Summer’s Here and the Time is Right for Setting a Pretty Summer Outdoor Table

Today I’m joining five fabulous friends to chat about setting a pretty summer outdoor table and all things outdoor entertaining. Follow my one and done approach to creating a simple summer outdoor table setting that can be used on repeat – with minimal variation – all summer long.

Hello friends! Summer’s – almost – here and the time is right for setting a pretty summer outdoor table.

All products and links included in this post are selected by me and some may be affiliate links.

Image Jessica Brydson Photography

If you’ve followed me for a while you know that I’m a less-is-more in all things decor … and entertaining. Mostly because I’m not very good at it and keeping it simple makes it less stressful and minimizes the things that can go wrong. I apply this approach to my summer outdoor table setting.

Let’s talk about the table ~

At the beginning of the summer season I like to create an outdoor table setting that can be used on repeat – with minimal variation – all summer long. This one and done approach works for a casual evenings at home – just me and Jim – or for a hosting a bigger group of friends and family. And I use many of the same components year after year.

I won’t be doing much any summer entertaining this year. We recently sold our house, Snowberry, and moved to at pied-à-terre downtown while we build our new house nearby. So let’s talk about last year’s summer table setting and how I might switch things up this year if we were in our old – or new – home.

It’s tempting to buy new things, but before doing any shopping rummage through your cupboards to see what you already have. And what do you know, most of the time you’ll have everything your need to set a pretty outdoor table and are free to splurge on fresh flowers. Of course it’s fun to add something new to the table for the season and I swung through Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn yesterday to have a look see at their summer outdoor table accoutrement. Several things caught my eye and are interspersed throughout.

Get your table started with a pretty tablecloth, runner or placemats … or use a combination. I’ve been using this cotton block print tablecloth for a couple of years. It gives me a ton of options for napkin and flower colors.

I’m so invested in my green and white color scheme that I purchased green cordless lamps and added these raffia lamp shades.

I love a layered table and this is one area where I leave my less-is-more philosophy behind. Depending on the size of your table you may have to show some restraint in order to leave room for wine bottles (and, of course, nice wine bottle coasters), bread baskets … and platters of food. Our table isn’t big and I like to set up a buffet style table elsewhere on the patio or inside.

Image Jessica Brydson Photography

Woven elements adds a little texture and interest to the table … wicker, jute, water hyacinth, etc. placemats are very pretty. I bought these round jute placemats last year when we extended our table to seat 12 … they’re very similar to the set of eight I bought elsewhere years ago. Also, wicker or cane wrapped glasses, pitchers, vessels, and bowls … and on and on … add a little extra something something.

Speaking of adding interest and texture, bamboo or tortoise flatware is beautiful. It can also be an investment but one that will bring enjoyment for years to come. Flatware with wood or colorful handles can also be fun. This bamboo set I found at Pottery Barn is beautiful and well priced (on clearance).

Note: A set of good steak knives, like Lagouile, makes life easier on everyone and spares them the embarrassment of breaking into a sweet like they’re attempting to butcher an over-done brontosaurus.

With my green and white theme napkin color choices are endless. I lean toward lighter shades of green, corals, light pinks, and of course white. I change up the napkin color each time I set the table. Yesterday I picked up four more oversized linen napkins so I have a set of 12.

Same goes for flowers. I love soft pinks and bright corals, but work with what’s available at my local grocery store or Trader Joe’s. Since I’m not much of a flower arranger I find that keeping arrangements on the smaller side makes it easier for me to cobble something together like looks decent.

After years of experimenting with colorful and patterned dishes, I’ve paired back my dish collection and default to white (Aspen Rimmed from Crate and Barrel). Same goes for serving platters and bowls and I’ve accumulated quite a collection of platters and bowls. They come from Hudson Grace, Crate and Barrel, Target, and Home Goods. The beauty of white serving pieces is that no matter where they come from … or the price point … they look like a lovely and cohesive set.

I enjoy getting mixy matchy with glasses … an elegant wine glass paired with a casual water glass or visa versa. I steer away from stemmed – or delicate – wine glasses outdoors and use my sturdier Heartland wine glasses … paired with these Moroccan tumblers. Last year I tried to use the Heartland glasses for water and Moroccan tumblers for wine, but Jim got confused … and irritated. I told him, calm down. This is a casual dinner party, not brain surgery. Precision tools aren’t required.

These Moroccan pitchers for great for water, I use one at each end of the table. And I love Riedel O stemless wine glasses for outside.

I’m so tempted to buy these textured glasses I saw at Crate and Barrel.

Lighting and music are arguably the most crucial components to creating a fun and relaxed dinner party vibe. Candles – flamed or flameless – and cordless lamps or a combination of both create a pretty evening glow and atmosphere. Overhead cafe lights and lanterns (with flameless pillars) placed around the patio enhance the ambiance.

These cute woven and raffia lampshades elevate and soften the look of a cordless lamp.

These brass finished lanterns are stunning. And these LED solar lanterns are pretty cool.

Good music is essential to creating a great dinner party vibe. I’m partial to Yacht Rock, don’t judge. You know your audience. It’s easy to create playlists or take advantage of the endless playlists available on Spotify and other streaming services. Downloading celebrity curated playlists can be fun.

Image Jessica Brydson Photography

I use my regular plates and glasses outside dining, but melamine plates are a great option especially if there are small children involved or a pool nearby. I saw several beautiful sets today, including this faux bamboo trimmed option and this faux beau set and serving pieces.

If you’re hosting a larger group, batch drinks are a great idea and better yet you can serve them in the prettiest drink dispensers. A few caught my eye yesterday, this natural wood base at Crate and Barrel is gorgeous!

And these woven bases. The Capitola base at Pottery Barn and the stainless and wicker Amici stand at Crate and Barrel. The Amici ice bucket, wine chiller, and cocktail shaker have me swooning too.

Even the warmest summer days can get chilly at night. It’s nice to keep a basket of throw blankets nearby. Or toss them over the backs of guests chairs so they don’t have to get up in search of the jackets they arrived in. Mix and match the throws you have, when your guests are shivering they won’t care what color their respite comes in. My Serena & Lily throws are no longer available, but these are very similar.

Image Jessica Brydson Photography

Last year I shared my go-to al fresco dinner menu here as well as outdoor dinner party tips and tricks from a stylist. Which reminds me …

Last but not least keep your outdoor summer table insect-free with this easy trick. Spear a hot dog on a skewer and place it over a shallow dish of slightly soapy water. Hide it behind a shrub – or anywhere several yards from the table. It works like a charm, particularly for those darned al fresco spoiler yellow jackets. Don’t forget to retrieve the dish and empty it at the end of the night … or next morning.

So there you have it, my tried, true, and variable summer outdoor table setting. I hope it gives you a few ideas for creating your own. See my summer table on Instagram here.

Let’s visit my friends to see how they’re setting a pretty summer outdoor table.

As always, I appreciate you for taking the time to read my latest dispatch. If you’re new here, welcome! You can sign up here to have new posts delivered hot off the press direct to your inbox. Each Saturday morning I post a weekly round up of inspirations and goings-on, with one to two additional posts – like this one – each month related to love of home, style and travel. If you’d like to follow me on Instagram at @makemineaspritzer I’d love that too!