The weather is changing and the long-awaited spring and summer entertaining seasons are just around the bend. After what felt like a winter that went on forever, we are totally ready to get outside, turn our backyards into pretty little oases, and have some friends over for some good food and even better drinks. The thing is, some of our backyards aren't exactly dinner party ready, and we're not just talking about the grass needing to be trimmed or the hedges needing pruning. After going so long without entertaining, many backyards seem to be looking rather dull.
That means it's time for a makeover! Sprucing up your backyard doesn't have to take a ton of work or necessarily cost a lot of money either. There are lots of little things you can do to make your backyard look welcoming and ready for guests all season long. But most of us need some sort of starting point when it comes to decorating — some inspiration, if you will.
This year, we're taking ours from some of our favorite celebrities and sharing some fun celeb-inspired décor ideas that are sure to liven up any backyard dinner party. What we love about these adorable décor ideas is that they can help add a bit of personality to just about any outdoor space or get-together. Take a look to see some small things you can do to make your backyard more beautiful for that next outdoor dining experience.
Picnic Style
Actress and filmmaker Reese Witherspoon, recently posted the sweetest picture of herself in her backyard, evidently ready to enjoy a picnic, and it inspired us to perhaps throw our own backyard picnic. It would be so much fun to pick up a few really beautiful picnic blankets and use them instead of tables to create a super-casual dinner party.
Kendall Jenner Style
Kendall Jenner was featured in Architectural Digest in 2020, and she has incredible taste in home décor. Her Los Angeles mansion seems purpose-built for entertaining and it actually has loads of personality, which makes it stand out from the homes of the rest of her famous family members.
Light It Up
If you don't already have a fire pit, now's the time to get one. If it's in the budget, take a cue from Kendall Jenner and have one of these super-modern propane-fueled firepits installed. If not, there are tons of more affordable options that will keep your guests warm and cozy as the sun sets and give you the perfect place to make s'mores for dessert.
Bring the Indoors Out
Entertainer Ashlee Simpson Ross' backyard was a total vibe for her baby shower back in 2020. The event had a bit of a vintage, 1970s feel to it, but the thing we liked the most is that she used beautiful antique dining chairs intended for an indoor dining area, outside. It was such an unexpected touch and made the casual affair seem just a bit more special.
Jessica Alba's Into Design
The actress and businesswoman recently got into interior design, and she seems to have a natural eye for it. This space she transformed with her bestie Lizzy Mathis turned out great. But one of our favorite things about Jessica Alba's style is actually that she loves to use natural elements in her décor.
Say It With Flowers
Jessica Alba is a huge fan of fresh flowers and green plants and uses them throughout her home. We totally agree that they instantly make any space seem more welcoming and put-together. We can't get over how well this stunning jewel-toned floral arrangement actually complemented the beautiful cheeseboards she served.
Let Nature Shine
We really like the idea of using greenery to camouflage at least some of that stark white privacy fencing many homes have. Living walls are so beautiful! Depending on your budget and the amount of time you have, you could use fresh greens and plant some vines to give your space a more natural feel, but even artificial greenery will make the space feel more homey.
Make It Vintage
Take a cue from Gabrielle Union and hit up some garage and estate sales in search of a few vintage lawn and patio chairs. Just a few mixed into the furniture you already have will add a unique touch that makes your backyard feel a bit more stylish than the neighborhood standard.
Khloé Kardashian Goes All Out
All of the Kardashians love to host a party and never spare any expense, but Khloé Kardashian, who is the mother of 3-year-old True Thompson, seems to have the most fun with her get-together décor choices. She loves a pastel or monochromatic look for her parties, both indoors and outdoors.
Balloons Everywhere
The Kardashians are big balloon people, and for what seems like well over a year they've been decorating most of their outdoor events with massive balloon displays. Keep all the balloons clustered together and in the same color family for a really impressive focal point at any party.
Mood Lighting
We never would have thought to do this, but one year Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz celebrated their anniversary outdoors, and they used colored twinkle lights to create a perimeter around their dinner table, which looked super cool and definitely set the mood. You could choose from any number of colors to create the atmosphere you're going for.
Mix Textures
We realize this post from Demi Lovato had absolutely nothing to do with décor, but we couldn't help but notice how cool her outdoor dining set is. We love the look of the concrete table with the wicker chairs. Mixing textures definitely creates visual interest and adds some depth to an outdoor space.
Go Neutral
Sometimes the simplest things can make the biggest statements. We love the blonde wood details in this outdoor space shared by entertainer Chrissy Teigen, and that the rest of the area's neutral furnishings allow the textures and patterns of the wicker furniture to take the forefront. It's so summery and pretty.
Swanky Space
Model Naomi Campbell was recently featured on the cover of Architectural Digest magazine, so it's no surprise her backyard is incredible. One way to create a similar feel at home is simply to use some gauzy white curtains and a canopy to frame your dining area. It makes the space feel almost resort-like.
Let it Flow
Legendary actress Goldie Hawn recently hosted an outdoor dinner party in honor of her daughter, Kate Hudson's, birthday. Kate shared loads of pics of the garden-inspired affair (keep clicking through to see the beautiful table setting). Anyone who has a home with a ground-level patio can take a cue from the décor. We love how the tablescape seems to flow right into the indoor living space that it's adjacent to. It's such a welcoming concept for guests to enjoy, and perfect for when it's still cool enough to leave the air conditioning off and enjoy a night breeze.
Joanna Gaines Is Queen
Don't we all just wish we could take a master class in design from Joanna Gaines? She always seems to know exactly what to add and what to take away, making any space look absolutely perfect. She, of course, earned all of her fame for doing just that alongside her husband on the TV series Fixer Upper.
Break It Up
Joanna Gaines can take something as simple as a bouquet of a single variety of flowers and turn it into a super-chic table arrangement that would be perfect for an outdoor dinner party. Here, she has one larger arrangement and then takes the same stems and breaks them up, arranging them in several small clay vases to create lots of visual appeal without being fussy.
