When planning summer fun with friends, your first ideas likely include a get-together on the lake or beach, a cookout, or a party at the pool. While it is common to associate summer with spending time outdoors, there are multiple ways to treat friends to indoor entertainment. At the same time, you beat the Phoenix heat inside your Arboretum apartment. With some planning and preparation, you can host an indoor summertime gathering your guests will not forget quickly.

How to Make the Most of Indoors this Summer

To set the stage for summer entertaining, hundreds of ways you can transform your home into a hot weather retreat.

Here are a few apartment-friendly tips that will help you to create an easy, breezy atmosphere for entertaining during summer:

• Keep various fresh fruits on hand and choose some new summer recipes for refreshing smoothies and mixed drinks. (Bonus points for adding the little umbrellas.)
• Let in more natural light by changing dark or heavy curtains to lighter, sheer panels.
• Fill tart warmers with summer-related scents such as coconut, beachy, or fruity.
• Create a summer music playlist to set the mood while you entertain.
• Serve seasonal snacks and appetizers using fresh summer veggies. Vegetable pizza is always a favorite.

Hosting Family & Friends During the Heatwave

Once your pad is prepped and ready for guests, planning some fun indoor games and activities is time. A casual wine tasting is a perfect idea if your guests are wine drinkers. Have guests bring along a bottle of their favorite wine and serve it with various labeled cheeses. For guests who prefer to skip the alcohol, have each guest bring their favorite summer dessert, serve them to guests and have them vote for a winner. Some popular (and hilarious!) indoor game ideas are murder mysteries, karaoke, and of course, charades. Buy a few inexpensive, small prizes to award the game-winners. A coffee mug, tumbler, or bottle of wine are lovely prizes any guest would appreciate.