Finally my favourite time of the year is here and it is especially magical in Scandinavia. The long summer evenings and midsummer nights are the perfect time for an outdoor dinner party. I love arranging dinner parties, or a party around a table. It can be a breakfast, brunch or a barbecue. And the best thing with it are all the opportunities for decorating, so here are the top 5 essentials for setting a perfect summer table.
1. Flexible seating
The key difference with seating in the summer, is that it will obviously involve spending more time outside. This means that people will often have more space to move around, for example at a barbecue. Due to their setting, summer parties can also sometimes feel much more casual than other seasons. Therefore, you can try to mix things up – consider replacing chairs with cushions, adding a low table with bench or perhaps even some different chairs to compliment this setting.
2. Use the garden and nature to decorate
A really great way to set a summer table is to use what’s around you. Try decorating the table with freshly cut flowers. The flowers do not need to be perfect looking, actually a natural look with flowers picked from a field can be really charming and creates a relaxed look that works very well on a summer table. If you do not have access to flowers, you can also use an assortment of greenery. Dare to mix different colours and different textures – let the colours inspire you to bring in other items that compliment.
3. Lanterns and Candles
Candles and especially lanterns, since they also work outdoors, are a brilliant way to add height to decorations on the table. It is also a brilliant way to create atmosphere for the table. An outdoor summer table with lanterns can also make a great transition from day to night and help to transition the dinner party when the evening turns.
4. Mix and match all items
Because often creating a summer table can be for more relaxed and casual scenarios, mixing and matching plates, cutlery, glassware or napkins is a great way to create this atmosphere. You can also mix and match pillows, blankets, table cloths in different colours. Try to find a mix that gives balance to the eye. Mix the items in an even way across the table to create symmetry, depth and structure.
5. Overhead lighting
A really easy and great way to make the table special, is to simply hang or string fairy lights over the table. Strung lights do not need to be expensive to buy and can be found in most retail stores. Try to make the lighting go over the entire table and make them hang around 1.5 – 2.5 meter over the table to create a more intimate environment.
Summer tables are a brilliant way to test out your creativity and try new things you can’t normally do. How will you decorate your summer table?
