Clever Food Serving Ideas for a Backyard Party

Love outdoor entertaining but you’re not crazy about uninvited guests like flies and ants? Protect those delicious snacks and get a few hostess points while you’re at it with these smart serving solutions.

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Photo By: Tomas Espinoza

Serve in Style

Rethink how you serve food and drink at your next outdoor get-together. Showcase your personal style while keeping the pests off the guest list.

No Fly Zone

Terrariums are crazy-popular right now so why not put one to work during your next outdoor get together. Everyone enjoys a colorful, healthy spread of fresh fruit including pests. With this approach, you can skip the mesh covers and unsightly paper towels. No more "helicopter hosting" for you!

Go Big

If your terrarium is large, make the most of the space by stacking small plates and bowls atop one another to create a colorful fruit tower. If you’re serving small sandwiches or cupcakes, upsize your plates.

Baskets as Bowls

This adorable little elephant basket puts a fun twist on outdoor entertaining. Add a plastic bag to line it and just like that, you’ve created an adorable snack bowl.

Keep a Lid on It

When it comes to outdoor serving ware, remember these five words: if it’s lidded, it’s perfect. Search your home for any decorative items that could pull double duty at your next backyard party. Storage boxes, baskets and smallish bins can be transformed into stylish serving vessels by simply adding a liner. Think large storage bags, foil, plastic wrap and crock pot liners.

Easy Clean Up

Want to know the added bonus of using the food storage bags? When the party’s over, it’s easy to clean up. Zip up the leftovers, toss them in the pantry and you’re done.

Clever Cooler Upgrade

Grab a cheap foam cooler, rope and your trusty glue gun for this clever upgrade. This is one of those "anyone can do it" crafting projects you just can’t pass up. Simple... Stylish... Sold!

Getting Started

Before you go to town with the rope and glue gun, gently remove the handle from the cooler (if it came with one). When you’re wrapping anything with rope or twine, the smoother the surface, the better.

Wrap it Up

Start at the bottom and work your way up when wrapping the foam cooler with rope. Go with a midsize manila rope, it’s easy to work with and covers more surface area than twine. Don’t forget to glue the rope not only to the cooler itself but also to the line of rope below.

Double Duty

This stylish little bucket of beverages looks at home no matter what your decor. We also love that if you wrap the lid it serves as a cute little accent table with hidden storage when it’s not in use.

Clever Food Serving Ideas for a Backyard Party

Related To:

Shop This Look

Serve in Style

No Fly Zone

Go Big

Baskets as Bowls

Keep a Lid on It

Easy Clean Up

Clever Cooler Upgrade

Getting Started

Wrap it Up

Double Duty

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