40 barbecue party ideas: the right decoration ensures a happy atmosphere

In summer, life moves outside - the comfortable lounge area promises many relaxing hours outdoors, the pool invites you to refresh yourself after a long day at work, and the whole family gathers around the garden table on weekends. But no terrace is complete without a garden grill - who wouldn't want to prepare delicacies themselves and end the evening with friends? Of course, it's not just the food that has to taste good - accessories, cutlery and accessories create a mood at the table. We give you 40 barbecue party ideas - so you can make the right decoration! Get inspired.

Barbecue party ideas – what do you have to consider when organizing?

The first step to a successful oneGarden party is good planning. Determine the menu in advance - the salads, appetizers and meat should suit the tastes of the guests. Based on the list of ingredients you have created, calculate the amounts of meat, cheese, salads and alcohol you need. If you are preparing cocktails, you should plan around 0.4 liters per person. People like to drink beer in the hot summer months - you should definitely buy at least 1.2 liters per guest. For wine lovers, you can get about 0.5 liters per person. Lemonade and juice are refreshing - count on 1.2 liters per person. As for food, you can plan on 400 grams of meat per adult and 200 grams per child. 200 grams of carbohydrate-rich salads with pasta and potato starters and 120 grams of vegetable salads are sufficient for adults. Serve 2 rolls per person.

You should also think about the dishes in advance - do you have enough plates, cutlery, napkins for all guests or will you have to get disposable dishes? Think about who will sit where - if everyone can sit comfortably around the garden table, then you will need a serving trolley. If the number of guests is over 20, then the effort for the host is simply too great. In this case it is worth organizing a buffet.

Go shopping two days before the party - if you can't find some ingredients, you can always update the menu. Choose dishes that you can prepare quickly and have already cooked - there is usually no time left to experiment, especially during the day.

If you have already prepared/planned everything, you can think about the right table decoration - you will find many simple craft ideas below.

Painting wooden coasters

The wooden coasters pictured above create a cheerful summer atmosphere at the table. For the project you will need a wooden board, a saw, different glaze colors, sandpaper, and a brush. First, cut the wooden board into pentagons, then sand the edges with sandpaper. Clean the wooden surface thoroughly and allow it to dry, then apply the glaze with a brush. Complete! Our tip: Serve delicious cocktails or exotic fruits on the coasters.

Make your own serving tray for wine and cheese

A serving tray with enough space for a wine glass and a small cheese platter - this is sure to impress all your guests. Welcome all friends in a charming way! Simply buy several cutting boards, cut a piece of wood with a saw or drill (see photo) and you're done. If you wish, you can paint the handle with chalkboard paint and write each guest's name on it.

Barbecue party ideas – wooden box for the cool box

The cool box is not only used on excursions - it is also extremely useful in your own garden and can store guests' drinks. But admittedly - even if it is an extremely practical device, the plastic box doesn't look really nice. But you can put them in an old planter box and then highlight it attractively with color. Our tip - paint the box white so that it doesn't get hot so quickly under the strong rays of the sun. Label the box so that guests can quickly orient themselves and serve.

Plates in cheerful colors on the garden table

White plates look boring - decorate them with dots and stripes in cheerful summer colors - pink, red, blue and yellow form an attractive ensemble. Let the children help out - in this case they can buy porcelain stickers and put them on the plates. Then the little ones just need to color the pictures. At the end you can bake the plates in the oven for 25 minutes at 170 degrees.

Decorate the plates using napkin technique

If you have decided on a complicated motif (such as the flamingo above), then you can attach it to the plates using napkin technique. First clean the porcelain dishes thoroughly and let them dry. Most craft stores sell special porcelain care products - apply a protective coating and leave the plates aside for 2 hours. Meanwhile, carefully cut out the motif on the napkin and after 2 hours fix it on the plate with special glue. At the end let it burn in the oven at 130 degrees for 90 minutes.

Painting porcelain

However if you are friends with children tooa barbecue partyinvited, then you can entrust the little ones with the task of painting the porcelain tableware. You will definitely be happy - even more so - the children will devote themselves to the craft project while you are undisturbedprepare the food. This means there is no risk of injury and you don't have to worry about the little ones playing around the garden grill.

Tea lights radiate soft light and create atmosphere

Tea lights create atmosphere. If you plan to end the evening with friends, you need to think about atmospheric lighting at the table. In the next project, holes are drilled in a square strip, the tea lights are inserted inside and then the strip is painted pink/blue/pink. Geometric motifs make them appear larger and add a modern touch to the table.

Paint the cool box and decorate it imaginatively

Of course, even at a small garden party, the cool box should not be missing - let it shine in strong summer colors. First, carefully sand off the old paint with sandpaper, thoroughly clean the surface of dirt and dust and let it dry. Then apply a primer coat, let it dry and then apply varnish in the selected shade. Let it dry again for a few hours and then draw the details with a special pen for plastic. Cut out the green bracts from felt and then glue them onto the lid.

Decorate the cool box with magnets and washi tape

Stickers, washi tape and small magnets are used in the next craft project - the cool box looks so sweet on the children's table. The little ones are sure to be fascinated by the design. You can then use the cool box as an accent at a child's birthday party. The children are of course allowed to have a say and can always add new elements to the design.

Surprise the guests with unusual place cards

If there is leftover food, you can pack it in personalized paper bags for guests. You can also send the bags to your friends instead of invitations - they should then bring them to the party. Even if everyone knows each other, it's worth making place cards - friends will definitely appreciate such small tokens.

You can print out various templates, or you can also prepare a stencil yourself and use it to embellish all place cards. If you don't know all of the guests personally, or if the friends are coming to your house for the first time, you can also create a menu. Make a sketch and mark where guests can find cutlery and accessories, where leftover food should be thrown away, etc.

Fairy lights as an accent above the garden table

Fairy lights not only look extremely decorative, they also spread soft light over the dining area in the evening. Give the indirect lighting a new look - with a little skill, the light bulbs can be turned into little hamburgers. The fairy lights will attract everyone's attention and are guaranteed to cause a sensation. Simply buy special pens from the craft shop and use them to paint the light bulbs. Let it dry and then hang the chain up again.

The grilled skewers become real eye-catchers

Barbecue skewers are of course a must in the household - they are extremely practical not only for meat, but also for mushrooms, potatoes and other garnishes. Simply glue masking tape to the wooden handle in a spiral and then paint the handle with paint. Allow to dry and then carefully remove the masking tape. Our tip – choose the colors that match the board color scheme.

Good planning plays a crucial role in a successful barbecue party. Clarify in advance what you will be preparing that day, how many guests are coming and whether they will sit together at the garden table or whether you would rather organize a buffet. Calculate the required quantities of meat, rolls, cheese, alcohol - this way you will always keep an overview of the costs incurred. Make a shopping list and buy the products two days before the party if possible. Then you can start crafting. Surprise guests with colorful wooden coasters and welcome them with a small cheese plate. Offer refreshing drinks from the newly painted cooler. Create a cheerful atmosphere with lovingly painted plates, embellish porcelain dishes with the napkin technique and make your own wooden candle holder. You can find more stylish DIY projects in the photo gallery below, let them inspire you.

Decorate napkins in vintage style

Beautify lanterns with coffee filters

Decorate the planter box with geometric patterns

Napkins made of fabric with striped patterns

Make candle holders out of modeling clay with the children

Decorate straws with flowers made from coffee filters

Wall shelf becomes a serving tray

Build your own barbecue table and present it attractively