To throw the hottest party of the summer, you’ll need to be on-trend. Make the most of your outdoor event by playing up the biggest trends of the season:
1. Transitional furniture.
Blend your outdoor and indoor event design seamlessly by using sophisticated furnishings that look like interior styles. Offer your guests different seating options with dining areas and plenty of bar tables for drinks and food plates while guests mingle. Mix modular and functional furniture, like CORT’s new Dune sectional, to fit any patio, lawn or pool deck.
2. Bold yet classic color pallets and patterns.
Start with neutral, versatile furniture and use accent pieces to bring in the colors. Go beyond throw pillows and play up the seasonal colors with CORT’s new outdoor wire tables in summery colors like green, blue and white. Vibe cube ottomans provide versatile, vibrant outdoor seating in summer hues and can be easily moved around for casual networking.
Make your event sultry and seductive with shades of deep blue, paired with green jungle patterns and palm accent pieces. Stay classic with antiqued white and blue and add accents with clean lines and crisp summer linens for an airy, effortless feel. CORT Party Rental’s upscale Choice Linens collection is a great resource for inspirational upscale fabrics that can add an extra touch of elegance to any setting.
Palm Beach Chic offers a happy balance and lends a cool, casual vibe to outdoor soirees this season. CORT’s new tropical pillow collection channels the easy essence of the '70s. Cool prints from that era allow you to casually incorporate a playful, luxurious feel to your seating arrangements.
3. Mediterranean inspiration.
Go Mediterranean for international inspiration. Make ornate foliage a centerpiece of any outdoor gathering with Tuscan-style gardens. Incorporate black and white with punches of color to provide simplicity against a backdrop of extravagant greenery. Channel the style of the French Riviera for an easy, chic feel. Create casual contrast by mixing furnishings with wood tables and benches and don’t forget to finish with marble table tops. Define the space with faux boxwood hedges to create more intimate outdoor areas that are luxurious. Add florals to the hedges to bring in a hanging garden look that makes your space feel romantic.
4. Bring indoor comforts outdoors.
The most important trend is comfort. Pay attention to details that will enhance your guests’ experience. The summer months are a beautiful time to be outdoors but can leave guests hot and dehydrated. Be sure to place bug spray around the tables and have plenty of citronella candles flickering, adding to the ambiance and protecting your guests from mosquitoes. Provide water stations throughout the venue, offering guests water infused with citrus or fruits so they can stay hydrated. Guests can help themselves without lining up for the bar and the stations look gorgeous when paired with linens.
Lastly, provide more shade than you think your guests will need. The weather can be unpredictable, and a sweltering afternoon can ruin the upbeat vibe of even the most extravagant event. If you don’t have lots of covered patio space, be sure to place large umbrellas over seating groupings, dining and bar tables to keep your guests cool and comfortable.
Kevin Dana is executive director of marketing and product development at CORT Trade Show & Event Furnishings. To learn more about CORT’s exhibit and event rental collections or its Social Tables integration, visit www.cortevents.com.