niche and that everyone will know and enjoy- it’s usually a good idea to have a mixture of new songs and old favourites. Make sure your playlist is a few hours long so that people don’t get sick of hearing the same songs. We think about 4 hours of music is a decent length- hopefully by that stage, if the party is still going everyone will have had a few beers and won’t notice that the playlist has started again. When it comes to volume, generally you should keep the music in the background as people like to socialise and have conversations with one another.
Keep Insects at Bay
If you have any stagnant pools or puddles of water around your patio, make sure to get rid of them before your party as these can often attract mosquitoes and insects. There are also pretreatment sprays which you can apply to your patio and outdoor areas to keep insects away which are ideal for when you’re planning on entertaining guests. Most of these products will recommend that you spray about 24 hours beforehand, so make sure you leave yourself enough time. You can also light mosquito coils or citronella candles and even turning a fan on may help since some bugs, like mozzies, aren’t strong fliers so they will avoid the current of air.
When it Comes to the Menu, Stick to the Basics
Outdoor parties tend to be pretty casual so you can keep it simple with the menu. People don’t want food that’s too much of a hassle to eat and also, you want to enjoy your own party so there’s no point spending half the time in the kitchen, away from your guests and slaving over a hot stove. Go for cold fruit, salads, cheese and ham platters and perhaps a few nibbles that can be easily cooked in the oven. If you’re having a BBQ at your outdoor party go for the classics which are easy to cook for a large group of people; burgers, sausages and skewers.
At SEQ, we are a family-run business so when it comes to designing and building patios, we know how to create the perfect space for enjoying time with your loved ones. If you would like to make the most out of your outdoor space, contact us today or call us on 1800 704 672 and find out how we can help!
