The Best Summer Outdoor Entertaining Essentials

Pernille Loof

These modern must-haves make easy work of hosting guests in your backyard.

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Pernille Loof

Entertaining is a breeze when you have a dreamy summer day for a backdrop. With the scene set, Shannon Wollack and Brittany Zwickl, the designers behind Studio Life.Style, say the secret to keeping the party going long after the sun goes down (and well into the summer months) is to envision your outdoor space the same way you would an indoor room.

Here, pots of cornflowers and a bloom-dappled tablecloth set a serene scene for dinner with friends. Offset them with simple stoneware, faded terra-cotta urns, and baskets for décor that feels equally intentional and easy to pack up once outdoor entertaining season wraps up.

Wollack and Zwickl also recommend using a basket to keep throw blankets and outdoor rugs on hand—an effortless way to bring your indoor living room outside and a practical solution for guests looking to kick back after dinner is done. Sprinkling votive candles and hurricane lanterns throughout an outdoor living space is another easy way to keep the atmosphere warm and inviting even as evening temperatures dip. And upholstered seating—covered in a durable, weather-proof fabric like canvas, of course—helps give an outdoor space a more lived-in look that is both comfortable and stylish.

Just as you would indoors, set up a few distinct "zones" for guests to perch, treating each as its own spot to congregate. The modern outdoor essentials we've rounded up here cover all the details for an alfresco gathering—and they'll make guests feel cool and comfortable, whether you're hosting at home or farther afield.

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Clink Something Safer

Courtesy of Crate and Barrel

Chic and low-profile, acrylic wine glasses are just the thing for poolside pours. We like that these can be easily stacked, too.

Shop Now: Crate & Barrel Stacking Acrylic Clear Wineglasses, $4 each, crateandbarrel.com.

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Americana Dishware

Courtesy of Macy's

Martha's Americana Collection—available at Macy's—has everything you need for a festive summertime celebration (it's particularly perfect for the Fourth of July), from melamine plates and serving trays (they're safe for outdoor use) to popsicle molds and dip bowls.

Shop Now: Martha Stewart Collection Americana Collection, from $13.99, macys.com.

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Go Soft and Sustainable

Courtesy of June & December

Cotton napkins are a greener alternative to traditional paper options, and they look prettier too. These come in eco-inked prints and are flour sack-sturdy. We also like that these beauties are BBQ-friendly: They're pre-shrunk, so you can wash them in stain-lifting hot water.

Shop Now: June & December Mixed Woodblock Chicory Napkins, $38 for four, junedecember.com.

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Set It in Stoneware

Courtesy of Bloomingdales

With their oval shapes and hand-painted florals, these platters look artful on any table.

Shop Now: Niels Refsgaard Dansk "Vandvid" Ceramic Platters, $135 for 3, food52.com.

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Refine Refills

Courtesy of Amanda Lindroth

A rattan-wrapped thermos gives iced tea or even plain H2O island flavor.

Shop Now: Amanda Lindroth Rattan-Wrapped Thermos, $150, amandalindroth.com.

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Raise the Bar

Serena and Lily

You can slice limes on the teak lid of your all-weather outdoor bar cart, then lift it to access ice and cocktail mixers. This woven option, reminiscent of Parisian bistro chairs, is mildew- and fade-resistant.

Shop Now: Serena & Lily Riviera Outdoor Bar Cart, $948, serenaandlily.com.

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Color Me Melamine

Courtesy of West Elm

These colorful melamine dinner plates strike a celebratory note every time.

Shop Now: West Elm Modern Melamine Dinner Plates, from $6.50, westelm.com.

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Pack and Play

Courtesy of The Container Store

Bring salads and fruit in these lightweight containers. They stack neatly in a cooler and will look sleek in your picnic spread.

Shop Now: Container Store "Lustroware" Containers, from $4.99, containerstore.com.

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Add Ambience

Courtesy of MoMA Store

Good light and good music are essentials for any outdoor party. This rechargeable speaker combines a vintage hurricane lamp's good looks with high-tech light and Bluetooth audio.

Shop Now: Keen Hsu LED Lantern Speaker, $110, store.moma.org.

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Lay Down a "Laplom"

Courtesy of Ikea

Serving an extra-messy meal? Upgrade your dining experience with kitchen towels in place of napkins. The extra square inches fully protect clothes for cross-legged eating.

Shop Now: IKEA "Vardagen" Kitchen Towels, $4 each, ikea.com.

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Go Off-Road

Courtesy of Yeti

This wheeled cooler is heavy-duty and ultra-roomy. Pack provisions of all shapes and sizes (hot dogs and buns, bottles of rosé), and get rolling.

Shop Now: Yeti "The Tundra Haul" Cooler, from $399.98, amazon.com.

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Eat Elegantly

Courtesy of Bed Bath & Beyond / The Floral Society

Ensure each guest has the utensils they'll need by zipping wooden-handled flatware into a canvas utility pouch, which buffers the pointy tips and keeps everything together.

Shop Now: Skandia "Kona" Flatware, $115.99 for 20 pieces, wayfair.com; The Floral Society Canvas Utility Pouch, $44, burkedecor.com.

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Carry a Tune

Courtesy of Tivoli Audio

With a handsome Italian-leather handle and 20 hours of playback time, this speaker lives up to its name, which means, "Let's go!"

Shop Now: Tivoli "Andiamo" Speaker, $149, tivoliaudio.com.

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Sprawl Out

Courtesy of Intiearth

Part rug, part blanket, and 100 percent nap-ready, handwoven frazadas encourage cloud-gazing at any event.

Shop Now: Intiearth Vintage Peruvian Frazadas, from $320 each, intiearth.com.

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Be More Chill

Peter Ardito

Aluminum tumblers ensure icy drinks and nest compactly; an insulated bottle that can keep eight servings of any big-batch beverage cool means that everyone has the perfect cocktail.

Shop Now: CB2 "Doris" Aluminum Tumblers, $5.95 each, cb2.com; S'well Roamer, $75 for 64 oz., swellbottle.com.

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15 Stylish Outdoor Entertaining Essentials You'll Use All Summer Long

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Clink Something Safer

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Americana Dishware

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Go Soft and Sustainable

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Set It in Stoneware

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Refine Refills

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Raise the Bar

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Color Me Melamine

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Pack and Play

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Add Ambience

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Lay Down a "Laplom"

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Go Off-Road

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Eat Elegantly

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Carry a Tune

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Sprawl Out

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Be More Chill

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