It’s that time of the year again when the weather is nice, and you want to be outside. I love any kind of meal al fresco, particularly when I can get friends and family together for some outdoor entertaining. With the right accessories, you can enjoy a stress-free time while entertaining your guests outdoors. Whether you’re looking for items to make hosting stress-free, or pieces to elevate your dining experience, here are 20 outdoor entertaining accessories that I love.
Outdoor Entertaining Accessories
For the Set Up
Bar Cart or Serving Station
This stainless steel bar cart provides an extra surface if you’re short on outdoor counter space and want a dedicated area for drinks, plates, or food.
It has locking wheels so you can move it around and secure it in place easily, and it folds up when not in use for compact storage.
Flatware Caddy
If you’re serving a more casual outdoor gathering, set up a dining station at your bar cart and fill a flatware caddy so that everyone can grab what they need buffet-style without a pile of tangled forks and knives.
Outdoor Speaker
Any dinner party needs some ambiance!
This weather resistant Bluetooth speaker allows you to enjoy background music outside, without having to blast your music from inside. It’s compact, so you can discreetly place it in a corner or behind a chair.
String Lights
String lights provide an esthetically pleasing, star-like lighting solution so you can keep your get-together going well past sunset.
Solar Powered Lanterns
If string light aren’t your thing but you still want to illuminate your backyard for outdoor entertaining, solar powered lanterns are perfectly portable for light where you need it.
Place these on tables, patio floors, and even along pathways.
Citronella Candle
Keep away mosquitos with a nice citronella candle. This citronella candle is way better than those unsightly zappers or the candles in the tin containers, and it doubles as décor on your outdoor table.
For the Table
Linen Tablecloth
A breezy, linen tablecloth is an easy way to elevate your outdoor dining experience. For a classic summer look, opt for white.
Woven Placemats
I really like to set a full table when I’m entertaining outside. I just love how a set table looks outdoors. To complement the nature around you, try woven placements in natural rattan or wicker.
Melamine Dinnerware
When it comes to outdoor dinnerware, melamine is the way to go thanks to its unbreakable durability.
Crate and Barrel always has a great assortment of stylish melamine pieces, and some of them look so much like traditional indoor pieces, you’d never know they were plastic.
Linen Napkins
Forget paper napkins if you’re hosting an outdoor dinner party. Upgrade your outdoor tabletop with linen napkins instead. It’s an easy, affordable way to totally transform your table.
Unbreakable Cloche
The only downside to outdoor entertaining is dealing with pesky flies. Protect anything sweet with a food covering – also known as a cloche – to keep your items on display sans bugs.
Serving Tray
I love a serving tray for outdoor entertaining. You can easily carry a handful of items to guests, but it also helps with cleanup. Pile on the dirty dishes and utensils, and carry everything back inside to your kitchen sink.
For Drinks
Outdoor Pitcher
Keep guests hydrated with an outdoor pitcher, without the shuffle of people going back and forth from outside to your kitchen.
For a little boost in presentation, add fresh citrus slices like lemon, lime, or grapefruit.
Drink Dispenser
One of my favorite ways to serve cocktails at a party is to whip up a batch cocktail that you can throw into a drink dispenser.
Guests can refill on their leisure, but it also allows you to enjoy the company without playing bartender inside.
Beverage Tub
Keep any bevs in cans or glasses ice cold, on display, and within easy reach with this rattan beverage tub.
Shatterproof Wine Glasses
Stemless, shatterproof, and reusable, these wine glasses allow you to enjoy your favorite bottle without having to worry about a bump or drop.
Drink Covers
These nifty drink covers help protect your wine against fruit flies if you need to take a drink break, while also still allowing it to breathe. They’re weighted, too, so they won’t fly away.
For the Grill
Grilling Set
If this is going to be the year you master the grill beyond hot dogs, make sure you’re prepared with a proper grilling set.
This 20-piece stainless steel grilling set features everything you need, wrapped up in a convenient carrying case.
Meat Thermometer
Tailor your steaks to individual preferences for your guests with a meat thermometer. It’s digital for easy reading, and the cover provides exact temperatures for preferred doneness.
