Easy Outdoor Summer Table Setting – Ideas & Tips
In this post I’m sharing easy outdoor summer table setting tips and ideas to help you mix and match for a beautiful and unique table.
It’s a safe bet to say that with summer at our doorsteps, many of us will be spending these warm months outdoors. Summer is a time for keeping things simple and uncomplicated, and in the words of George Gershwin “summertime, an’ the livin’ is easy”…as it should be to enjoy every minute of the day! Thanks to my friend Alicia of A Burst Of Beautiful for putting together a blog tablescape hop today.
My number one tip for setting a table is to always start with the flowers. Hurry, because in the late spring and early summer our favorite PEONIES are available and fleeting! When I think of an easy outdoor summer tablescape you’ll always find an abundance of fresh flowers that are generally accented with blue on the table.
Our outdoor garden space with the trestle table is my favorite place to dine whenever possible.
TAP IMAGES BELOW FOR PRODUCT INFO
Outdoor Summer Table Setting Tips
- Flowers First – head to your local grocery store or order on-line if you can’t find what you want or live remotely. My flowers were provided by Petal Driven. Alternately you can use faux and there are some excellent choices these days! You’ll find some of my favorite fauxs in THIS POST.
- Accent Advice – Now that you have your flowers you will have to decide on an accent color for your outdoor table centerpieces. I prefer a grouping that goes down the middle of the table and keep it low for conversation to flow freely.
- Carry On – Take the color of your flower arrangements and/or summer flower containers into the place settings. I chose blue, which is always a safe bet for summer and you can mix all shades without it looking strange.
The blue flower pots are from several sources that I’ve collaborated with in the past…HomeGoods, At Home Stores and Kirklands. I will add some similar shopping sources at the bottom of this post, so scroll for those! The blue bowls were handthrown by your’s truly and I use my own pottery on a daily basis in our home. Read more about that HERE and shop for similar items below.
While normally I’m not a huge proponent of paper or plastic, for outdoor living it can be mixed and matched to avoid breakage. The napkins are paper and the flatware and stemware are acrylic. Would you ever know that those wine glasses in this easy outdoor summer tablescape are plastic?! Definitely prevents issues, especially when the party starts to extend to the pool area.
*TIP*
If you use a tall vase, place this one at the end of your table so as not to block the view of guests.
And for outdoor table centerpieces that will last until (or after) dark…don’t forget the candles. There is always an ocean breeze where I live, so they need to be in a glass container. Mix and match and make sure that you have enough ambient light to give your outdoor summer table setting beautiful appeal. Remember (as always) there are no hard or fast rules, so be creative and think outside the box and just have fun. I hope that you feel inspired!
If you enjoy setting a summer table with a casual chic vibe, you’ll want to click over and see these posts too!
BEAUTIFUL AFFORDABLE WEDDING RECEPTION AT HOME
5 TIPS FOR A PINTEREST WORTHY TABLE SETTING
PRETTY IDEAS FOR DECORATING A TABLE
TAP IMAGES BELOW FOR PRODUCT INFO & TO SHOP THE POST
Be sure to visit my talented friends below for much more inspiration for your summer tables…
A Burst of Beautiful | Amber Tysl | Sincerely, Marie Designs | Clean and Scentsible
Maison de Cinq | Town and Country | The Happy Happy Nester | Anderson + Grant
My Sweet Savannah | Finding Silver Pennies | Taryn Whiteaker | The Wicker House
Shabbyfufu | She Holds Dearly | The Handmade Home | Caitlin Marie Design
Everything looks gorgeous! I love the table and would love to have lunch out there!!
Great tips Janet. My peonies have just started blooming. After reading this post you have me so inspired to host a dinner party.
The flowers are gorgeous!!! My peonies started blooming yesterday and last night there was a big storm. I’m a little afraid to go see what became of them!
Look forward to your site every day !
Thank you so much Sharon…I appreciate that more than you know! xo
My table settings have really stepped up since I started following you and Lori.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom and advice.
Your yard is beautiful and I LOVE that table!
Tho table setting is beautiful! Where did you get the pretty blue little votive candle with the decorative glass?
Thank you…and here is the link!
https://rstyle.me/+GZLr6K7FI4FTlSboh0a9wA
You always have the most beautiful outdoor table settings, friend! I just adore all of those pinks and blues. It looks like the perfect place to spend the summer season. Cheers!
All of your outdoor tables are so gorgeous Janet – and this one is no exception!! And we were definitely on the same wavelength with our blue and white ginger jars! 😉
Sure wish we lived closer and I could pop over and sit in this pretty yard of yours!
Sheila
xo
So pretty, love the ideas.
Beautiful style with exquisite taste! I love visiting your blog for inspiration.
Thank you, Janet.
Beautiful ideas!! Thanks for all the tips, your outdoor table is perfect!
Debbie
Such a beautiful setting for any outdoor entertaining.
Your table is stunning Janet! So much gogeous inspiration!
Well hello Jennifer…so glad that you like the table!
This is absolutely gorgeous, Janet! Your outdoor space is so lovely and inviting and the flowers are stunning! XO
Hi Janet, love your tablescape! It is amazing how many nice plastic tableware pieces there are in the market now. Looking beautiful but safe to have outdoors.
Just lovely!
Barb 🙂
Janet, your summery table is an inspiration! Love the peonies and the pretty blue vases. What a dream to live near the ocean breeze. Hope your day is bright!
Caitlin…I so appreciate that and thank you! xo
I LOVE all your colors! ABsolutely gorgeous!
Love the florals in this post, Janet! Your tip about putting taller vases at the end is so on point. We always think “centerpieces” need to be in the center, but the reality is that it needs to be practical, too. Pinning!
Love your ideas. I think fresh flowers are so important to a beautiful table.
Beautiful table! Thanks for the inspo, now to the store to buy flowers 😍 thanks for being part of the giveaway too 👍
So inspiring, I would like my guests to feel special with an outdoor table setting like this.
Always Lovely ideas… thank you.
So inviting! I would love to live where I could eat outdoors without the oklahoma heat and bugs! I need a cool mountain retreat!!
Love the flowers
Thank you for all the lovely ideas. I can’t wait to use them once the cool weather returns.
Love your ideas and your blog. Thank you for the chance. 🙂
During this most unusual summer, we have been spending most dinners eating outside on our patio. We have a short window for outdoor dining in Chicago! What great ideas to make every night special!
Home Style Saturdays bring such pops of color & joy to my weekend – your table setting is fabulous in both color & style!
Such a pretty tablescape…I so wish I had peonies.
Ahhh…did someone say blue? As in blue and white chinoiserie? I’m in! The setting is gorgeous. The vases, the peonies, the ACRYLIC GLASSES! Well done 🙂
Blue and white are a favorite of mine. I love the blue and white chairs that look really comfortable. Your flowers are beautiful.
Love the table and the blue and white.
Your tablescape is just beautiful. We are in the process of building a retainer wall and deck around our pool. I love the your table and will have to look into that when we are done. I too love peonies. I have one planted in a large container that bloomed for the first time this year. I could hardly contain myself.
Thank you for such beautiful ideas for our table!
Such a lovely table and blue and white never go out of style. We entertain often outside or at least did until this year. I can’t wait to be able to have friends and family over again and dine with them under the stars.
Love all the beautiful photos. Thank you for the inspiration.
You have such lovely tablescapes. I’m pinning for a pool party next month. Love the acrylic utensils! Thanks for the nice giveaway!
flowers. wild flowers in vases. everywhere. love~
There is NOTHING like fresh flowers !! We love breakfast out on the patio but with 116 temps here in Arizona its not doable.. But I sure can’t wait till November when the temps will be perfect !
This year we’ve developed a new appreciation for backyard dining. Love your tablescapes.
I enjoy all of your inspiring ideas. I love your out door tablescapes!
Beautiful tablescape & gorgeous flowers.
The foundation is your pea gravel and it is one of the things I remember most clearly about the only trip I took to France.
Your outdoor setting is lovely. Beautiful flowers and table setting. Such fun!
Somehow, I hadn’t thought to use candles outside. I have several, but I never burn them in the house because the smells bother me. I bet I’d enjoy them on the patio in the evenings. That sounds so cozy!
Thanks for the gorgeous pictures. Here in South Texas we don’t dine outside too much in the Summer due to the heat. Looking forward to some cool evenings in the Fall when we can do that again.
Love your table settings they are always so pretty. Peonies are one of my favorites too.
Your table settings are so beautiful! Those peonies are breathtaking!
Flowers And blue and white, a winning combination every.single.time! No matter where, no matter when.
I’m really enjoying the Homestyle Saturday series!! Thanks!
Lovely table settings with all those flowers.
Oooo those flowers are gorgeous! Peonies always remind me of summer.
Love this beautiful table but especially the mix of styles! So interesting, casual and inviting. Thanks for sharing.
Such a beautiful table! My small Peony plant still hasn’t bloomed yet! Thankfully I have roses I can use along with your other ideas. Enjoy your summer!
Janet,
With all the heat and humidity we have right now in Kansas, your outdoor table setting looks so refreshing and inviting. I love your tips especially the number one tip to start with flowers. If only peonies could stay in season longer!
Love the blue and white vases and things in the center of the table. And your bowls!! To be able to make something so lovely and then be able to use them! How very very nice. Thanks for all your ideas.
Love the blue and white on your beautiful weathered herringbone table. Thank you for Home Style Saturdays! I look forward to it each week. I have a PayPal account that I used infrequently before the pandemic but have found I am using it much more now. It makes me feel more secure when I order online from sites I am not familiar with. This has occurred more often as I hunt for hard to find items during this crazy time.
How lovely and inviting. The peonies are beautiful. Growing up my father planted them all along our back yard. A mass array of bright pink. In Indiana they “must” bloom by Memorial Day. They never failed to delight us.
Love the blue & white pots with the peonies.
Your table vignette is lovely. Everything always looks good with blue and white accents. Your tablescapes never fail to be inspiring. Such beautiful eye candy!
Johanna B.
Love that tip for the placement of a tall vase!! 🙂
That looks so pretty and loads of good ideas there. Thanks for the great ideas.
I like what you said about there is no hard or fast rules. It is about the time spent together! Your ‘flower moment’ was spot on when you created your summer table
setting. I can feel how your table setting would turn into an evening filled with enchantment. 🙂
Thank you for your tips and generous give-away, it all works. You got it going on Home Style Saturdays!
Lovely photos with all of the flowers and pretty blue and white vases!
What lovely ideas for your outdoor table settings ! While I do fresh flowers from our gardens inside, I rarely think to add them to our outdoor table. Also appreciate the reminder that it is just fine to use the good dishes and nice linens outdoors, my next gathering will look quite a bit nicer now.
Thank you for reminding me- during these tuff times of the beauty I can create, if I focus on what is possible and use the beautiful things I already own- including plastic and paper. Our local store has many lo t items at 75% off that would work lovely on our deck. We need the ge the beauty, now more than ever. I love flowers I did the house but needed to remember to take them outside also!
Thank you for inspiring joy.
Royster
What a wonderful assortment of inspiring ideas! I cannot wait to try them. Your trestle table is so nice. I wish I had one.
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing your great tips!
Oh to have an outdoor table and oh to have summer temps that allow you to dine outdoors. Alas, our whole last week temps averaged over 100.
These are beautiful! Now if the temperature would just cooperate!
Those wine glasses are acrylic! What?! I love your pottery and how you mixed it with white plates. I have very similar plates and will keep my eye out for some other pieces to mix with the place setting.
I just love the white ruffled edge plates! Blue and white are my favorite for decoration also. Just beautiful!
I love your tablescape! 😍 Those pink peonies are gorgeous, especially Pier 1 faux peonies. Your lovely trestle table is an interesting idea to place it outside in the weather. I might try that idea. Those white chairs are cute. This is so soothing to look at and to enjoy. Ahhh outdoor dining after 6 pm when the hot sun and temp starts to drop fabulous time to enjoy with friends and family.
The table setting is so chic and that table.. That table is perfection!
Love your tip about placing the large vase at the end of the table!
Glad you found that tip useful Elizabeth. That way you can still see everyone and enjoy having a large vase full of your favorite blooms!
SO beautiful, and your tips are really helpful! I definitely AM inspired! 🙂 Thanks so much Janet!