Celebrate the holiday weekend right!
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Labor Day is only a few days away, so now is the time to take advantage of the holiday sales and last-minute deals to ensure you have everything you need to celebrate the long weekend. To give you an extra hand, model Ashley Graham and interior designer Mikel Welch teamed up with Affirm to share their tips on finding the best Labor Day decorations, exactly how to set up your outdoor space, and more.
"Mix staple pieces with more affordable items," Graham tells House Beautiful. She also recommends investing in pieces you'll have for years to come like an outdoor sectional and accent tables. Plus, as a mom of three, the style star is all about easy-to-clean, versatile furniture. All in all, the goal of her summer party is to give her friends and family time to sit back and enjoy. "I just want everyone to have fun, and not worry about what we're wearing, or the stresses in the world today," she says. "Let's relax and enjoy some food and drinks."
Ready to put together a setup of your own with Graham and Welch-approved must-buys? Scroll through a list of essentials you can use for Labor Day and beyond!
Every outdoor party needs generous seating, so this sectional was splurge-worthy for Graham. "We used Affirm to buy this piece because it was quite pricey, and we can pay for it over time," she shares.
Graham owned one of these side tables in her NYC apartment and brought it to her new outdoor space in New Jersey. "I love the Middle Eastern Morrocan feel of it that doesn't scream the style," she explains. "It was an investment piece that was multi-functional and could work both indoors/outdoors."
When you're hosting, Graham suggests dividing up the food throughout your backyard so everyone can mingle while they eat.
"Darling, everyone remembers what the food and the drinks looked like and how they felt," Welch added. According to these two, a folding table is ideal because it's sturdy and can easily be stored away once the party is over.
In addition, Ashley loves games and activities to keep everyone entertained. "You have to have corn hole, and I have multiple boards because it gets competitive at my house," she mentions.
It's a great way to get the kids involved, too. Graham's oldest son loves to play games. "Issac really loves to play Jenga, so I got this giant tower game that sits on the ground and he can play with it," she says. "Hopefully, after a few drinks, the adults will join in too."
When it comes to her tablescape, Graham keeps it simple. "We don't do the fancy schmancy charcuterie boards, we are definitely paper plates people that are composite friendly," she emphasizes.
Don't overlook the critical detail of where your guests will throw away their trash. "We use chic trash and recycling cans, so you don't even notice them," according to Ashley.
For shade and in case it rains, Graham always has a tent handy. "So people have another place of refuge from the sun beside the patio," she says. This pop-up gazebo is big enough to hold up to 12 guests, and a dining table and chairs can easily fit underneath.
"The littles will have their own personal tent," Ashley shares. This teepee is an affordable purchase all kids will love.
"The kids also get their blow-up pool station too. It's a big over-the-top inflatable pool from Amazon," Graham says with excitement. There's no doubt your place will be a hit if you have water-filled fun in your backyard.
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