Entertaining Outdoors: How to Create a Holiday-Ready Al Fresco Space  

With outdoor season finally here, it’s time to spruce up your al fresco space and create holiday-ready outdoor lounge and dining areas that transition beautifully from hosting relaxed weekend gatherings to glittering festive feasts. Crate and Barrel will show you how to maximise your space, style social seating and dining spots, and introduce those finishing touches that add just a sprinkle of holiday magic.

Make the most of your space 

One of the highlights of the holidays is time spent with your loved ones, and with the cooler outdoor season upon us, it’s the perfect opportunity to entertain outdoors. To prepare yourself for jovial family suppers and elegant soirees, take the time to assess your outdoor area and see if you could make better use of the space during this festive season.

To create a cosy atmosphere and liberate floor space for an airy flow and effortless mingling, consider moving your outdoor lounge furniture into a corner. Crate and Barrel's outdoor sectionals work especially well tucked away in a nook, and our selection of L- and U-shaped sectionals offers plenty of patio inspiration. Individual outdoor sofas and accent chairs can work well in compact spots or when you want the flexibility to reconfigure your seating to suit the occasion.

Reconnect with loved ones 

A comfortable outdoor seating area is the best spot in your home for intimate chats. Set the scene for these precious holiday moments by giving your al fresco lounge the same attention to detail as your indoor living room. 

Dress your sectional, sofa, chairs, and chaise lounges for the season using decadently soft blankets and throw pillows. Choose soothing, neutral, or earthy shades for your soft furnishings, or consider adding a few rich jewel tones or a touch of traditional red and green for a fun nod to the festivities. 
Curate a snug ambience by laying an outdoor rug beneath your seating arrangement, and for an especially inviting festive feel, layer a smaller rug atop to create a visual and textural treat. Make the space feel private and cocooning by anchoring the ends of seating with a side table, screen, or a planter featuring a tall, lush tropical plant. 

Crate and Barrel’s contemporary accent tables make the ideal centrepiece for your holiday seating areas, providing a generous surface for your bountiful grazing boards and delicious holiday mocktails. A wooden design will bring warmth, while our sleek metal and sculptural concrete tables offer surfaces that will play captivatingly with candlelight and festive lighting.

A transitional dining area

It’s the perfect time of the year for al fresco dining. With a few clever furnishings and tabletop choices, you can create a dining area that's ready for everything from simple starlight suppers with your nearest and dearest to elegant formal dinner parties. 
The easiest way to achieve a transitional dining area is to choose an outdoor dining table style that suits both casual and formal dining. We'd recommend a versatile design, such as a handsome dark-painted wooden table or a stylish glass-topped table. Crate and Barrel's outdoor tables pair perfectly with our dining chair options, which include luxurious upholstered designs that ensure your guests’ comfort from appetiser to dessert. 

A rectangular table looks wonderful laid out with a celebratory feast and surrounded by loved ones, but what if you're hosting a crowd? An extendable dining table is the ultimate transitional piece. However, if it still won't accommodate your guest numbers, you can line a couple of rectangular tables parallel to each other on your dining deck. For an arrangement that offers a more whimsical aesthetic, choose multiple bistro tables, dotting them around your space and setting each aglow with a little lantern or hurricane jar. 

Use your tablescape to set the tone for each supper. Crate and Barrel’s outdoor tabletop collection is brimming with ideas for homely festive tablescapes for your casual gatherings. Charm your guests with rattan and wooden dining accessories, and the tableware in our prestigious Jake Arnold collection is just right for wholesome holiday styling. When it's time to dress your outdoor table to impress, turn to Crate and Barrel's most popular entertaining collections for aspirational aesthetics, and lean into lustrous metal serveware and centrepieces that will reflect the flickers of candlelight enticingly.

Festive flourishes

We know you want to create an al fresco space that feels holiday-ready without tipping into winter wonderland territory. To achieve this, focus primarily on enchanting lighting, then curate a collection of holiday décor to dot around your lounge and dining zones when you want to turn the festive flourishes up a notch. 

Nothing captures the holiday vibe better than twinkle and string lights – and these work beautifully in outdoor spaces. A warm white light is the best choice for creating a welcoming ambience, and you can drape your lighting on the walls behind your seating and dining zones or wrap it around trees or trellises.  

For the softest of glows, introduce candles into your al fresco entertaining spaces. Add larger floor lanterns to the corners of your patio or deck and bring smaller lanterns, jarred candles, and tealight holders to your accent and dining tables. For your more lavish dinner parties, turn to grand candelabras. 

If there's ever a time to bring a touch of twee to your home, it's during the holidays. To ensure your festive décor harmonises with your outdoor spaces, prioritise pieces crafted from natural materials, such as our Alpine-inspired wooden figurines and rattan decorative sets, as well as minimalist Christmas motif designs in elegant porcelain and ceramic. 

Botanical elements such as berry and leaf sprigs, wreaths, and garlands make a darling addition to your tablescape when you're hosting a holiday feast. Stick to natural hues to keep the look tasteful and in tune with the outdoor environment. 

Incorporate our seasonal ideas into your outdoor spaces to enjoy unforgettable evenings under the stars in holiday-ready lounge and dining areas that fill you and your guests with festive cheer.