Outdoor entertaining in St. Louis is rarely just about setting a table. It’s about anticipating the heat, the sudden shifts in temperature, the inevitable parade of pesky bugs—and still designing a space that feels effortless and inviting when guests arrive.
The goal, according to Mimi Pultman of Mimi Pultman Interior Design and Ellen Lancia, a partner at Design Collective STL, is to make the outdoors feel like a natural extension of the home, where comfort drives every decision and atmosphere follows close behind.
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Pultman describes her approach in simple terms. “I want everything to function really well, I want everything to taste really good, and I want all the details to look high end and pretty,” she says.
To pull that off, the balancing act starts well before guests arrive.
“When I entertain outside, I always pay attention to the weather report,” Pultman says. “You never know what the weather’s going to be like here.”
It may sound obvious to anyone who has ever hosted a party outdoors, but in St. Louis, the forecast affects everything from serving materials to table settings. A windy afternoon can topple lightweight centerpieces; an especially sunny day can determine the location of your set up, an unexpectedly muggy evening can wilt the most carefully arranged spread. “If you’re setting up an outside table and you’ve got things that can be blown off, you want to make sure what’s on your table is heavy enough [to withstand the elements],” she says.
Start with comfort, not décor
For Pultman, those practical adjustments serve a bigger purpose: creating comfort that holds up in real conditions.
“It’s all about creating an atmosphere that first functions properly because you want people to feel comfortable,” she says. “Something that keeps the air moving is always important. If it’s hot, you want to have a fan to create some kind of a breeze for people so they feel comfortable.”
A shaded landing spot is another non-negotiable. “If you can, definitely have a structure that you can sit under in case the weather turns,” Pultman says. “I have a pergola in my backyard.”
She also designs around the realities of a Missouri summer, recommending candles that double as mosquito and bug repellent. Just skip the harsh-smelling versions. “You want something that smells good,” she says.
Lancia agrees that comfort is a foundational design principle—not an afterthought.
“Shade is a worthwhile investment, even on a smaller scale,” she says. “A beautiful umbrella or parasol can completely change how often a space gets used during the summer.”
Material choice matters just as much, she adds. Wicker and wood stay cool to the touch, while metal chairs can absorb so much heat they become unusable by midafternoon.
“We try to avoid surfaces and furnishings that become uncomfortable in direct heat or require excessive maintenance,” Lancia says.
The ultimate goal: making the outdoors feel as livable as the room you just walked out of.
“Water features, fans, drapery, and softer lighting all help create a more relaxing atmosphere,” Lancia adds. “They make the outdoors feel more like an extension of the home rather than just a backyard.”
Layer in personality
Once the basics of comfort and function are in place, the fun begins.
“We encourage people to add softness and personality,” says Lancia. “Outdoor pillows, performance textiles, planters, and even a small fountain or fire feature can dramatically elevate the experience without requiring a full renovation.”
Lighting, she notes, is one of the most underused tools in a homeowner’s kit. Portable lamps, lanterns, and candles, layered together, instantly make an outdoor space feel intentional after sunset—rather than abruptly ending the party when the sun goes down.
Pultman builds continuity between her indoor and outdoor living spaces by treating them with the same thoughtfulness. Folding chairs, she says, are a no-go. “I don’t want it to feel haphazard.”
Match the food to the setting
Bringing the indoors out also means making it easy for guests to actually enjoy what’s being served.
“Make sure that the food you’re serving fits the environment,” Pultman says. “You can’t serve food to people standing up that they have to cut with a knife.”
For cocktail-style gatherings, food should be “easy to eat while mingling around and talking and visiting with other people.” For more formal setups, she recommends proper seating and place settings, so guests have everything they need for a full dining experience.
And the small details? Those are where the experience is made.
“I don’t make my guests drink wine out of a paper cup—it should look like a wine glass or feel like a wine glass, even if it’s plastic,” Pultman says. “I try to make everything feel like an experience, not just a meal outside.”
Quick takeaways for hosts
- Check the forecast before you set the table. Weight down anything light, and have a backup plan for sudden storms.
- Move the air. A standing fan or ceiling fan under a pergola can make a 90-degree evening feel ten degrees cooler.
- Invest in shade. A quality umbrella or parasol extends how often you’ll actually use the space.
- Choose cool-touch materials. Wicker and wood beat metal in full sun.
- Burn good-smelling bug-repellent candles. Atmosphere and mosquito control in one move.
- Layer your lighting. Lanterns, candles, and portable lamps replace harsh overheads after dark.
- Skip the folding chairs. Treat outdoor seating like indoor seating.
- Match the menu to the setup. Finger foods for mingling; proper plates and utensils for sit-down meals.
- Upgrade the drinkware. Even plastic stemware looks intentional.
Both designers agree that summer entertaining works best when comfort is built in from the start—when the space can adapt to midday heat and shifting weather without anyone scrambling. When it all comes together, the backyard stops feeling like a setup and starts feeling like another room of the house: one that’s made for living in all summer long.
