Summertime is a great time to hold an outdoor party. Instead of heating up your house by turning on the oven, you can cook everyone’s favorite summer dishes outdoors on the grill. You can invite families to bring their kids and let them play in the yard without worrying that they’ll damage your breakables in the house. Outdoor activities such as swimming and playing backyard games like horseshoes can provide everyone with some fun diversions for an afternoon or evening.
But what happens when it rains unexpectedly or when a heat-sensitive guest needs to get out of the sun for a while? Opening up your garage and making it part of the party area can improve your party in a number of ways and help you deal with unexpected changes in the plan. Take a look at some tips to help you get ready for a summer garage party.
Declutter and Set Up
When you plan your party, give yourself enough lead time to get your garage ready. You’ll want to get rid of any clutter and move things out of the way so you have plenty of room for guests, tables, and chairs. Your garage is one of the biggest rooms in your house, so you can easily move the entire party there if you need to, as long as you make the space first.
A garage that’s been used to store old clothes, cardboard boxes, and other miscellanea can take on a musty odor. You can get rid of the smell by washing down the walls and floor. Make sure any chemicals you keep in the garage are tightly capped and stored safely out of reach of children. Stack items that you can’t get rid of or move out of the garage along one wall, and cover them with brightly colored tarps or vinyl tablecloths. Then you can bring in tables and chairs and decorate with strings of lights, banners, and other party staples.
Consider Installing a Roll-Up Screen
One way to make sure that your garage is ready for a summer party is to install a roll-up garage door screen. This allows you to open the garage door to let in sunlight and air, but keep help keep bugs and other pests at bay. This makes your garage the perfect place for a buffet table – guests can get their food without being pestered by mosquitoes and lovebugs.
A screen can also help cut down on the glare from the sun. While light will still make its way in, a good screen will increase the amount of shade in the garage. Long periods of high summer temperatures can be too much for seniors, small children, or people who are simply more sensitive to heat. You can make your garage into a cool, shady place where your guests can rest and hydrate until they’re ready to rejoin the fun outside.
Practice Garage Safety
Serving food in the garage is a great idea, but cooking in the garage is not. If your outdoor party involves cooking on a charcoal, gas, or propane grill, make sure to move the grill a safe distance outside of the garage. Bring the food into the garage on a serving platter once it’s cooked. If it rains and you can’t cook on the grill outside, you’ll need to cook the food in the kitchen instead.
When you prepare properly, bring in helpful accessories, and keep safety in mind, your summer garage parties will be a big hit with your friends and neighbors. For more helpful garage ideas, get a free design consultation and estimate. 
