Take it easy. A relaxing summer party on the patio, deck or in the backyard calls for nothing more than a few of your favorite things.

By Bev Bennett, Content That Works

Decorator Barclay Fryery with his favorite outdoor party furnishings.

For an all-too-brief time each spring my garden is a symphony of scents. Lilacs, viburnum, lilies of the valley and a few precocious roses send their perfumed notes into the yard. The effect is like a magical potion. And, I¹m inspired to have a garden party.

Maybe flowers don't hold as much charm for you. But you¹ll always find something, another talisman an accessory, lighting or even a color you can rely on to make your outdoor party a festive event. 

By using a few odds and ends you already have, or shopping for inexpensive trinkets and materials, you can create a marvelous atmosphere. Once you find the ideas that work for you, you¹ll use them over and over as the essentials for your summer party success.

To start your creative juices flowing, decorating experts share their finds. "The best things in my arsenal are fabric and glass bubble bowls that look like fish bowls," says Jeanne Benedict, author of "Sophisticated Entertaining: Spirited Food for Grown-Up Parties" (HP Books, 2000).

"I fill the bowls with water and float candles or flowers in them. I can cluster them on buffet tables. By bunching fabric around the bowls I bring the look together," says Benedict, the host of Weekend Entertaining on DIY network.

She also fills bubble bowls with black marbles or sand and adds miniature bamboo shoots. For a change she¹ll use rock salt as an anchor for one tall exotic flower. Benedict varies the fabric to complement her color scheme.

When Benedict has friends over, she likes to create defined party areas. Large plants in terra cotta planters give the illusion of rooms, she says.

"Decide how large you want your space to be and arrange the plants accordingly," says Benedict.

If you loll around on pillows in your media room or den, you can get the same relaxed look outdoors.

"The pillows you have in your home can go outdoors. Pillows make the setting cozy and relaxing," says Benedict.

Stores such as Crate & Barrel sell sea-grass floor cushions that hide the dirt. Skip silk or brocade pillows that require dry cleaning; if you insist on fabric, tape a plastic sheet to the bottom of each pillow. Arrange the pillows, plastic-side down on the ground.

Lighting is a favorite device among decorators. It can be the twinkle lights on a string leftover from Christmas, miniature Japanese lanterns or candles.

"I always have loads of candles white in clear containers, some large hurricanes with tall pillar candles and millions of small white candles in clear votives," says Barclay Fryery, an interior decorator, columnist and lifestyle expert in Greenwich, Conn.

Although you may not entertain poolside, Lyn Peterson says you can capture the tranquil sensation by placing floating candles in glass bowls filled with blue-dyed water.

"Add some seashells to replicate a day at the beach," says Peterson, a Westchester, New York interior decorator and spokesperson for the National Candle Association.

She suggests lighting up your parties with colored votives in clear holders along a walkway or positioned to illuminate a special area, such as the bar setup. And if there are places where you don't want guests to stray, avoid lighting them, says Benedict.

Color is another device you can depend on.

Cool, clean white often defines Fryery's parties. A whitewashed brick garden wall is the first thing you notice in his back yard. As if in a living room, Fryery hangs his favorite paintings on the wall. The setting includes a leopard print settee and topiaries.

He builds an outdoor stage for people who don't want to leave the comforts of their homes.

"And I adore using loads of big, square tufted pillows and low slung daybeds that are oh, so sexy. Again, with all white cushions that never offend nature with its green and brown and grey," Fryery says.

The decorator and host is also fond what he calls Matisse colors. Think greens, blues, violet and rose.

"But keep your fabrics solid. Let the people bring the pattern to your outdoor party," says Fryery.

If you're motivated to move your furniture outside, protect wooden chair or table legs from dew damage by wrapping a couple of inches of the legs in plastic wrap, Benedict suggests.

Don't let a lack of money keep you from finding the formula for summer fun. It can be as simple as hot dogs and great CDs.

"Pipe in music so you have a cool lounge feeling that adds to the ambience without blaring. The perfect CD for a great party would be anything Hotel Costes, especially number 5," Fryery says, referring to the series of cool lounge music CDs by Parisian DJ Stephane Pompougnac.

"If you don't have a big budget throw some burgers and a few hot dogs on the grill with all the fixin's and call it a day. Never, ever try out something weird in the food department. People want familiar and easy food outdoors. And please, only invite interesting, fun and kind people," Fryery says.

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