From casual cookouts and gatherings to formal parties and outdoor games, summer plays host to all sorts of events — and so do your residents. While residents are taking full advantage of your outdoor amenities, you’ll need to pay extra attention to these spaces during the warm months. Making sure your outdoor and communal spaces stay clean, fresh and safe during the summer is imperative to keeping your residents happy as they enjoy all that this season (and your community) has to offer!

If your outdoor spaces could use a little lift, or if you’re already thinking about next year, we’ve gathered up some summertime eye candy to help you get inspired about how your property can shine all year long.

Cool color and warm lights

An exciting pop of color makes the outdoor seating area at M Lofts in Los Angeles feel hip and chic, while the string lights give it a special glow that makes it the perfect spot for entertaining.

Gathering places

When you live in the Southwest, you can take advantage of outdoor living spaces year round. At the Avion on Legacy in Phoenix, the covered lounge next to the pool is a comfortable place for residents to gather. The clusters of seating both inside and out make it easy for multiple groups to enjoy an evening together.

Dining together

The barbecue cabana at Carabella at Warner Center Apartments in Woodland Hills, California, provides a shady spot for a cookout. Packed with tons of seating, the space can accommodate groups of all sizes for many types of occasions.

Playtime

Creating play spaces gives residents the chance to have fun in the sun while fostering their sense of community. The bocce ball court at Woodfield South Point in Charleston, South Carolina, allows players to take down the opposition or enjoy a break together and relax in the shade.

Green thumbs

The community garden at Brunsfield North Loop in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a tranquil spot for residents to meet and share in their passion for plants during the summer harvest. A community garden is a simple way for residents to put down roots at your community.