A successful summer gathering begins with the presentation. Creating ambiance with lighting, decorating with stylish dishware and adding creative serving stations are just some ways to ensure the party runs smoothly, especially with the right hosting essentials.
Before the next time you host guests this summer, private chef and founder of The Lineup Dinner Elena Besser joins the 3rd hour of TODAY to reveal her favorite summer entertaining essentials to keep the vibes up and guests comfortable. From zero-spray bug repellants to solar lighting, these pieces are equally practical, protective and decorative.
Ready to cheers? Keep reading to discover the best outdoor hosting essentials, according to an expert.
The best summer entertaining essentials seen on the 3rd hour of TODAY
Consider this a hosting hack for keeping prepped food fresh for longer. Just fill the bottom of the compartment with ice, and it will keep everything on top chilled throughout the party, including storing fruits, hot dogs toppings and more.
Plus, it wouldn’t be gathering without proper seating. To put your hard work on display or for catch-ups near the grill, shop decorative furniture from Article below, as seen on the show:
One brand loved by Shop TODAY editors is Our Place. While we love their viral pans, Besser insists that their colored drinking glass set is what she reaches for every day. They’re made from durable, restaurant-grade glass that feel sustainable for years of entertaining.
“The best part is that they stack beautifully, which saves cabinet space,” Besser says. “Whether you are having water, coffee or wine, they instantly make your table feel styled.”
Zara ice cream bowls
Our favorite sweet treat deserves a nice presentation. Zara’s Glass Ice Cream Bowls are made from borosilicate glass, which give them an elevated look that will surely impress guests. Choose from different styles of bowls and cups to mix and match with.
Bring the s’mores tradition anywhere with this electric s’mores maker. It has a flameless heater so you can roast marshmallows indoors or outdoors, plus convenient compartments to set up your s’mores station — no campfire needed!
Thermacell E-Zone Mosquito Repellers
For those who love hosting outdoors, Besser emphasizes that the products above are essentials. “Instead of spraying yourself and guests with sticky bug spray, this is designed to create an invisible, deet-free, flameless, odorless zone of mosquito protection,” she explains.
Our team tested the bug repellent, and were quick to notice how effective it was at repelling mosquitoes. Choose from two versions, a 15-foot protection guard and a patio max guard, for protection all summer long.
When setting the mood in your backyard, ambiance is everything. This solar ground light completely transforms your backyard using no worries or electrical work — just solar power to energize and charge.
“Simply stake them into the ground or stick them on the pavement along pathways, patios, gardens or flower beds,” Besser shares. “They automatically turn on at dusk, giving your space a warm, welcoming glow for evening entertaining. And in the morning they turn off by themselves!”
More summer entertaining essentials to shop
This stylish floating cabana keeps your beverages cool and in perfect reach. Just toss ice, sodas, waters and any beverage into the main space to add an elevated touch to your pool day.
The “Lazy Susan” cabinet organizer above offers an organized space for your spices and condiments. Turn it 360 degrees to access all of your spices without needing to reach over.
From yogurt to juice pops, use these silicone popsicle molds to make a homemade treat for you and your family. They make up to 10 popsicles and are easy to fill and take out, per the brand.
For those hiking or camping this summer, you might find yourself limited on water access. This rinse-free hand mist from Aesop has a moisturizing, alcohol-based mist to purify and refresh hands when you most need it.
No pump required — have a seat anywhere with this inflatable lounge chair. Perfect for the beach, camping, hiking and anywhere you find yourself outdoors.
Without using oil or butter, this user-friendly popcorn popper successfully pops kernels into crisp, healthy popcorn.
Enjoy movie nights underneath the stars with this portable projector that promises, no buffering, quick connection and clear video and audio.
This portable folding grill packs under 15-inches in size for easy storage in your home or on-the-go. Made of premium stainless steel for efficient grilling wherever you are.
Meet the expert
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Elena Besser.
- Elena Besser is the Founder and Culinary Director of The Lineup, an organization that provides financial and creative opportunities to the next generation of chefs. They have worked with cooks from top NYC restaurants like Eleven Madison Park and Le Bernardin, and now they are taking their programming to Chicago in November (11/5, 11/12 & 11/19). So, if you’re a rising star chef in Chicago, you may have a Lineup Dinner in your future. Apply at thelineupdinner.com
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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