The weather is warm and the days are long–it’s the perfect time of year to bring your poker night outside. There are a lot of advantages to hosting an outdoor poker night on the deck: the rest of the family won’t be disturbed by your gathering, clean up is minimal, and best of all, you’ll have easy access to the grill during your game. The following tips will help you plan the perfect poker night.

Keep it Clean  — Before your gathering, be sure your deck is ready. A quick sweep with a broom and wipe down of patio furniture can do wonders for your outdoor space. If dirt and mildew has accumulated on your deck, DeckMax Deck Cleaner will wash it away, making the space more inviting for your guests.

Keep it Simple  — The star of the night is the poker game so keep everything else simple. Handheld foods are easy to eat while playing cards so consider grilling brats or hotdogs instead of steak or chicken. Other outdoor poker night fare should be easy to grab and eat, serving as snacks for the entire evening. Try munchies such as spiced nuts, flavored pretzels, chips, cookies or bars, and raw vegetables.

Keep it Cool  — Besides keeping your money, keeping beverages cool will be the other challenge of the evening. Whether you are serving soda, beer, wine, or bottled water, the easiest solution is to fill a cooler or tub with ice and pack in the drinks.  Or, put a DIY spin on it with this classy cooler stained to match your deck.

Keep it Going  —  With daylight lasting well into the evening hours, you may not need to worry much about lighting. But if your game will keep going after the sun goes down, Tiki torches, or rope lighting will ensure that you can see your hand, even after sunset.  Be sure to grab a few citronella candles or nature’s own mosquito repellent, lemongrass, to ward the bugs away.

If you need help getting your deck company ready, check out the products and services DeckMax offers or contact us to maximize the beauty of your PVC deck.

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