5 Stylish Outdoor Entertaining Ideas for Summer 2024

Enter – stage right and donned in a sun hat – our expert guide to the best outdoor entertaining ideas for summer 2024. Taking inspiration from the sandy shores of our European neighbours and New York’s quintessential sunshine retreat, these looks have been hand-picked by our editor and the Harrods buying team. Read on for a secret garden party look that’s perfect for alfresco birthdays and a Dolce & Gabbana Casa style aperitivo hour that will add new life to urban balconies and outdoor terraces.  

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Let the sunset be your muse with this warm and distinctly welcoming look that we’ll be casually filing under ‘campfire chic’. Needless to say, you’ll want to settle in for hours of fireside conversation, so opt for comfort first with rich velvets and sink-and-sip cushions in hues that mimic golden hour – think earthy pinks, tangerine and deep indigo. Add a touch of eclectic globetrotting charm with Missoni’s signature zig-zag motif, the traditional ‘tabouret’ French milking stools from Cassina and Cartier’s quintessential geometric panther placemats. Come dusk, a pot of Dimple’s bespoke turmeric and chamomile tea is just the thing to keep you toasty after dark.   

One for fans of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s timeless novel, this garden party aesthetic is all about pairing the magnificence of nature with the playfulness of Alice in Wonderland’s candy-hued world. Mix childhood pops of peony pink and abstract doodles with the grown-up gravitas of walnut, marble and lush ivy greens. To complete this smile-inducing take on bucolic, add House of Hackney cushions inspired by Persephone and Druantia – that's the Gallic tree goddess and the goddess of spring, for those not in the know with seasonal deities. Cake and tea are, of course, encouraged.

Frankly, there’s no better time to decide that you’re the main character in a Federico Fellini film than the height of summer. Lean into a vivacious alfresco lifestyle with the joyful shades of limoncello and Dolce & Gabbana Casa’s Mediterranean tile-inspired print – all with an Italicus spritz in hand, darling. Thanks to the swirling Sicilian prints and signature Ferrari red, this edit is ideal for brightening urban terraces or adding some molto bello flare to a city balcony. Welcome to your Marcello Rubini era.

Blue skies, the scent of burgers sizzling and Springsteen blaring from the speaker – this is the Great British barbecue crossing the Atlantic and landing on the Hamptons’ Ocean Road. Set the scene with serveware;from America’s king of chic interiors, Ralph Lauren; think crisp porcelains à la sporty tennis whites and their signature leather accents in a nod to the brand’s equestrian heritage. For the main event – the food – turn to the Big Green Egg, a best-in-class kamado-inspired smoker that is so much more than its striking design.  

Home to cities like Lecce, commonly known as 'the Florence of the south', the region of Puglia is adored for its centuries-old farmlands and baroque architecture, making it ideal inspiration for a rustic, sun-soaked pizza party. Opt for clay tones that mimic the region’s distinctive terra rossa (red soil) and earthy shades as an ode to Bari’s medley of cobblestone streets and coastal cliffs. Whether margheritas or sizzling diavolas are on the menu, Witt’s Rotante pizza oven can create perfect pizzas in as little as 90 seconds and its orange facade is sure to add a pop of colour to proceedings. All together now – buon appetito!