How to Arrange Your Outdoor Space for Gatherings Large and Small

When it comes to arranging your outdoor space for entertaining, you want to make it charming, but it’s also important to keep comfort and function in mind. If you have a smaller outdoor area—or you live in a climate where the weather prevents you from spending time outside year-round—you may not have the space or the need for a whole suite of outdoor furniture. But that doesn’t mean you can’t entertain a crowd. Here are some of my tried-and-true ways to create comfortable arrangements for outdoor entertaining, using flexible pieces that can go from a family dinner to a big to-do.

Transform Chaise Lounges

Chaise lounges are meant for one person to use, but they are incredibly versatile for a party. If you have two of them, lay them flat, arrange them to face each other, and put a table in between; with three of them, make a U-shape, and you instantly have seating for 12 people without having to buy any new furniture.

Shopping tip: Instead of looking for deep seating, like an outdoor couch, consider armless chaise lounges so that you can use them for lounging and entertaining.

Rethink Benches

It’s likely you have some benches around—whether a front porch bench, a garden bench, a dining table bench, or a combination. To create a comfortable seating vignette, place two benches face-to-face and add two end tables together in the center to create a cozy spot for a casual meal. 

Shopping tip: Instead of buying a picnic table, buy a table and two benches—you get three pieces instead of one, and the benches can be put to use in multiple ways.

Embrace Bistro Tables

Bistro tables are really underrated—for a home without much space, they can be folded flat and stored when not in use. But while in use, there’s so much you can do with them, and they provide extra seating in a larger space. They are also functional as supplemental surfaces when hosting in the backyard, providing extra table space for things like ice buckets filled with bottles of soft drinks.

Shopping tip: When shopping for outdoor tables, always opt for ones with an umbrella hole—and get an umbrella that swivels so that you can easily adjust the shade without having to drag the umbrella and table around.

Bring Out the Carts

Carts are the unsung heroes of any party. Roll one out and set it up, and you have a moveable workstation, display area, serving surface, and more. You can use a cart for cocktails, you can put utensils and food next to the grill, use it as a buffet, or a side table—you can even put baskets on the bottom shelf and use one for kids’ toys. 

Shopping tip: Carts come in all shapes and sizes and in every style. Think about what you will use it for, and consider a more industrial one if you want to wheel it around from, say, the grill to the table—or a more decorative one if you think you’ll station it for drinks or décor.

Add Soft Furnishings

There are all kinds of outdoor pillows and soft furnishings one can buy. For special occasions, bring washable indoor throw pillows and blankets outside. These can really add to the décor, but functionally, they can add another layer of seating and lounging options.

Shopping tip:  If you prefer to leave your soft furnishings outside, there are great weather-resistant options available that can withstand the occasional summer shower.

Don’t Forget Swinging Furniture

There is nothing I love more than a swing. It may seem like an old-fashioned idea that’s not necessarily versatile, but it actually allows you to use some spaces that might not accommodate a traditional seating arrangement. Hammocks and other kinds of large-format swings can also add seating in special places, like under a tree or nestled in a garden corner.

Shopping tip: If you are building or buying a swing for kids, consider one that is suitable for adults as well.

There are so many clever choices you can make when furnishing outdoors. As long as you focus on style and function, you can have a flexible space for entertaining a crowd … or even just yourself.