3 Dreamy Styles That Help You Enjoy Your Outdoor Space More

Keeping your outdoor space set up for entertaining comes with so many benefits. Tired after a long workday? Retire to your private oasis. Favorite restaurant closed? Invite friends over for al fresco noshing. Inspired to host a dinner party? Your table is ready.

That said, it’s OK if your patio/balcony/backyard isn’t quite hosting-ready yet. QVC® recently released their 2022 summer collection, and with everything from fire pits to flower boxes, they make it easy to find furnishings, tableware, and accessories that work for your space and style.

Inspired by QVC’s new furnishings, tableware, and accessories, we put together three looks to help transform your outdoor space. Each one is filled with tips that make it easier for you — and your guests! — to live it up in your outdoor space.

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Tapas are traditional Spanish small plates meant for sharing with friends and loved ones. To inspire your own guests to come together and socialize, consider creating your own outdoor modern tapas bar. Blending warmth and modernity, this aesthetic is marked by natural colors and materials such as clay, terracotta, and jute.

Entertaining Tip #1: Create a centerpiece. A centerpiece encourages mingling, and there are many formulas for creating one. One option is a fire pit where people can keep warm after the sun goes down. Or, focus your get-together around a charcoal grill to mix great food with great conversation. Snacks always bring people together, which is why we love making charcuterie serving platters that everyone will gather around to munch and relax.

Entertaining Tip #2: Mix up your seating. Modern restaurants incorporate different seating options for a reason. Mix and match chairs, benches, love seats, or sofas to create different levels in your outdoor area. For smaller spaces, choose items that can work as either side tables or chairs, such as this handsome concrete stand.

Entertaining Tip #3: Set the mood. This dinner party is about to get lit. Interior design pros always suggest layering light sources, but the outdoors is no different. Hanging string lights in addition to standing lanterns gives you more light options as needed. Add a flickering electric candle lantern for a more intimate look.

You don’t need to book a plane ticket to travel somewhere new. This aesthetic is all about bringing island vibes to your outdoor space and making your guests feel like they just checked into an all-inclusive resort. Think playful, pastel-colored accessories and airy designs that let natural light shine through.

Entertaining Tip #4: Define your space. No matter the square footage you’re working with, it’s important to define where one zone ends and another begins. A colorful outdoor area rug is your best friend here for anchoring your space. The same goes for seating and lighting. Add pops of summery green, orange, and white in the form of modular stools, then set the mood with tiki bar–inspired lights.

Entertaining Tip #5: Add personal touches. In the words of a famous fictional pirate, these design templates are more what you’d call guidelines than actual rules. That said, you’ll enjoy your outdoor area more if it feels like an expression of you. Pick joyful pieces like these cactus margarita glasses or this glitzy bluetooth speaker. Heck, a tropical palm inflatable pool always makes a splash.

Entertaining Tip #6: Prioritize sitting areas. A great entertaining space blends playfulness with practicality. Inflatable pool aside, where are all these good people going to sit? Pick comfortable seating like sling chairs, which can be folded away when not in use. Pair them with retro side tables where guests can set their drinks, sunglasses, and phones (screen-side down). 

The coastal grandmother aesthetic has quietly taken over many of our social media feeds, so how can you tell if it’s right for you? If you find yourself buying fresh flowers every week, accessorizing your home with antiques, and spending your nights wrapped up in a knitted blanket catching up on your shows , then spoiler alert: you just might be a coastal granny.

Entertaining Tip #7: Set up mingling stations. Connecting with friends is hard when you’re sitting in one big circle or around a long table. Take a cue from cocktail party decor by creating mingling stations with tables accented by intimate lighting. Use high tops and stools to give people places to stop and chat. Bonus points if they can be easily reconfigured!

Entertaining Tip #8: Make refills easy. Let your guests chill by keeping chilled drinks on hand. An all-weather wicker cooler does double duty by eliminating trips to the fridge while being on trend for the season. Entertaining for a smaller crowd? Try serving a bottle of bubbles in a marble wine cooler. It’s an effortlessly stylish way to keep your white, red, or rosé perfectly chilled. These colorful, shatter-resistant wine glasses will keep you refreshed long into the wee hours.

Entertaining Tip #9: Create spaces to recharge. Your coastal grandma-inspired hangout isn’t complete without spots for the party hosts and guests to take a little “me time.” After all, you don’t want everyone tuckered out before the early bird special! Hang fun seating like hammocks or swing chairs, or plan an activity like a movie screening (complete with inflatable screen and projector) to give everyone an excuse to pause.

Elevate your outdoor space by browsing all these finds at QVC — online and in app — and see what kinds of discounts you’ll find on their coupon page!

Make entertaining easier than ever this summer with playful and practical items from QVC. Use code SURPRISE for $10 off your first order of $25 or more!