Dining Al Fresco? Give These Outdoor Table Setting Ideas a Try
Don't forget the SPF.
Summer is here, which means al fresco dining season is officially open. Whether you're dining on your deck, patio or even at a picnic in the park, eating outside is the perfect opportunity to bring in fun, colourful dinner sets and serveware while focusing on items that are lightweight, multipurpose, and (most importantly) shatterproof. Here are the outdoor dining essentials that will have you ready to enjoy warm weather and good food all spring and summer long.
Start with a Lightweight but Large Tray
The trick to outdoor dining, unless you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor kitchen, is minimising the number of trips you take from kitchen to garden and back again. The solution? A large lightweight tray that lets you stack as much as possible in a single trip. Plates, cutlery, a pitcher, cups, napkins – everything.
The 'no glass allowed in the pool area' should really apply to all outdoor spaces. If you’ve ever dropped a wine glass on a brick patio, we're sure you’ll agree. Fortunately, there are sleek and strong plastic wine glasses that look equally as sophisticated as their delicate counterparts but can stand up to drops, spills and even the dishwasher.
Spring and summer make every day an occasion for fun outdoor dining, so use that opportunity to bring colour into your al fresco table. Acrylic drinkware is lightweight, sturdy and ideal for sipping an iced drink on a hot day. It won’t weigh you down as you’re transporting items from outside and is unlikely to break if dropped on the floor.
A pitcher is a necessity for two reasons. First, it’s functional when there’s not an easy-to-access tap outside. Second, it’s another way to bring in colour and a pop of fun design. Bonus: Freeze fruit in ice cubes for a summery touch.
Tip: More guests than originally planned? Then skip the pitcher and set up your very own garden bar.
Melamine is Your Best Friend
Think about how heavy your dishes are when you stack them to carry from the dishwasher to the cabinet, or how easily they chip. Not ideal for hauling outside, right? This is where melamine dishware and serveware is key. You can throw it all on a tray or in a tote and go from point A to point B without a chipped dish in sight.
Add Bright Placemats & Napkins
Placemats outside? Why not? During hayfever season, when everything is covered in a blanket of pollen, even your best efforts don’t always completely clean your outdoor dining table. Bring out plastic placemats for a more streamlined look than a plastic tablecloth – but with the same surface-protecting purpose. Plus, you won’t feel bad stretching the 5-second rule when a bite drops onto the placemat instead of the table. Also, paper napkins are convenient when you’re setting an outdoor table, but who says you can’t pull out your nice linens just because you’re dining outside? Choose colourful napkins for something that screams spring and summer.
When dining inside, it’s easy to set out multiple bowls for nuts and nibbles; charcuterie boards and trays of varying sizes; and serving dishes for every item. If you’re transporting everything to your outdoor deck or patio, things get a little more complicated.
Utilise another large tray to arrange a charcuterie board along with a few small bowls and leave them there. Don’t worry about rearranging them on your table; just keep them on the tray for easy serving and cleanup.
Tip: Ensure that your food stays fresher for longer by opting to use a cool bag. Our guide to picnic bags and ice chests should help you determine which is best for you.
Bonus Items: Drink Dispenser and Cutlery Caddy
Want to go even further with your outdoor dining setup? A drink dispenser is always a hit, especially when you have one for both iced tea and lemonade. And while a cup works just fine, a flatware caddy elevates your presentation to the next level.
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Heather Bien is a US-based blogger, interior stylist and design writer.
