• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partner with Taryn

Taryn Whiteaker

Taryn Whiteaker - Lifestyle and Design Blog

  • My Home Tour
  • Home Styling
    • Room Reveals
      • Our Current Home
      • Our First Home
    • Seasonal Home Tours
  • DIY Projects
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Crafts & Sewing
    • Before and Afters
    • Before and Afters
    • Furniture Builds and Makeovers
  • Seasonal Decor
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fall
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Spring
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Printables
  • Entertaining
    • Parties
    • Tablescapes
  • Fashion
  • Travel
  • Recipes

June 23, 2018

Summer Entertaining Tips

Sharing is caring!

  • Share
  • Tweet

You guys, it was over 90 degrees here in Seattle which is absolutely crazy and amazing. Warm summer nights in the backyard, BBQing and enjoying conversations and laughter are the best. We love having people over (and should do it more often). Over the years I’ve learned a few tips and tricks for making my job easier when it comes to hosting backyard events and it’s time to share my secrets with you!

I’ve teamed up with Better Homes and Gardens Live Better and The Clorox Company to share some of my Summer Entertaining Tips and a casual yet chic backyard table setting. This look would be great for the upcoming 4th of July weekend, or any other time this summer!

Backyard Table Setting

Tons of easy summer entertaining ideas for your next backyard gathering! Create this low profile tablescape with ground seating and lots of comfy pillows for a fun summer dinner party.

SUMMER ENTERTAINING IDEAS

Create a casual Blue and White Backyard Table Setting as your guests sit comfortably on the grass with lots of pillows and blankets! Get tons more summer entertaining ideas on the blog.

Can I tell you a secret? We actually don’t have a dining area in our backyard. So sometimes we have to get creative when it comes to entertaining. And that includes setting up a nice cozy space in the wide open grass! If you are in the same boat, this was a really easy to table to set up, I just flipped two buckets upside down, and created a quick tabletop out of wood and placed it on top the buckets. I added a tablecloth and beautiful yet budget friendly pieces from the Better Homes and Garden Line at Walmart and threw a ton of pillows and blankets on the ground for guests to get cozy with.

Easy summer entertaining ideas for your next backyard gathering, from fruit displays, what to prep ahead of time and more!I really love this Lazy Suzan Serving Piece , it’s perfect for fruit or condiments or just about anything!

Create a cozy and inviting summer table setting where guests sit on the grass and enjoy a casual environment. This navy and red summer tablescape is full of bright colors and casual touches. I think the ground level tables are so fun, they bring a whole new vibe to the party. It makes for a really casual and intimate gathering and guess what? Kids will absolutely LOVE sitting on the ground on a big fluffy pillow.

Inexpensive outdoor dishes and place settings for easy summer entertaining ideas!

Before I dive too far into the table decor, I want to share some of my secrets and Summer Entertaining Tips. When we were first married and starting having friends over, I often found myself in the kitchen the entire time making dinner and getting everything ready. And once we had kids, it only got worse! Between preparing food, being interrupted by the kids every 5 minutes ( or 30 seconds), I hardly felt like I had time to socialize with my guests. SO I want to share some of my tips with you and hopefully you enjoy your backyard BBQ a little more and spend more time socializing!

 

SUMMER ENTERTAINING TIPS

Summer Entertaining Tips - plan your table ahead of time!

Plan ahead! Set your table up the morning before (or day before). This includes linens, all the place settings and also place all the serving pieces on the table so you know where they will go and how many you will need to fit on the table! Often times, this part will end up changing my menu as I won’t have enough space for everything or we need more food! This also helps me from running around the kitchen trying to find serving pieces at the last minute, not knowing if I have what I need for the type of food I’m serving.

Summer Entertaining Tips - Prep your food before guests arrive

Do all the PREP work ahead of time! Think about every little detail of your meal and do as much as you can prior to your guests arriving. Cut up all of the fruit, wash the berries, make the muffins, and toss the salad (save the dressing for later).

Summer Entertaining Tips - Cover your food so it stays fresh

Then, COVER your work so it doesn’t go to waste. This Glad® Press’n Seal is perfect for quickly covering your food so it stays fresh. Then stick it in the fridge until right before your guests arrive.

Summer Entertaining Tips - Grill your food to perfection!

When your guests arrive, get the GRILL all ready. Then, all you have to do is toss the meat on BBQ for a few minutes. This KC Masterpiece Kettle Cooked Barbecue Sauce is so yummy!

Summer Entertaining Tips

After 20 minutes on the grill, it’s time to unwrap the rest of the food, toss it on the table and SERVE your guests a delicious BBQ meal complete with a fresh coat of sauce, green salad, fresh fruit and delicious corn bread. 

Now that you did all the prep work, you spent maybe 20 minutes at the BBQ and 5 minutes putting the food on the table you are ready to ENJOY this amazing meal and beautiful scenery with friends. 

Summer Entertaining Decor Ideas

Outdoor navy and red Tablescape with ground seating complete with fluffy pillows and throw blankets

If you haven’t tried this style of entertaining before, I highly recommend it. My kids absolutely LOVED eating at this table. If you are looking for great Light Weight Throw Blankets for the summer time, I have these blankets in a few different colors and they are seriously my favorite.

Low Style Picnic Table With Comfy pillows for seating - Click for more summer entertaining ideas

So let’s chat a little more about the details on the table. I know this may surprise many of you, but I LOVE the color navy. I have been trying to figure out how I corporate more of it into my home, but for now I’m finding other ways to play with it. With the upcoming 4th of July holiday I wanted to do a navy and white theme with the table and add some pops of red. This look can be used for year round as well!I

Blue and White Rustic Outdoor Dinnerware

All of these plates are from the Better Homes and Gardens outdoor dining collection. They are all made in a family friendly melamine that is BPA-free and safe for use in the top rack of your dishwasher. SO awesome. I layered the White Dinner Plates and Blue IKAT Salad Plates for a fun look. I tend to like more neutral tones and the blue salad plate was the perfect pop of color and pattern. And I can’t get enough of these Wood Chargers, they will always be one of my favorites.

Backyard BBQ Entertaining Ideas

Backyard BBQ Ideas with Cornbread station for the whole table!

Corn bread is an absolute must at our BBQs. It might be one of my favorite foods. We enjoy it with butter, honey and a little brown sugar, so I created this little corn bread buffet for guests to serve themselves. This 2 Tiered Server was the perfect piece for it.

Rustic Chic Outdoor BBQ with ground seating

Summer entertaining ideas! Get this casual chic look for your next backyard gathering.

Backyard Table Setting

Beautiful outdoor table setting with wood chargers and pretty melamine plates! Keep it casual and chic.

Easy summer entertaining ideas - create this Backyard Table Setting With Cushions on Ground

Alright friends! Next time you host a BBQ, I hope you can use some of these tips for planning  your party and for your table! I’ve provided a great shopping list for you below. Now get out and enjoy the outdoors!

SHOP FOR YOUR NEXT BACKYARD PARTY

Get the look! Tons of great summer entertaining ideas with these inexpensive items that will wow your guests.

White Bowls : White Dinner Plates : Blue IKAT Salad Plates : Blue IKAT Serving Bowls :  Strawberry Candle : Wood Charger : Drink Stand : Galvanized Drink Dispenser :  Lazy Suzan Serving Piece : 2 Tiered Server  : Light Weight Throw Blankets : Burlap Table Runner

 

SaveSave

About Taryn Whiteaker

Taryn Whiteaker is the voice of style behind TarynWhiteaker.com (formerly Design, Dining and Diapers) ! Taryn is a previous PR/Marketing professional who got back to her creative roots after becoming a mom and now shares her passion for home decor and design for the world to see. Taryn lives in the greater Seattle area with her husband and three kids and loves coffee, the outdoors, and exploring with her family.

You May Also Like:

  • Summer Porch UpdatesSummer Porch Updates
  • Tips For Painting A Front DoorTips For Painting A Front Door
  • Tips For A Perfect Date Night At HomeTips For A Perfect Date Night At Home
  • Quick Tips For Getting Your house Guest ReadyQuick Tips For Getting Your house Guest Ready
  • Tips For Staining A FenceTips For Staining A Fence
  • Tips For Painting A DeckTips For Painting A Deck
  • Rustic Modern Summer Table DecorRustic Modern Summer Table Decor
  • Tips For Decorating With VasesTips For Decorating With Vases

Filed Under: ALL POSTS, Entertaining, Fourth of July, Seasonal Decor & Crafts, Sponsored, Summer, Tablescapes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sam Franklin says

    June 28, 2018 at 7:15 am

    Your table looks absolutely gorgeous! And I really love your how you served the fruit – we are having a birthday celebration this weekend so I am definitely going to use this idea – thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Looking For Something?

CONNECT

EXPLORE

Meet Taryn

Taryn Whiteaker

Hi and welcome! I'm Taryn and the voice of style behind Taryn Whiteaker Designs. I'm a wife, mom of three, and coffee lover, living in the Pacific Northwest! This is where I share my love for design, whether it's decorating our own home, tackling big DIY projects, creating inviting tablescapes, or sharing my personal style. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to subscribe to my mailing list to get all the latest updates! Read more...

Search This Site

Taryn On TV

Seattle King 5 NewDay Northwest Talk Show Tablescapes

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Seattle King 5 NewDay Northwest Talk Show

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

The Rachael Ray Show

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Join The Mailing List!

Follow On Instagram!

Well, I think I just added a new project to my lis Well, I think I just added a new project to my list! After many years of doing this job full time, my “office” has typically been the living room couch and the kitchen counter... but that isn’t really sustainable anymore (not a bad thing!), so my husband and I talked about turning his home office into a shared office space soon! Honestly, I don’t know why it took us so long to do this, maybe because it hasn’t really been as much of an issue until now, but I’ve got some ideas for my new office space in here! I won’t change a whole lot, but I think it’s going to be simple and perfect! Do you and your spouse share an office space?!
.
.
.
 @liketoknow.it #liketkit http://liketk.it/36n0B @liketoknow.it.home #StayHomeWithLTK #LTKhome #homeoffice #officespace #diyoffice #diyprojects #diydecor #accentwall #stikwood #interiors #interiordesign #doingneutralright #showemyourstyled #smmakelifebeautiful #thedelightofdecor #ispyraddesign #heyhomehey #currenthomeview #ispymoderndiy #myhousebeautiful #thedecorsocial
I finally found THE piece for above the mantel! We I finally found THE piece for above the mantel! We officially took down the TV and moved it to the wall. I was looking for either a modern artwork piece or mirror and I am in love with this one! It’s the perfect mix of simple and modern with subtle mid-century modern lines. I’m sharing more angles on the blog today with links. 
.
.
.
 @liketoknow.it #liketkit http://liketk.it/36cVG @liketoknow.it.home #StayHomeWithLTK #LTKstyletip #LTKhome #midcenturymodern #midmod #fireplacedecor #fireplacemantel #manteldecor #fireplacemakeover #mirrorpics #crateandbarrel #diyhomedecor #diyrightnow #interiors #interiordesign #doingneutralright #showemyourstyled #smmakelifebeautiful #thedelightofdecor #ispyraddesign #heyhomehey #currenthomeview #ispymoderndiy #myhousebeautiful
Happy Friday! A few common questions that have com Happy Friday! A few common questions that have come up about the staircase gallery wall this week... 1) the wall color is called Rebel by Kilz 2) the print size is 16 x 20 and 3) I have two full blog posts dedicated to how I picked the prints and links to the frames and also another one on building out the wall. Hope that helps! 
.
.
.
.
#gallerywall #accentwall #staircase #diyprojects #diyhomedecor #diylookforless #diyrightnow #thedecorsocial #artwork #interiors #interiordesign #doingneutralright #showemyourstyled #smmakelifebeautiful #thedelightofdecor #ispyraddesign #heyhomehey #currenthomeview #ispymoderndiy #myhousebeautiful
Would you believe this brick wall is just removabl Would you believe this brick wall is just removable wallpaper?! It’s simple things like this that can completely change a space. It’s great for rentals or apartments because it won’t ruin the walls when you take it down! I’ve used it in a few rooms of our home and I’m a big fan. 
.
.
.
#bedroomdecor #wallpaper #walldecor #accentwall #masterbedroom #canopybed #rusticmodern #bedroomdesign #interiordecorating #decoratingideas 
#interiors #interiordesign #doingneutralright #showemyourstyled #smmakelifebeautiful #thedelightofdecor #ispyraddesign #heyhomehey #currenthomeview #ispymoderndiy #myhousebeautiful
Less is more. . . . @liketoknow.it #liketkit htt Less is more. 
.
.
.
 @liketoknow.it #liketkit http://liketk.it/35FT2 #LTKstyletip #LTKhome @liketoknow.it.home #entrywaydecor #entryway #rusticmodern #arhausinmyhouse #amazonhome #vintagestyle #thedecorsocial #interiors #interiordesign #doingneutralright #showemyourstyled #smmakelifebeautiful #thedelightofdecor #ispyraddesign #heyhomehey #currenthomeview #ispymoderndiy #myhousebeautiful
Putting in our home gym this spring was one of the Putting in our home gym this spring was one of the best decisions of the year! I had a few requests for more pics of this space recently, so you can swipe through to see more and the before pic. We use this space so much (even the kids set up courses in here), and we have plans to finish more of the garage space this year. You can view more details on the blog by searching “home gym”. 
.
.
.
#homegym #gym #diyprojects #diyhomedecor #crossfit #crossfitgym #homeworkout #homesweethome #concreate #roguefitness #thedecorsocial #interiors #interiordesign #doingneutralright #showemyourstyled #smmakelifebeautiful #thedelightofdecor #ispyraddesign #heyhomehey #currenthomeview #ispymoderndiy #myhousebeautiful
I’ve got bathrooms on my mind! Here is our kids’ shared jack-n-Jill bathroom that I did a few years back. I still love the design and so glad I went with a pop of blue in here! I’ve started the planning process for our other upstairs bathroom and went searching for tile today (see stories)! I am getting so excited for this project, I’ve been gathering tons of inspiration photos and I’ll share them this week! 
.
.
.
 @liketoknow.it #liketkit http://liketk.it/35zWq @liketoknow.it.home #LTKhome #LTKkids #kidsbathroom #bathrommakeover #bathroomdesign #bathroomdecor #hexagontiles #bathroomrenovation #diyprojects #diyhomedecor #diyrightnow #interiors #interiordesign #doingneutralright #showemyourstyled #smmakelifebeautiful #thedelightofdecor #ispyraddesign #heyhomehey #currenthomeview #ispymoderndiy #myhousebeautiful
I know you all have been super bummed that the sof I know you all have been super bummed that the sofa in our bonus room has been sold out for months, so I decided to round up 13 other mid-century modern leather sofas super similar to this one! You can find the full list on the blog today with links, they vary in price range and shape but I believe there is an option for everyone! Click the link in my bio! 
.
.
.
 @liketoknow.it #liketkit http://liketk.it/35rV2 #LTKstyletip #LTKhome @liketoknow.it.home #midmod #midcenturymodernfurniture #midcenturymodern #bonusroom #movieroom #sofadesign #leathersofa #darkwalls #diyprojects #diyhomedecor 
#interiors #interiordesign #doingneutralright #showemyourstyled #smmakelifebeautiful #thedelightofdecor #ispyraddesign #heyhomehey #currenthomeview #ispymoderndiy #myhousebeautiful
What do all these spaces have in common? They are What do all these spaces have in common? They are all unfinished and or/getting makeovers this year! On the blog today I’m listing out my home projects and goals for this year! Swipe through to see some of the top projects: 
1) painting our exterior dark!
2) adding built ins to the bonus room
3) finishing the family room
4) gutting the upstairs bathroom 
5) refreshing the downstairs bathroom 
.
.
.
You can head to the blog to see the full list of spaces for this year, I also shared a few tours of the spaces on stories today. I can’t wait to share design plans! 
.
.
#designplans #homeprojects #exteriorpainting #homeplans #beforepics #planningahead #projectplanning #interiors #interiordesign #doingneutralright #showemyourstyled #smmakelifebeautiful #thedelightofdecor #ispyraddesign #heyhomehey #currenthomeview #ispymoderndiy #myhousebeautiful

Footer

THIS SITE

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partner with Taryn

Privacy Policy

If you are interested in learning more about data that might be collected by this site you are encouraged to read the Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy for TarynWhiteaker.com 

COPYRIGHT POLICY

All images on this site are copyright of Design, Dining and Diapers, LLC. Unless otherwise noted. You may not use these images without written permission. If you would like to feature a project shown on Design, Dining and Diapers you may use a maximum of 2 images and include a visible link back to the project.

Copyright© 2021 · Brunch Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Hosting by 3116 Digital

This site uses cookies: Find out more.