How to host a festival-inspired summer garden party

It’s festival season! Bring the celebrations home to your outdoor space with our summer garden party décor ideas.

With the UK festival season in full swing, now is the perfect time to make the most of your outdoor space and throw a festival-inspired summer soirée in your garden.

Whether you’re dreaming of laid-back boho chic vibes or an all-out Glastonbury bonanza, there are so many ways to capture the carefree spirit of a summer fiesta and channel it into your outdoor décor.

In this expert guide, we’ll share our favourite festival-inspired garden party ideas, covering everything from choosing the right outdoor furniture to festival lighting and chic garden accessories, for an effortlessly stylish summer garden party.

Festival-inspired garden party ideas

Festival-worthy furniture

Hosting a summer garden party? Here are our favourite festival-inspired decorating ideas, starting with your outdoor furniture…

Relaxed seating corners

Summer festivals are all about curating a relaxed atmosphere. To help your guests get comfortable and soak up the summer vibes, we’d recommend investing in some laid-back outdoor lounge seating. For something comfy and packed with personality, we’d recommend our Florence Double Sofa Lounge Set With Large Coffee Table. This curved sofa set is modern, stylish, and has ample seating for all your friends and family to fit on. Plus, it comes with a sleek and compact coffee table for laying out party food and drinks.

Get the look: Florence Double Sofa Lounge Set With Large Coffee Table

Sun-drenched loungers

For a pool party-style shindig, how about some fabulous sun loungers? Make your party guests feel like they’re in Saint-Tropez and invite them to lie back, stretch out, and enjoy the coastal vibes. All that’s missing is a chic striped towel and a Hugo Spritz in hand…

Get the look: Emilia Sunlounger

Of course, it isn’t classic British summertime without a downpour or two. That’s why all of Atkin and Thyme’s contemporary garden furniture sets are crafted from reliable materials that are UV-resistant, water-repellent and quick to dry after a quintessentially British summer shower. So you don’t have to worry about bringing them inside every other day.

Top tip: If you’re experiencing a particularly rainy British summer, it’s a good idea to store your outdoor sunlounger in a shed or garage, to keep it looking in pristine condition.

Looking for some furniture maintenance tips? Check out our handy guide to looking after your garden lounge sets for endless summer entertaining.

Tables for festival feasts

If you’re a big foodie, it may be a good idea to invest in a good-sized garden table for laying out your festival feast. You may also want to consider a contemporary garden dining set, so your guests can get suitably stuck in. We’d recommend something with ample seating space, like our striking Savannah Rope 8-10 Seat Extending Dining Set in Oak. Ideal for large gatherings and food-oriented festivities!

Get the look: Savannah Rope 8-10 Seat Extending Dining Set in Oak

Outdoor kitchen setup

For our entertainers who enjoy cooking, why not set up your very own outdoor kitchen to impress your nearest and dearest? This way, you can do what you love the most, without missing a minute of the fun outside! Plus, with something like our sophisticated Savannah Hybrid Outdoor Kitchen - 4 Burner, you have complete control over whether you cook with gas or charcoal, and it has plenty of space for all your cooking gadgets and utensils. Whatever your signature dish is, the Savannah is your ultimate chef companion!

Get the look: Savannah Hybrid Outdoor Kitchen - 4 Burner

Chic accessories

Now you’ve sorted your garden furniture, it’s time to talk outdoor accessories. Here are our favourite picks for styling your festival-inspired garden party…

Create a relaxed boho vibe with outdoor rugs

To capture the bohemian festival aesthetic, layer some outdoor rugs on your patio. Garden rugs, like our Round Outdoor Rug 250Cm Grey, are a fantastic way to bring some texture and cosiness to your outdoor space. Plus, the best news is, nothing has to match! In fact, the wider the variety of shapes, colours, and patterns, the more boho it is! Go wild and mix-and-match your outdoor rugs.

Style your seating with outdoor cushions

Something as simple as dressing your outdoor sofa with stylish blankets and cushions is sure to elevate your outdoor space. To give your garden sofa a festival makeover, choose vibrant colours and fun Aztec or geometric patterns on your cushions and throws. A tassel fringe or pom pom wouldn’t hurt either…

Add some extra seating options with bean bags

Bean bags are a festival staple. Not only are they a fun accessory that adds a playful pop of colour, but they’re also ideal for creating additional flexible seating, for kids and adults alike. Scatter a couple around your garden to encourage a relaxed, outdoor lounge effect.

Garden lighting

Get the look: 10 Jute Rope Festoon Lights Multi Connectable

Don’t forget about your outdoor lighting! To keep the festivities rolling all night long, make sure to finish decorating with some beautiful garden lights. Our Head of Design, Kris Manalo, shares her advice for creating a magical outdoor space:

“Start by draping festoon lights in a warm hue across your patio, pergola or seating area to gently light the space from above. You can then add some modern LED pathfinder lights to create a subtle runway that guides you and your guests through the garden.

Finally, hang cascading fairy lights through trees, shrubs or foliage to create a beautiful, whimsical setting. Having soft pockets of light will make your garden feel romantic and grounded, rather than overly polished.”

- Kris Manalo, Head of Design at Atkin and Thyme

Quick tips for hosting a festival at home

Finally, here are some quick tips to bring your festival soirée to life this summer.

Drinks station: Set up a stylish drinks cart with some chilled bottles of prosecco, beer, and a jug of your favourite summer cocktail. Don’t forget to have plenty of ice and bowls of garnish (like lemons, limes, sprigs of mint) for guests to spruce up their beverages.

DIY decorations: All good festivals have fun decor. Give yourself a little DIY project and have a go at creating your own festive decorations, like colourful bunting, streamers, hanging stars, or even mini disco balls! You can hang these up in trees, from a pergola, or along a fence. Get creative.

Keep guests cool: If you’re expecting a heatwave, make sure you have enough fans to go around for guests. You could even set up a silver tray of hand fans for people to grab as they enter your party. It’s the little details that count!

Party music: Prepare some playlists in advance for different vibes, so you don’t need to worry about scrolling on Spotify all day long and queuing songs. Make sure you have a good-quality speaker and test the connection beforehand, to eliminate any last-minute tech issues. Thank us later…

Psst! Want more hosting tips? Check out our guide to remaining a cool, calm and collected garden party host - even during the heatwave.

With this festival-inspired garden party guide, you’ve got all the tools you need to impress your guests and throw a fabulous summer carnival at home that your friends and family will be talking about for years to come.

Redesigning your garden? Check out our expert guide to contemporary garden zoning ideas.