Tips for Hosting a New Year's Party Outdoors

Throwing the perfect outdoor New Year's Eve party takes good food, good friends, and the best outdoor furniture. This year skip the crowds at the bars and throw your own outdoor party. If you live in a climate with pleasant weather this time of year, an outdoor party is a great way to ring in the new year in style.

Going out to a bar or hotel for this popular night can be a hassle. You spend the whole night standing, or if you're lucky enough to find a seat, it's usually not a comfortable one. Instead of standing elbow to elbow in a crowded bar, you can throw a party in your outdoor space where you can select the perfect drinks, menu, guest list, décor, activities, and, best of all, comfortable furniture. Now that's something worth celebrating!

Read on to learn more about throwing the perfect New Year's Eve party with the best outdoor entertainment furniture from the teak furniture and outdoor living experts at TEAK + TABLE.

New Year's Eve Party Ideas

If you simply put out some drinks and appetizers, people will probably have a good time, but why not take your party to the next level with a memorable theme or some fun activities? It makes the party feel more special than your typical weekend get-together, and it gives people something to talk about if the conversation lulls.

Champagne Cocktail Competition

The only thing more fun than a night of drinking champagne is a little friendly champagne cocktail competition. You can invite a few friends to prepare their own signature champagne cocktails to serve at the party. Guests can sample them and vote for their favorite bubbly. Be sure to offer a prize for the winner, like a set of champagne flutes. Of course, everyone wins when you're drinking champers!

White Party

White parties are a chic way to bring in 2022. White parties are elegant and fun, featuring monochromatic decorations in white, from the event invitations to the centerpieces. Be sure to toss in a few flashes of gold, silver, or black in your décor for contrast. You can even ask your guests to wear all white. Your outdoor living space will look even more sophisticated decked out in white. Just be sure to avoid serving any overly messy nibbles or drinks and put out plenty of napkins. Having a few instant stain remover pens on hand couldn't hurt.

Roaring Twenties Dinner Party

As we get into the 2020s, now is the perfect time to look back at this era of elegance by throwing an opulent party straight out of The Great Gatsby. You can even ask guests to dress up.

Start by sending invitations in a font that reflects the era, such as Decorá, Serendior, or New Yorker Type. You can even list a password for admission to your event to give an instant speakeasy vibe to the party. It's an excellent opportunity to serve up some Prohibition-era cocktails that are all the rage right now.

You don't have to stick to a menu that's right out of the 1920s, but putting a few items on the menu that were popular in the era, such as finger sandwiches, oysters Rockefeller, deviled eggs, Caesar salad, and pineapple upside-down cake, can add a feeling of authenticity.

Photo Backdrop with Props

The only thing more important than having a good time this New Year's Eve is being seen having a good time. That's why your party needs a photo backdrop with props where your guests can strike a pose. Your local party store likely has everything you need to create the perfect backdrop. Pics or it didn't happen!

Craft Station for DIY 2022 Headbands or Hats

Get crafty this New Year's with a craft station for making your own 2022 headbands or hats. Sure, you could buy some cheap ones from a party store, but you can make one that is more personal and will last longer.

Guests can wear their crafts for the rest of the evening and will have an excellent souvenir for remembering your A-list event. If children will be in attendance, this is a great activity for them. New Year's Eve isn't the most kid-friendly holiday with all the alcohol and late bedtimes, but kids can feel like they're part of the evening's festivities with this engaging activity.

International Potluck

By the time New Year's Eve rolls around, your guests will have seen the same charcuterie boards, cheese balls, and party mix snacks at nearly every holiday event. You can throw a party that stands out from the rest of the holiday gatherings by asking guests to bring hors d'oeuvres from around the globe. With so many folks still avoiding travel, an international potluck lets you and your guests get a taste of globetrotting from the comfort and safety of your backyard soiree.

Pajama Party

Throwing a backyard New Year's Eve party is already more comfortable than going out, but what if you could level up the comfort factor even more? A pajama party is a great way to ensure that everyone at the party is comfortable and having fun.

It can be difficult to get everyone to participate when you ask them to dress up. Tracking down a costume requires effort, but everyone probably has a pair of pajamas they can wear to your event. And it adds fun slumber party vibes, which you can play up with vintage board games, including Guess Who? and Girl Talk. And if any guest over imbibes, it's easier to talk them into sleeping it off in the guest bedroom if they're already in their pajamas.

Tips for Throwing the Perfect Outdoor Party

A stylish and relaxed atmosphere is the key to an elegant and sophisticated New Year's Eve Party. To throw the best party in town, make everyone comfortable, enjoy yourself, and bring the style. You don't want to seem frazzled or unprepared. Our tips will keep you calm and collected when the big night arrives.

• Create different seating areas to offer multiple spots for conversation.
• Put out some outdoor pillows and throws to keep your guests cozy.
• If children are included in your guest list, make sure to have things for them to do and offer some kid-friendly food and drinks.
• Prepare a meaningful toast.
• Serve a signature cocktail, and if no one is operating the bar, keep it tidy and organized so that guests can serve themselves.
• If your guests have any cultural traditions for this holiday, incorporate them into the party.
• The holidays are a time of indulgent, rich foods, so some guests will appreciate it if you incorporate some healthy foods into your menu.
• Don't cook new recipes or intricate dishes that will keep you in the kitchen all night.
• Do as much as you possibly can in the days leading up to the party.
• Incorporate lots of lighting in the form of sparkly bistro lights and candles.
• Some people make their New Year's Eve plans early. Send out proper invitations at least a month in advance for more informal gatherings and two months for a formal party.

The Best Outdoor Furniture for Backyard Parties

Atlantic Sectional

If you're having a get-together with a large group, try this stylish sectional sofa. The beautiful teak base displays the natural patterns of this durable, long-lasting wood, and the cushions come in a wide range of vivid hues. Just imagine how chic you and your friends will look while perched here with a cocktail in hand.

Relax Console Table

This console table can pull double duty as a makeshift bar for any soirée. You won't have to worry about stains with our beautiful, stain-resistant teak. It even features two buckets for chilling champagne for your midnight toast.

Metropolis Fire Table

No matter what part of the country you're in, it can get nippy in the evening. Keep your guests warm and comfy with this stunning artisan-crafted fire table.

42-Inch Round Bar Table with Breeze Bar Chairs

With this bar table and chairs, you'll feel like you're at the hottest party at a beachside hotel. You and your friends will love sipping champagne and catching up on everything that happened over the holidays around this sophisticated patio table.

At TEAK + TABLE, we think outdoor furniture is about style, craftsmanship, and comfort. Let us take your next party up a notch with our wide selection of bespoke outdoor entertainment furniture.