Are you planning to entertain this Memorial Day weekend in your Tulsa outdoor living space? As the unofficial beginning of summer, many will be firing up the grill and relaxing outside with friends and family as they celebrate this national holiday. Check out these tips to enhance your Tulsa holiday weekend fun.

Make sure the pool is ready to make a splash! As the start of summer, many homeowners will be opening their pool for use this weekend. Make sure your pool is clean, safe, and proper maintenance has been done so that everyone can have a fun time in the water. Check out our blog article on pool maintenance and cleaning for tips on how to get it ready for entertaining.

Outdoor kitchen grilling – You bring it, we grill it. A Tulsa outdoor kitchen makes cooking and entertaining fun and easy. Instead of providing all the hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken or fish, tell guests that if they bring it, you’ll grill it! This way, you’ll have a greater variety of foods at your picnic, you won’t have to figure out what everyone likes, or worry as much about guests’ dietary restrictions (some could even bring veggies to grill). They’ll have brought what they like and can eat. Then, you just have to get the side dishes.

Easy snacks in your outdoor kitchen. A built-in mini fridge is one of the many features of an outdoor kitchen that make it great for entertaining. With the days starting to warm up in Tulsa, keeping cool beverages nearby will be essential. The refrigerator in your outdoor kitchen will be perfect for keeping poolside drinks cool as well as fresh fruit and veggies crisp.

Outdoor lighting a must. Although the days are getting longer, your party will probably continue after dark, so having landscape lighting in your Tulsa outdoor environment is a must. You could have custom landscape lighting designed for your poolside area or front walkway and landscape, or colorful balloon lanterns in maybe a red, white, and blue pattern.

Keep guests cool. If you don’t have an outdoor structure such as a covered patio or deck to relax under, remember to provide a shade and fans for your guests to sit under. Pergolas are an excellent landscape design element that provides some shade while allowing light through and adding an elegant flare to your outdoor living space.

Memorable décor. While there is often a patriotic theme with Memorial Day events, you can also subtly include Americana features into your party theme.

“Pick any theme and just incorporate some American pride elements,”the Nest recommends. “A California picnic? Think avocado and sprouts on a flag tablecloth. Or even a Hawaiian luau – just incorporate island native President Obama’s favorite nuts like pistachios and almonds into the menu.”

New activities. While some may enjoy playing football or just relaxing by the pool, you could have some different interactive activities to spice up the day – like a fun photo-booth where guests can take home playful photos of themselves to remember the day.

Have a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend as you enjoy your Tulsa outdoor living space!