Creating Outdoor Dining Experiences: From Casual to Elegant
Your patio, deck and balcony are extensions of your home, which is why more homeowners are interested in creating outdoor dining areas. The goal is to make your dinner guests feel just as comfortable as if they were seated around the table in your dining room, but with the added visual interest of the outdoors. The key to success for your outdoor dining experience is making it all look practically seamless.
Casual Patio Dining Ideas
Whether you are planning a gathering for two or ten, putting together a casual dinner experience for the patio is foundational for making your guests feel at home. With this in mind, let’s start with choosing al fresco dining furniture.
For many people, a casual gathering may equate with a Fourth of July vibe. Guests will be expecting a laid-back atmosphere, so why not start with relaxing chairs like our Classic Adirondack pieces? These come in a variety of colors and sizes that are suitable for adults and kids.
People relaxing in these chairs my not want to stretch forward to set their food on a coffee table. Therefore, side table designs like our St. Charles or modern tables will be more functional and convenient.
Even still, you may have guests who prefer to balance their dinner plates on their laps and reserve the side tables for their drinks. In this case, be sure to have plates that are either sturdy disposable plates or ceramic plates. Continue the casual dining ambiance with plastic silverware, colorful napkins, traditional canned and bottled drinks, and fun drinking straws. For an extra note of fun, you may want to incorporate some music in the background.
When it comes to casual dining, hotdogs, hamburgers, potato salad, fruit salad, chips and dips are a favorite option for many. Depending on how much patio space you have available, it may be more prudent to set out the self-serve line inside the home and then have guests take their food outside for dining.
All of these elements can come together to give your guests a fabulous, casual outdoor dining experience they won’t soon forget.
Elegant Garden Dining Ideas
If you are hoping to make the theme of your evening more like an elegant outdoor soiree, we have some suggestions to help you do just that.
For fancier outdoor gatherings, guests will likely be dressed in more tailored clothing that requires posher seating arrangements. Some of our pieces that may be best for this type of gathering include:
- Oxford Benches. These beautiful pieces of furniture are designed to seat up to two people and have an attractive old-world charm about them. They come in both white and neutral colors and pair nicely with one of our Boston outdoor coffee tables.
- Cushioned Outdoor Rope Chairs. These cushioned chairs are made for comfort and come in neutral colors that lend themselves to elegant settings. The sides of the chairs feature a crisscross rope design which adds an element of visual interest.
- Outdoor Rope Chairs. These come in dark and light neutral colors and feature a tightly woven rope seat and elegantly curved back also made of rope.
- Bar Chairs. Perfect for a crowd, our bar chairs are ideal for hosting a crowd. These stools pair beautifully with our mini round bar tables and square tables.
Since elegant outdoor dining furniture sets have seating that surrounds tables, upscale tableware is needed. Whether you use fine China or your finest ceramic dishes, both would be an excellent addition to your dining table. Pair these items with your good silverware, cloth napkins, and glass stemware for a gorgeous, inviting place setting.
Turn on some classical music to elevate the ambiance you’ve created. Stringing some lights around your outdoor dining area would be a nice touch as well.
Bring the Beauty of Nature to Your Outdoor Spaces with Elegant Outdoor Table Settings
Whether you choose to have a casual or more elegant outdoor dining party, the seating and tableware are only part of the equation. Add some additional interest to the table by adding a touch of nature and classic beauty.
Some popular items you may want to incorporate into your table arrangements include:
- Votives
- Taper candles
- Crystal vases
- Mason jars
- Lanterns
- Candlesticks
- Wine bottles as vases
- Fresh cut flowers (Hydrangea, Roses, Lillies, Daisies, Peonies)
- Greenery (eucalyptus, ivy, baby’s breath)
- Pinecones
- Lemons and limes
If you are using multiple side tables versus a main outdoor dining table, remember to keep your centerpieces scaled to size. You will need space for the centerpiece and for guests’ drinks. Smaller items like a test tube vase for a single flower and/or a votive may be best for these spaces. Checkered tablecloths may be an option for more casual settings, and linen tablecloths are more appropriate for elegant settings.
When using large tables, bigger centerpieces can work. Particularly for furniture like the Boston coffee table, tablecloths are not needed as the design of the table alone is a beautiful presentation. Centerpieces for larger tables might include a shallow wooden rectangle dish that features multiple vases, flowers, and greenery. If there is enough room, adding a few votive candles may be a nice touch as well.
Whether you are creating outdoor dining experiences for hosting guests, or for simply enjoying meals outside with the family, make stylish and comfortable furniture a priority. Start by planning the kind of atmosphere you want, then purchase the furniture and begin setting up your new outdoor dining area. Whether you prefer a casual vibe or a more elegant setting, take time to lay the groundwork and the effort will be worth every memory made.
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