This week on The Woof! Make your poolside party memorable

Summer is finally here, after a hesitant spring and a burning transition through the solstice. Luckily we’re past the heatwave and we get to enjoy a little stretch of lovely weather, right in time for the 4th of July. And whether you like daylight savings scheduling or not, the days that stretch into the late evening are the best way to reconnect and maintain those friendships and family relations that often suffer from the busyness of modern life.

This time I’m going to go straight to the meat of this post. No one needs lengthy descriptions of parties. We mostly want good tips for ways to throw a good one. So here we have my top 5 recommendations:

1)    Umbrella(s)

As an interior designer, to me the way things look is fundamental. You’re going to want to provide shade, especially at the tables where you have food and drinks set out, both to keep that protected and because people congregate there more. Here are some cool options. And make sure to pick umbrellas that fit your style and the style of furniture you own. It’s not a win to buy a great-looking umbrella if it clashes with everything else you have out there.

Sturdy and cantilevered for a windy place or longer term solution

Chic cabana style that comes in several colors

A fun one for the kids to have their little world

For a beachy, tiki vibe that is also natural and blends in with the surroundings

2)    Décor

Same as above. Make an effort to stay consistent, and even if you really fall in love with something that has nothing to do color or style-wise with the rest, DO NOT BUY IT. Mixing is great. Clashing . . . not so much. Following is an array of fun things I like for their style and ease of outdoor use.

Here's a bright striped tablecloth to start off. And if you want to have extra beach towels for your forgetful friends, get some that match the tablecloth!

Make things easy for yourself and use tumblers and pitchers that will suit any or almost any kind of beverage. I personally like a less fussy approach. Also, acrylic is a great material for outdoor parties. They're easy to transport when preparing and cleaning up and they don't pose the safety issue glass does, especially if children are around. Since not everything needs to be the star, you can go simple with Pottery Barn options.

If you want to go more decorative for serving trays and dishes, Thomas Paul might have a good option for you.

I personally wouldn't refuse some fun bunting to create environment and mood.

3)    Games

Make sure to create the spirit you want people to embody. Take the time beforehand to come up with some fun and easy games that will allow everyone to join in and feel part of the fun, while making the event light-hearted and memorable. Some suggestions:

First, an oldie but a goodie: Charades

This tried-and-true party game can be as simple or as complicated as you make it. Have everyone write down concepts, movies, people, shows, and more to act out and divide into teams. One person will act out something drawn from the assortment while their team members guess what it is. When time is up, switch teams and repeat. Add time limits, scoring systems, silence rules, and more as desired.

For the hottest time of the day: Water Volleyball

Who doesn’t love a good water volleyball game? A beach ball and a net are all that’s required, and younger swimmers can always play closer to the shallow end so that they can have fun, too!

This last one is for when people have already gained confidence and are full on into the fun: Camera Hot Potato

Pick a phone to pass around the group. Set it to self-timer mode—10 seconds is best—and use regular photo mode, not selfie mode. Pass the phone around, with each person holding the phone up for a moment, posing for the camera. Pass until the photo is taken, then repeat. At the end, take a look at the (probably undignified) photos.

4)    Playlist

Music really helps create the mood. Take some time ahead of the party to collect your favorite songs and put together a killer playlist. You can create different ones by styles or themes, or simply include all your favorite upbeat music, maybe alternating with bits of more calm tracks too. But in any case don’t leave the music to Spotify’s random selections and definitely don’t forget this important element of the day!

5)    Lighting

So far, it seems like you’re putting together a great party, so take for granted that it will extend well into the evening. Make sure you have good lighting, bright where you need it. Brighter close to the food and drink stations and wherever you’re playing your music out of. Softer and inviting in more conversational areas, maybe with candles or faux candles. And hopefully, bright in the pool if you have pool lights. Here are some fun, cordless lights for the outdoors.

The Illuminated Rock is great for the general ambience. These work well placed around the lawn or at the edges of things like seating areas or the patio.

These small-sized stringlights are great for defined areas, like creating a zone nestled among a few nearby trees or a patio.

Table lamps are that: table lamps that allow one to see what´s on the table. These are cool.

Pathway lights that will guide people in and out of the house or along a path or to the bathroom or pool house area are very useful.

Hope these ideas help you pull off a great party over this summer and many to come!