OUTDOOR FALL ENTERTAINING IDEAS | Design by Occasion

While the early evenings of fall may be brisk and cool, that doesn’t mean we should pack away our outdoor furniture. Instead, there are a few simple things you can incorporate (which you may already own) to create a cozy and warm outdoor space! Once you have transitioned your space from summer to fall, bring on the party!

Celebrate the season with my seasonal snacks, cocktail, and fall decor ideas.

Seasonal Treat Tray.

Let’s start out with snacks, shall we! I think fall is the perfect time to indulge in its seasonal flavors. For this savory snack blend, I used everything with apple and pumpkin flavors. I wanted to create something similar to charcuterie board – the concept being you build your tray by adding a variety of small amounts of snack items in a cluster form. It’s a tray that will attract anyone who loves sweet and/or salty!

Here is what I used to create this sweet and salty tray filled with savory seasonal delights:

Fall-flavored Dessert & Signature Cocktail.

Next up, dessert and a cocktail! You guessed it…I continued my autumn flavors with this pumpkin cake. You can either purchase your pumpkin or apple flavored baked goods or bake one. If you prefer to bake something, check out this pumpkin cranberry bread recipe. For other options, check out this post where I featured the best pumpkin recipes to try. Whether you’re hosting a casual gathering or elaborate party – offer your guests a signature themed cocktail you prepared. Since this is an outdoor gathering, you may want to serve something warm, like this apple cider hot toddy or this cinnamon-pumpkin toddy.

Festive & Seasonal Entertaining Essentials.

To celebrate the season, pull out any of your fall kitchen entertaining essentials. I used my white and gold owl cake stand. I purchased my stand last year from Home Goods but found a similar one online here and here.

Keep warm.

To keep you and your guests warm from the crisp fall air, toss a few throws in a basket and have them near your outdoor sofa or chair so that they can be easily accessible. For other ideas to keep your guests warm…break out your outdoor patio heater or fire pit. Not shown in any of today’s featured pics is our propane patio heater. We are looking to purchase a new one since ours is no longer working.

Festive decor.

The simplest way to add fall festive touches are with with pumpkins, but of course! I placed a small pumpkin on our outdoor ceramic accent stool and another one on the ottoman tray.

Decor & Colors.

I prefer neutral tones for our outdoor living furniture because it is easier to transition from season to season. You can easily reflect the colors of the season in your decorative toss pillows, florals and decor accent pieces. I brought in a purple colored mum and purchased this faux dahlia, rose & hydrangea arrangement that came in a pretty container – designed with a gold-leaf accent (currently on sale/clearance!)

To mimic the golden colors of floral arrangement, I placed these preserved eucalyptus and silver dollar bundle in a clear vase on top of the bar cart (also on sale now!) The bundle came wrapped with a piece of burlap fabric, so in keeping with the fall vibe, I covered the inside of the vase by placing the burlap inside. This gave the vase an earthy and rustic look.

For other natural decor pieces, I brought out my driftwood and placed it on ottoman tray.

Lighting.

While it’s not time yet for us to change our clocks back, you may have noticed that it’s already starting to get a little darker, earlier. Bring out your patio lights and if you don’t own any, place plenty of candlelights throughout your outdoor space. I pulled out my lanterns for the side tables and hurricanes for the outdoor dining table.

I hope you enjoyed our outdoor living tour, how I transitioned our outdoor deck to the fall season and some ideas on fall flavored treats and sips!

Happy Fall and Happy Entertaining!!

-Photos + Styling by Rose Angel Lopez