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Alfresco dining and entertaining have never been more popular thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re lucky enough to have quite a bit of deck space so we’ve felt comfortable entertaining small groups of friends. We space folks out at separate tables or seating areas, serve snacks individually (no passing plates of appetizers around), and require masks for trips to the restroom. While not completely risk-free, we really value seeing friends and feel outdoor gatherings minimize the risk to an acceptable level for our circumstances.
Now however, as days grow shorter an cooler, alfresco spaces may not hold the same appeal. Here’s what I’m doing to keep our alfresco space inviting and to extend the alfresco dining season into the cooler months.
Lighting
The days are getting shorter. If you want your alfresco space to stay inviting, make sure it is well lit. If you are trying to minimize traffic through your house, also make sure the path to your deck or patio is well lit. Below are some of my favorite ideas and items for lighting.
I love string light for decks and patios! They add a great romantic/whimsical vibe. We string them up beer garden style and drape them from our deck railing. I like these globe lights from Amazon. You can get them in 100 foot strings for big spaces or beer garden style crisscrossing. They also have shorter 25 or 50 foot strings. You can select between black, green, and white chords too to fit you style best.
Lanterns and candles are also great for mood and décor though they tend to put off less light. I collect pillar candle holders – I like to find them at flea markets. I always try to find them in sets of three in different heights. If you are not into flea markets, Pottery Barn always has great candles (but they will set you back a pretty penny). Some of my favorite affordable ones are below. HomeGoods is another great place to find affordable pillar candle holders (and candles)!
Need some inspiration? Check out my Pinterest Alfresco Space Board for lighting ideas. I also have a Candles, Candlesticks, and Lantern Board.
Outdoor Blankets
I got this idea from Barcelona, one of my favorite DC restaurants. They have a great outdoor patio that’s always hopping well into the cooler months. They offer throw blankets to guests when it gets chilly. It’s fun to snuggle up with your date, friends, etc. on a cool night while you sip wine and enjoy their tapas. I used to just use my indoor throw blankets but I found they were getting a bit too dirty and full of leaves and debris. Now I keep a basket of outdoor throw blankets handy when we entertain on cool evenings. I found a few on Nextdoor/Craigslist for under $10 bucks (one was free). You can also find quite a few online for under $25. It’s fun to have a theme like “farmhouse” or “Mexican/Southwest.” Some examples below (all under $25 from Amazon). Look for versatile styles that will work well for picnics, camping, beach days, and yoga (Mexican-style blankets are popular for this).
Farmhouse Style Blankets
Heat Source
This is key! No matter how lovely your alfresco space is, folks won’t stay long if it’s freezing. Luckily there are many ways to warm it up.
A bonfire is one way to stay warm outside. Bonfires/firepits are great from time to time but they take time to build and put off a lot of smoke (which leaves everyone smelling like a campfire). They are also not a good option for many alfresco spaces (i.e., wooden decks). We’ve got a fire pit down in our back yard but wanted another option for our deck/patio.
If you are willing to shell out some serious cash, an outdoor fireplace could be a option. However, if that is beyond your budget, space or time constraints, there are luckily many other good ways to go. I just ordered a gas patio heater. I read a lot of review articles (a few examples from: GardenBeast, HomeAir, the Spruce) and ended up selecting the Amazon Basic model largely due to price ($150 ) and availability. It is currently out of stock but this Garden Treasure model, shown below, is also supposed to quite good (and well priced). There are small table top options or wall mounted heaters as well if a free-standing mushroom or pyramid heater don’t fit your space. Tip: Patio heaters are in very high demand right now – if you want one in the near future order it now! Watch out for price gouging too. There are models that typically sell for $150 being marked up by $100 or more.
Plants and Pumpkins
I always think a few container plants really spruce up an outdoor space. My coleus plants got huge this summer and were a great addition to our space. our mums and winter cabbages are looking great too. However, after a frost or two they will be done. I’m working on procuring some evergreens to fill the void. A bonus to evergreens is that you can light them up (for the holidays or year round)! I also love rosemary for cooler months. While many claim it won’t handle temperatures below 30, our bushes have survived many winters in Northern Virginia. Here is an article on the best cold-hardy varieties. Most of these can make it through winter in USDA planting zones 6 through 9 (and sometimes 5).
I love pumpkins for October/November too. I usually have a mix of real and fake ones. Our Whole Foods carries the fun fairytale variety. I stock up on those along with a few jack-o-lantern pumpkins and the mini ones which make great table top décor with votive candles!
