The key to holiday hosting? Set the scene. Take inspiration from these Friendsgiving decor ideas that make entertaining outdoors easy, comfortable, and beautiful.

Outdoor dining provides a more casual feel than indoor dining, so don’t forget to have fun. Set the foundation with a spacious outdoor dining table and provide enough dining chairs for every guest to have a seat. From there, layer in the necessary tablecloth, runner, and/or placemats, adding outdoor-friendly dinnerware and glassware.

Make it easy for guests to grab a drink or appetizer before the meal starts by setting up serving stations ahead of time—whether that’s an outdoor bar cart, a buffet table, or a serving tray. Depending on the weather, consider adding an outdoor ice bucket to the mix in order to ensure drinks stay cool. 

To cultivate comfort, layer your outdoor space with all the comforts of home—such as throw pillows, indoor-outdoor rugs, poufs, blankets, and lighting. “I love cultivating a sense of laid-back luxury with earthy textures and colors, layering in weather-resistant (and spill-resistant) textiles for additional texture and pattern,” Ruhlin says.