Summer has faded and nights are growing cold, but that's no reason to hide inside. You can entertain outdoors in the fall as well as you do in the summer — just add heat.
Add Heat
Shivering is just not much fun. Fortunately, you have many options when choosing a fireplace or heater. Take into account how you usually entertain and how large an area you want to warm — it might make more sense to have two or three small heaters so guests can chat in small groups.
Fire pit. Portable fire pits are made of copper or steel and can burn wood, pressed logs, coal or gas. Most models have a safety ring that prevents people from touching the hot pit and can double as a handle for transport. To get the most from your pit, also look for a spark screen and a cooking grill.
Chimenea. Chimeneas safely contain your fire, help keep you warm and — thanks to the removable chimney — give you a surface to grill on. You can get a portable pottery or cast aluminum chimenea. For a more permanent patio feature, choose a cast iron chimenea. Iron and aluminum chimeneas burn wood, pressed logs or coal. Don't burn coal in a pottery chimenea, because the chimenea can overheat and split.
Outdoor fireplaces. An outdoor fireplace is a permanent installation that keeps your patio warm and compliments your home's style. Made from stainless steel, outdoor fireplaces usually don't need a chimney and can burn wood, charcoal, pressed logs, or gas, depending on the model.
Patio heater. Gas-powered patio heaters can warm a large area — up to 18 feet in diameter depending on the power of the model. You can have your heater permanently installed in your back yard, powered by your home's natural gas supply, or keep it portable with a refillable tank and only bring it out when you need it.
Grill Fall Flavors
Summer may be over, but that doesn't mean it's time to retire the grill. There's delicious grilled food that features fall's bounty.
- Grilled mushrooms, especially portabella mushrooms, make a savory entree, side dish, or topping for pizza. Simply toss mushroom caps and thick slices of sweet onions with olive oil, salt, pepper, and dried thyme. Place them on a hot grill for 4- to 5 minutes per side or until tender.
- Squash, peppers, and fennel, also at their seasonal peak, are delicious on the grill. Serve them as part of a grilled vegetable platter, salad, or sandwich. They also make great toppers for pizza or crostini — just add cheese.
- Don't want to stand outside in the cold? Place your sliced, oiled, and seasoned vegetables in an aluminum foil pouch and put it on the grill for about 15 minutes.
Grilling isn't only for vegetables — give fruit a try.
- Grilled pears make a lovely topping for ice cream, mixed green salad, or crostini, along with blue cheese. Slice pears in 1/4-inch thick slices, toss them with oil and grill them for about 2 minutes per side or until tender with grill marks.
- Figs, also at their seasonal peak, make a nice accompaniment to grilled meats. Slice them in half vertically and add them to skewers along with lamb, pork or chicken.
Back in the kitchen, feature seasonal flavors such as maple, cranberry, apple, and pumpkin in salads, sauces, and side dishes.
Layer on the Layers
The secret to hanging out outdoors without looking a giant marshmallow is to dress in layers. The air trapped between layers of clothing provides insulation that keeps in your body heat better than one thick garment would.
Fortunately, layers are in style now — it's perfectly okay to put your favorite loose summer dress over a thin long-sleeved tee, leggings and boots, top it with a thermal vest or a denim jacket and finish off with a hat and scarf. Here are some layering tips for outdoors:
Close to the skin. Wear a thin layer close to your skin, such as a camisole, thin tee or thin long-sleeved shirt. Choose a fabric that wicks moisture away from your skin in case you get too warm, peel off a few layers and then get cold.
On your legs. Jeans aren't your only option, even though they are hugely popular right now (learn how to find flattering jeans). Leggings are always adorable — wear them with a long skirt and boots.
Boots. Other than in summer, why wear anything else on your feet? Choose the height you like, from booties to above the knees.
Hats. They say that 70 percent of your body's head loss is through your head, so cover your head. If you don't want to squash your hair, you can pull up the hood on your hoodie or wear a winter headband over your ears, but won't get nearly the heat-holding benefits of full, snug coverage.
Thermal vests. Instead of a winter jacket, keep your core warm without restricting your arms with a down or poly-filled vest. Down has the advantage of compressing, so if you get too warm, you can wad it up to a fraction of its size and cram it in its stuff sack or its own pocket.
Fingerless glove/mittens. You no longer have to be a street urchin in a Dickens novel to get away with wearing fingerless gloves. You can snip the fingers off old knit gloves (stitch around the openings to prevent fraying) or buy a pair that converts to full mittens. If you prefer straight-up mittens to keep your hands warm, you can make your own from an old wool sweater.
Find a Warm Seat
Summer outdoor furniture works fine for fall. If the idea of fall entertaining inspires you to upgrade your old plastic chairs to something better, here's what's available.
Wood. Wood furniture comes in a variety of styles and warms up a fair bit faster than other materials, so they're ideal for autumn entertaining. Moisture and cold damages them, so be sure to cover them when you're not using them and store them out of the snow when winter comes.
Wicker. Like solid wood, wicker warms up quickly and provide a cozy surface for your guests. Traditional wicker doesn't face the elements well, which is why resin wicker furniture has become popular. Made from a plastic resin, these chairs can face almost any weather and clean up with soap and water. Both traditional and resin wicker chairs retain water once they get wet, however, so be sure to cover them when they're not in use.
Metal. Cast iron patio furniture is a classic, but be sure the paint is in top condition to prevent rust. Baked steel — a layer of powdered enamel or metal baked into the steel frame of the chair — is a good alternative to cast iron. It's lighter, easy to clean and doesn't rust.
Cushions and coverings. When the weather is cooler, the seats are too, so look for cushions and coverings to help keep the chill from your guests. All-weather fabric coverings such as polyurethane, olefin or acrylic extend the life of your cushions. For filling, look for polyester fiber, because — unlike cotton — it's mildew resistant.
Furniture covers. Part of keeping a warm seat is keeping it dry when it isn't in use. Furniture covers keep patio furniture dry and allow you to keep furniture outside into late autumn. it's still a good idea to store your furniture somewhere with a constant temperature when winter comes along.
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