How to Throw an Effortless Outdoor Party

You're dying to throw a summer party, but don't feel like going through all the trouble of planning, investing and worrying about every tiny detail? Say no more, we got you covered! Take a look at the tips and tricks we shared below, and get ready to paint your backyard red with all the love from your friends and family.

1. Self-service bar

The worst fear of every party host is running out of cold beverages. To prevent this from happening, make sure you have enough to keep your guest both hydrated and in a good mood. Good news is that there is no need for you to be bartending all night long—instead, you can create a fun self-service bar. A simple way to achieve this is by filling bins with ice and assorted bottle drinks so your guests can have fun pouring and shaking on their own. Just make sure to check from time to time if there are enough drinks and glasses available, and otherwise, you're free to have a good time yourself.

2. Barbecue

Food is always a good idea, especially smoked meat with a good old cold beer. If you're not a grill master yourself, have one of your friends do it for you. Or even better and easier—have a smoker temperature controller and monitor that helps you manage and master smoking your barbecue from your smartphone with no fear of under—or overdoing the meat. Of course, if you or your guests are not huge foodies or meat lovers, you can always go for a safe option and call it a pizza night. And, in case it happens you're both a gourmet and a good cook, preparing a fancy dinner won't require too much effort from your side, but it will be highly appreciated by your friends' tummies.

3. Pick an interesting, yet simple theme

You don't have to go over the top with decorations and theme in order to have a successful party. Instead, try to keep it casual and go for a theme which doesn't require too much effort from your side, but rather from your guests. You can choose a color theme, and have your friends dress in respect to it, while your contribution can be as small as colored ice cubes. Or, if you're a hookah enthusiast or a hippie soul, go for a boho style party, with pillow seating, warm lighting (achieved with candles or covering lamps with red or orange pashminas), and natural environment. Either way, try to focus more on comfort and simplicity than pomposity—both you and your guests will be thankful for this.

4. Mixtape

You're worried about what kind of music could appeal to all your guests and get them moving, including friends from college, party animals, colleagues from work, and shy cousins? Here's an easy and 100 percent successful solution—use your Spotify account and shuffle through your guests' profiles and by mixing and matching their playlists, you'll create the ultimate party mixtape with something for everyone's taste. This way, you'll also spare yourself of the extra time you would spend on doing YouTube research and compiling the playlist.

5. Relax

Party throwers tend to put too much pressure on themselves and neglect the fact that the whole concept of a party is to escape from daily stress and have a good time with your loved ones. The price of a great party shouldn't be your sanity. What's more, nothing can ruin a party as much as its host. What's the point of throwing a party if you're not having a good time? Do not deceive yourself with creating certain expectations and obsessing over details— this way, you'll end up being a party pooper of your very own party. Sit back and relax. Your guests will enjoy your company and hospitality, regardless of the possible drawbacks.

Throwing a party may sound like lots of leg work, but it can actually be a piece (or two) of cake. With just as much as the good timing, spacious enough porch or a backyard, and assistance from the tips above, you'll become a party guru among your circle of friends in no time.