How to Decorate an Outdoor Table

Decorate a picnic table for a summer party.

If you are planning an outdoor birthday bash, casual summer get-together or fancy reception, decorate the table with fresh and colorful pieces. Use the sky, grass, the beach, a garden, flowers and other nature-inspired elements as inspiration when choosing a color palette and decor theme. Combine elegant pieces, such as vintage crystal vases, with cotton and other relaxed materials. Save money by using items from your own garden as simple-yet-stunning centerpiece items.

Things You'll Need

• Outdoor table
• Tablecloth
• Centerpiece items
• Lighting elements
• Place setting decor

Instructions

1. Cover the outdoor table with a crisp cotton tablecloth for a casual look. Add a pop of color to the party space with a cherry red, lemon yellow or ocean-inspired turquoise cloth. Choose a tablecloth to coordinate with the party theme, such as a seashell-patterned cloth for a beach-inspired bash.

2. Create a rustic, nature-inspired centerpiece. Use your flower or vegetable garden as decor inspiration. Place a basil or lavender plant in a galvanized tin bucket or a terra-cotta pot. Fill a blue or green glass vase with fresh-cut roses or tulips. Place sand and seashells in a brightly colored plastic sand bucket. Use a wood bowl filled with vibrant lemons, limes and oranges as a simple and budget-friendly centerpiece. Set sunflower-inspired cupcakes on a tiered antique wire stand; the centerpiece will double as dessert.

3. Illuminate the outdoor table. Hang exotic-looking Chinese paper lanterns on overhead tree branches; use an extension cord if the table is far from a power source. Display a mix of colorful votives in glass holders and citronella candles on the table to keep insects away. Place bamboo tiki lights in the ground surrounding the table.

4. Design fresh-looking place settings. Roll clean bandannas to create country-inspired cloth napkins; use simple tin napkin holders. Fill vintage tea cups with tea lights and place one by each place setting to create a romantic, tea party-inspired look. Place pastel-hued sugar in individual crystal sugar bowls for a summer soiree.

References

• Martha Stewart: Outdoor Decorating Details