Entertaining FRESCO AL

Celebrate the season with an outdoor gathering. From intimate drinks to lavish dinner parties, read on for Jenny Oldaker's guide to summer socialising

- Jenny Oldaker

Whether you have a tiny balcony, a bijou patio or a grand expanse of green space, it's time to make the most of longer, warmer days by taking your social occasions outdoors. While the idea of a 'garden party' might conjure up visions of sedate gatherings on carefully coiffed lawns, with floral frocks and formal canapés, the beauty of outdoor events today is that absolutely anything goes, and gatherings can easily be curated to suit your space, style and budget.

Perhaps you want to host a sit-down al fresco meal with elaborate tablescaping, or maybe you'd like to invite guests for casual drinks on an artfully strewn array of picnic blankets and cushions. Whatever the size or tone, an outdoor party is a perfect excuse to go to town, and planning can be just as thorough as it would be for an indoor event.

Popular schemes for the summer ahead include Mediterranean hues and patterns for a sun-drenched look, and festival-style gatherings with a joyfully casual set-up. Rustic opulence is also having a moment - think natural materials, muted linens, and cottage garden blooms.