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Forbes
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Year Of The Backyard: Creating An Outdoor Entertaining Hub
Photo courtesy of Last year, Thumbtack proclaimed 2024 as The Year of The Backyard, but has that trend still relevant? 'In 2024, we saw a rise in homeowners focusing on projects that improve their outdoor spaces, and as more people choose to stay put and invest in their current homes, that trend shows no signs of slowing down,' says Morgan Olsen, Thumbtack's interior design expert. In 2025, she tells me that homeowners are far more likely to focus on the home projects that bring them joy. 'Having a personalized outdoor space makes it easier to host, enjoy meaningful moments with family, and relax,' she explain. Tese are some tips to help you create an outdoor entertaining hub. Photo courtesy of A thoughtfully designed outdoor retreat maximizes aesthetics and function. In the design above, Catherine Trudeau, partner at The Outdoor Design Studio, tells me that every detail was considered to create distinct yet cohesive spaces for dining, entertaining, and relaxing, all while maintaining a degree of privacy. 'A raised deck provides a graceful transition to the elevated rear entry, while a wooden slat wall offers seclusion for intimate meals,' she says. 'Below, a bluestone patio under a pergola becomes the heart of the space, anchored by a fire table and framed by hornbeams and cedar fencing for a warm, secluded feel.' Photo courtesy of For this project, Trudeau weaved hardscape and softscape togetter to create a seamless and inviting retreat. 'Working closely with the interior designer and client, we crafted a landscape that feels both lush and intentional, serving as an extension of a home designed for comfort, beauty, and everyday living,' she explains. Trudeau recommends the use of plantings to establish soft boundaries between zones in outdoor spaces. 'A screen wall offers privacy from neighboring homes, while surrounding greenery gives the impression of being fully enveloped in nature, ideal for lively outdoor gatherings,' she says. Photo courtesy of One thing that can ruin outdoor entertaining in the summer: insects. Leigh Spicher, national director of design studios for Ashton Woods, acknowledges that no one wants to share space with bugs. 'If you screen in a small patio, you are not only keeping bugs out, but creating a defined room and area for your outdoor relaxation,' she says. Photo courtesy of Screening in your pool can also make it a more comfortable place to entertain and relax. 'Screened-in pool Screenspaces are ideal for entertaining, especially with both a pool and a hot tub,' says Rafi Friedman, president of Coastal Luxury Outdoors. In addition to protection from bugs, Friedman explains that there's some protection from the sun. 'And the pool deck provides room for seating and access to the house,' he adds. Photo courtesy of Friedman says he's also seeing more demand for at-home sports surfaces. 'Putting greens, basketball courts, and pickleball courts are especially popular, and make for great entertaining space.' And if you're on a budget, Friedman says you can get a similar effect; however, he notes that a properly built-in playing surface can elevate your backyard barbecue experience. Photo courtesy of Many people only consider the front yard when thinking about curb appeal. However, Sue Kim, director of color marketing at Valspar, tells me that homeowners should think about giving some love and attention to the back of the house as well. 'Consider statement paints and stains formulated for outdoor wood decks and concrete or stone patios for colorful backyard appeal,' she says. If you have a traditional home featuring neutral siding, Kim recommends making a bold statement on wooden decks and shutters by tinting semi-transparent stain to dark, rich colors like Very Black 5011-2. This hue's cool undertone pairs well with homes painted in light to medium grays and light blues,' Kim explains. Photo courtesy of 'Contemporary style homes are style chameleons and offer a chance to go bold on the exterior and energize an outdoor hangout space with a fiery color, like using a solid stain on a deck or porch in red, such as Cut Ruby 1009-4,' Kim says. Photo courtesy of According to Kevin Lenhart, design director at Yardzen, flexibility is an asset in entertaining spaces. 'You want to be able to accommodate a range of different users, group sizes, and activities, especially if you are limited on space or budget,' he says. Lenhart admits that it's possible to go too far and design a space that's just blank. 'The trick is to be forward enough with your design to establish character, to make a real place, but not to limit your functional breadth,' he tells me. Photo courtesy of Lenhart also recommends committing to a single aesthetic. 'You don't want your ice cream to be every flavor, you want it to be your favorite flavor.' People respect authenticity and originality, and he says you don't have to reinvent the wheel, but says you shouldn't be afraid to make your space a reflection of you. 'Your own personal tastes, artifacts or references to your personal story, homages to places you love, or things you hope to do, these are all fertile ground to build a space that has a truly compelling an unique character,' he explains. Photo courtesy of However, as a general rule, Lenhart warns against barriers – using such examples as built in seating, sealing up patio boundaries, or cosmetic grade changes introduced to divide up spaces. 'Barriers separating spaces inhibit the ability to spill out of one area into an adjacent space, and in so doing, limit the amount of people that can fit in a space.' And he notes that they also pinch flow between spaces, and make areas seem smaller. Instead of lining an entire path or patio edge with plants, Lenhart recommends drop-in pockets of planting. 'Leave large gaps between to facilitate easy flow and a strong sense of interconnection between adjacent spaces,' he says. Photo courtesy of When creating an outdoor space for entertaining, keep in mind that people love options. 'An ideal entertaining yard will have a range of spaces, each offering something unique,' Lenhart recommends. 'Include spaces that feel expansive, others that are cozy and enclosed; spaces for big, medium, and small groups, as well as nooks for intimate conversations.' Another tip is to have polished and upscale spaces, along with earthy and casual space. 'Every part of the design should fit within the poles of whatever aesthetic identity you are going for, but within those poles, roam around.' These are some of the items that can help you create an outdoor entertaining hub. Photo courtesy of Impress and delight your guest with the Ninja Swirl by Creami Ice Cream Maker. It can make everything from frozen yogurt and spft serve ice cream to frozen custard to sorbet, gelato, and milk shakes. And since you can control the ingredients, you can make the treats as healthy or as decadent as desired. In addition, three's an option to scoop the treats out of the container (on the right side of the machine) or dispense single servings into ice cream cones (on the left side of the machine). Photo courtesy of The Nebula X1 Triple Laser 4K Projector will allow you to compete with your local movie theatre. The 4K projector has 3,500 ANSI lumens, and the ultra-high contrast performance (5,000:1 native contrast, 56,000:1 dynamic contrast) lets you see every shade of darkness. Google TV provides access to Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV, Hulu, and more. The projector includes Dolby Audio, 40 watts of sound, 55 Hz of bass, and 87dB of loudness for clear, realistic, and immersive sound. Photo courtesy of You'll be the mixologist in chief with the Bartesian Cocktail Making Machine. Merely insert a capsule, select a strength, and then press a button to create a cocktail, such as a martini, daiquiri, and more in just a few seconds. The capsules are sold separately, and some of the many capsules include strawberry lemon drop, blueberry lemon drop, 19th hole, cupid's arrow, Manhattan, blackberry margarita, espresso martini, passion fruit margarita, Long Island iced tea, and more. Photos courtesy of Keep the party going with the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 Portable Speaker. The Bluetooth speaker is waterproof – and can actually float on water. It has a 24-hour battery life, provides 360-degree bass, and is available in several colors. Another option is the Klipsch Detroit Portable Speaker, which has an IP67 dust and waterproof rating, and the removable strap makes it easy to transport. With a built-in microphone, you can also pause the music and take phone calls. Photo courtesy of Quickly prepare food for your guests with the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven and Grill. The large capacity interior can air fry up to 3 pounds of food, bake a 12' pizza, and more. It can roast, toast, bake, air fry, grill, broil, and keep food warm until your guests are ready to eat. Photos courtesy of Keep a breeze going outdoors with a high-powered portable fan. The Shark FlexBreeze Fan with InstaCool Mist Attachment is designed to adjust in height from a tabletop to a pedestal fan. It can be used corded or cordless (20 hours), and the misting attachment can keep you up to 10 degrees cooler. If you prefer a tower fan, the Dreo Smart Tower Fan Pilot Max S can cool guests up to 27 feet away, and has 12 speeds. It's a quiet fan that can be controlled via your smartphone or you can use voice control. Photo courtesy of Your adult guests will enjoy sampling the Laithwaite's Grilling & Chilling Wine Collection, which includes rich BBQ reds and cool whites. Some of the choices in the collection are a 93-point Cabernet, gold-medal Rhône red, and more rich reds to drink with grilled treats. Guests can also enjoy 92-point New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a vibrant Italian white blend. and more. Photo courtesy of For karaoke, the Soundcore Rave 3S AI Karaoke Party Speaker helps guests loosen up. The 200 watt speaker has dynamic lights that sync with the music. Two wireless microphones let your guests sing duets as well. Also, the AI removal feature can remove the original vocals from any song selected from an app. Photo courtesy of You may prefer to engage in indoor grilling and then take the food outside. The Hammacher Schlemmer BBQ Grill Pan evenly distributes heat and reduces cooking time by up to 20%. It has a nonstock surface and is oven safe to 500 degrees F - and also dishwasher safe. Photo courtesy of Guests who prefer non-alcoholic drinks will enjoy Ghia Apertif Non-Alcoholic Drinks. Free from alcohol, added sugar, caffeine, and artificial flavors, some of the options include Ghia-Ginger, Ghia Soda (citrusy and earthy), Sumac and Chili, and Lime and Salt. Photo courtesy of If you prefer to serve ready-made ice cream to your guests, pints of McConnell's Fine Ice Cream are sure to please, Some of the many flavors include Mint Cookies & Cream, Cookie Butter, Orange Cream Sherbet, Strawberries and Shortbread Cookies, Coffee with Molasses Chips, and Dark Chocolate Sorbet. The company also sells gigantic cookies.
Wall Street Journal
04-04-2025
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Spend $50 Now and Have Dramatic Plants by the Fourth of July
If you've already befriended coleus, you might think of it as a stalwart plant that ushers color—typically a bit of red and green—into your yard's shadiest corners. But that's not the extent of these leafy tropicals' skills. Breeders have been toying with shapes, patterns, colors and light needs, and like a pigeonholed actor, coleus is poised for its big break in the sun. 'Coleus is one of the most versatile plants you can use in a container garden, and today's options include sun and part-sun tolerance,' said Sue Amatangelo, a gardening author and speaker in Aiken, S.C. Translation: You can take advantage of coleus's value proposition whether your planters face a shadowy north or a sun-roasted south. Plant three coleus, typically sold for $7-$11 in 4½-inch containers, in a 10-inch wide pot in early May, and by Independence Day, the group will have unfurled into a mound of foliage that conceals any potting soil. 'They're a great value,' said Catherine Trudeau, partner at Outside Design Studio. Her landscape-architecture firm drafts the species to green up public plazas, mixed-use spaces and homes around Chicago. 'Lots of more-expensive plants will stay more or less the same size they were when you got them, but by the end of the summer, coleus looks like a shrub,' she said, comparing coleus to pricey heuchera or foxtail fern, which can run $19 a plant. While you can still find 'garden variety' coleus—usually variegated with some combination of red and green—dogged breeders are developing new leaf shapes, sexier textures and brighter colors. Garden designers are partial to 'wasabi,' introduced by Ball FloralPlant in 2012 and beloved for its consistently solid chartreuse color. Plant it near purple and red varieties and its vibrant, deeply lobed leaves will throw them into relief. And while most examples of the species top out between 18 and 25 inches, wasabi can grow to a strapping 3 feet. Heeding gardeners' calls for rosier hues, Ball released FlameThrower 'adobo pink' this year. Its spear-shaped leaves, burgundy with fuchsia centers, pretty accurately resemble its fire-breathing namesake. Other new variegations include spots, swirls, ruffles and contrasting edges: Lime green dots, for instance, rim the velvety brown leaves of Pan-American Seed's 'chocolate mint.' But coleus needn't be flashy. You might mistake the deep purple of Proven Winners' ColorBlaze 'newly noir' for black. Seasoned container gardeners know the 'thriller, filler, and spiller' formula to create vibrant arrangements. If you worry you lack the eye to artfully organize plants of different colors and fluctuating sizes within one container, here's counsel from Amatangelo. Start with same-colored pots of varying size. Fill each with a single variety of coleus (sometimes called monocropping or monoculture). Group the pots to create an effect similar to planting the different varieties in a single container. The benefit: You can rearrange the individual varieties without disturbing their roots. Alternatively, stick with a single variety in pots of different heights. In terms of scale, Bridget Schroeder, owner of Chicago's Contained Garden, aims to ensure the height of a mature plant doesn't exceed 1½ times that of the planter. Though famously easy to care for, coleus does need moisture. You'll want containers that drain easily, but avoid unglazed terracotta, which will pull water away from the plant. Don't wait for coleus to droop from dehydration before slaking its thirst. If you do, it will spring back to life when watered, but the stress will cause a few leaves to give up the ghost, sacrificing some of the plant's lusciousness. Make life easier by using potting soil with a slow-release fertilizer mixed in. Alternatively, you can maximize growth with a monthly feeding of a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer. When your plants' underwhelming, spiky flowers appear, pinch them off to encourage bushiness. Many varieties of coleus grow more intense in color when exposed to stronger light. Others fade. You'll find lots of vital info such as sun and shade tolerance on nursery tags or online descriptions. Look there, too, for the heights of mature plants.
