Looking for a festive
event that satisfies guests ages 8 to 80, as well as an excuse to design and
decorate? Host a Neighborhood Outdoor Movie
Night!
Being a design and décor addict isn’t all fun and games,
because sometimes those of us with big dreams are saddled with bare bone budgets
and schedules that leave little or no time for major makeovers. Although I’m very proud and pleased with the
projects we have accomplished so far in our perfectly imperfect old house,
there are times when passing through the rooms we haven’t had a chance to take
over and transform yet can be, well, a bit depressing. It is in these moments though that I think
the best solution to an unfinished list of to-do’s is to have a party.
Not only do I enjoy an excuse to be social, but I also look
at parties as an opportunity for a high level of creativity but a low level of
commitment. Parties are an excuse to be
goofy and over-the-top, and it often is the littlest of touches that make a
get-together a success. Each subtle
addition to a party space is a way to let your guests know that you value them,
that they are important enough to you that you wanted every detail to be in
order…and even the most casual of gatherings can include these little details
that make a big statement.
One of our favorite annual parties to host is our
neighborhood Outdoor Movie Night.
Hosting a get together for both adults and children can often be a
challenge due to space and the range of needs when you include folks of every
age, but this party is perfect because it is held outside (aka no gangs of
children roaming through my house reeking havoc) and the showing of a movie
keeps everyone under a certain age occupied for a few hours while the adults
get a chance to finish a conversation. We
set up the movie projector on the side yard of the house using the brick wall
as our screen (which provides an amazingly clear picture once it is dark), and
the front porch and yard are prepared for cocktails and appetizers so that
children can be monitored while the adults enjoy each other’s company.
Another pleasurable aspect of this gathering is that our
whole family is involved in the planning and execution of our event. We have a family vote for what movie we will
show, my husband plays the media expert with the projector set-up, and the kids
pop popcorn and man the raffle and refreshment table with gusto. And then, of course, I get to have a little
fun with the decorating and details that complete the look and feel of our fun family
night out.
So when you can’t commit to a major design makeover but
still want to flex your creative muscles, send out the invites and enjoy an
evening at home (or in the yard!) with your favorite people. Because in the
end, creating beauty in and around our homes isn’t about the way something
looks, but the way we and our loved ones feel when we inhabit a space. And no matter what the occasion might be,
creating beauty and sharing it with others is always a worthwhile endeavor. J
So what’s your favorite party to throw, and what little
details do you enjoy including that move a gathering from good to great?
