6 Summer Entertaining Trends Pros Say Will Impress Your Guests This Year

While some summer entertaining ideas never get old—grilling burgers and burning marshmallows by the fire—using modern trends can also be fun, adding an unexpected twist to the party and creating a memorable experience for your guests.

We recently asked six designers to share their favorite leisure trends this summer. With cost-effective storage and environmental friendliness in mind, these ideas are simple and uncomplicated. Use one as party inspiration or combine several to create a standout party that will have your guests talking about long after summer is over.

Open a Backyard Bar

Basement bars are making a comeback in the outdoor space, thanks to a growing interest in prefab backyard bars or “bar huts.”

“Similar to a resort swim-up bar or beach bar, a bar shack creates a central gathering place on the beach,” said Liam Gallagher, founder of Bars to Yard.

Add a TV and you can race. Unlike traditional seating areas, which can create a lot of distance between people, hut bars encourage people to gather closer, making conversation easy and natural.

Beach hut-like bar huts will help you and your guests feel like you’re on vacation. Of course, don’t feel like your bar shack has to follow a traditional beach design.

“Today we see clients styling their cabins in different ways,” says Gallagher. “Lake Houses; farm; you name it.”

Light Things Up With Rechargeable Options

While no one is suggesting you give up string lights, rechargeable versions are increasingly becoming the norm.

What do rechargeable entertainment lights mean? You can take it off the beaten path. Set up a dining area in the middle of the lawn or create a corn yard after dark under a vine-covered pergola—all of these are places you previously couldn’t get to because there were no escape routes.

In addition to battery-powered string lights, the market for portable, rechargeable table lamps is booming this summer. From mushroom-shaped lamps to ball-shaped globes, there is a design to suit almost any entertaining theme.

Create Casual Luxury With Rattan

Thanks to the quiet luxury trend that celebrates simple luxury, lightweight rattan and wicker furniture are all the rage this summer.

“I’ve always thought of wicker and rattan as the epitome of versatility,” says Tammy Price, owner and creative director of Fragments Identity.

Price, who has long perfected Fragment Identity’s outdoor furniture collections with wicker and rattan seating, especially likes its portability.

“For entertaining, it’s light and spacious and can be moved into different positions,” she says. “I like to take him out onto the lawn to create space for intimate conversation.”

Likewise, with wicker and rattan having added benefits in terms of sustainability and durability, as it creeps into the minds of many homeowners this summer.

“With all the weather-resistant finishes and colors available today, wicker and rattan won’t look weathered over time,” Price says. “It takes almost forever.”

Get Your Indoor Plants Outside

Over the past decade, growing indoor forests has become a hobby for many of us. Now it’s time to move these plants back outside.

For summer fun, use indoor plants as outdoor decorations. Margaret Costello, designer and founder of Margaret Costello Interiors, likes to place several pans in the middle of the dining table to create a unique centerpiece.

And Costello recommends succulents because they tend to be low-slung and don’t block guests’ view of each other.

To add a little drama to your space, invest in inexpensive plant hangers. Throw some of your favorite greenery into the sling (flowering plants are great for adding color) and hang it over the picnic table to create a charming display.

Welcome Back Shabby Chic

Shabby chic hasn’t been very popular in recent years, but that’s changing with the focus on eco-friendly and cost-effective decor this summer.

When you consider the natural wear and tear that most outdoor furniture goes through, the beauty of shabby chic makes sense as it allows you to celebrate dings, dings and color fading rather than using it as an excuse to buy something new.

To transform your favorite outdoor furniture into a shabby chic piece, rely on fabric. For example, tablecloths and tie-down seat cushions can do wonders for items that are starting to show signs of wear and tear.

Also: Instead of buying flowers, turn pots of herbs into centerpieces. This hack is cost effective and runs great.

Lay Down an Indoor Rug

While there’s no denying the stylish wonders of outdoor rugs, their ability to last just one season can be difficult.

Workaround? Temporarily use the rug outside when entertaining.

Barrett Oswald Designs likes to use outdoor hides because they are lightweight and stain-resistant. Layering a throw under a coffee table instantly gives your patio a cozy, lived-in feel.

After guests leave, simply shake off the skin, roll it up and tuck it inside.