Steve Cordony’s Secrets to Outdoor Entertaining

Outdoor hosting isn’t just about laying out a table and hoping for the best. It’s about creating a mood, a memory, and that magical sense of ease where guests linger long after the last glass of wine is poured.

To crack the code, we turned to Steve Cordony — interior stylist, tastemaker, and our brand ambassador, who knows a thing or two about designing spaces that feel as good as they look.

From flow to must-have outdoor furniture, Steve shares his secrets to hosting outdoors in style.

Steve Cordony’s tips for stylish alfresco entertaining

Setting the scene for stylish outdoor hosting

For Steve, it all starts with the location. Hosting outdoors doesn’t only mean sticking to one designated spot — it’s about reimagining your space for the occasion.

“Think about what suits the theme and style of the moment you want to create at home,” he says. “Maybe you move the dining table from the terrace to the lawn, or the lounge seats by the pool. It instantly creates a new mood for your guests.”

In other words: don’t be afraid to play furniture Tetris. If space allows, shifting key pieces into unexpected places keeps gatherings feeling fresh, even if your guest list is on repeat.

Alfresco dining, styled like the indoors

Styling an alfresco dining area, according to Steve, follows the same playbook as styling an interior. Layout comes first — it dictates everything else.

“Work out what configuration you think suits the flow of the space, and from there add your furniture pieces and accompaniments,” he explains. From there, the magic happens in the details: layered cushions, soft furnishings, textured tableware.

The secret? Treat your outdoor table the way you’d treat your coffee table or dining room setup. Same textural layering, same eye for detail; just swap parquet for pavers, and your lounge backdrop for the open sky.

Creating a seamless indoor–outdoor flow

If your living space feels like one world and your backyard another, your guests will feel the divide too. For Steve, flow is the bridge that connects the two.

“The style of furniture and the colour palette are the two most important elements to think about when creating synergy between inside and out,” he says.

The trick is simple but powerful: mirror your indoor aesthetic outdoors. If your living room leans coastal with sandy neutrals, carry that palette onto the patio. If your interiors are sleek and contemporary, your outdoor furniture should echo those lines. 

It’s about continuity — the same rhythm playing across different instruments.

Balancing beauty and function in outdoor furniture

Here’s the eternal dilemma: you want pieces that are built to withstand sun, rain, and the occasional wine spill, but you don’t want to sacrifice style. 

Steve insists you don’t have to.

“There are so many incredible functional fabrics, wicker, and timbers available now for outdoor use which don’t compromise on the aesthetic but are functional, durable, and will last, especially in the Australian climate,” he explains.

Translation: you can have your sculptural lounge setting and sit on it too. Just look for outdoor materials designed for durability but finished with elegance. When chosen well, functional furniture isn’t a compromise — it’s a flex.

According to Steve Cordony: What’s trending in outdoor design

Design, like fashion, has its seasons. According to Steve, colour is moving in a richer, warmer direction.

“The continued trends of rich, deep dusty shades of brown, ochre and rust are still dominating colour trends,” he says. Pair these tones with tactile materials like wicker, ceramic, velvet, linen, and bouclé, and you get a look that feels current yet timeless.

Think of it as a wardrobe refresh for your patio: earthy tones and layered textures that speak to now, but will still look sharp a few summers down the line.

Steve’s must-have outdoor hosting essentials

If you’re starting from scratch, what should you invest in first? Steve’s shortlist keeps it practical yet stylish:

• A great teak outdoor dining setting, which is the foundation for any gathering
  
  

• A wicker or rattan lounge setting for laid-back moments
  
  

• Hurricane lamps or outdoor lighting to set the mood after sundown
  
  

• A bar cart (his pick: the Rio Bar Cart) to keep drinks within reach
  
  

• Outdoor covers, because style is nothing if it doesn’t last

Consider it your alfresco starter pack — equal parts functional, inviting, and ready for entertaining.

Bringing style and soul to outdoor entertaining

At its core, outdoor entertaining is more than outdoor furniture placement or trending colours. It’s about flow, atmosphere, and the small details that make guests feel like they’re part of something special.

Steve Cordony’s secret? Treat your outdoor spaces with the same care as your interiors, but give them room to breathe under the open sky. Create continuity, embrace texture, and above all, design for living — because the best gatherings aren’t staged, they’re lived.