Whether you are hosting a sunny brunch or a more formal evening soiree, there’s no question that the outdoors is the perfect place to entertain during early summer months. Caroline McDonald from the Ballard Designs team is sharing her tried-and-true tips for creating an enchanting outdoor table that will draw your guests in. Caroline manages the inspirational content for the Ballard Designs blog, so take a look at the gorgeous tables below then use her tips to create a look that is uniquely yours!
1. When setting a table from scratch, what is the first element you decide upon? Do you start with one inspiration piece and go from there?
I always start with an inspiration piece—that could be a tablecloth, dinnerware pattern, or, oftentimes, whatever flowers look best at the store. When entertaining outside, you should always consider what’s blooming in your yard.
On this table for example, the blue-and-white pattern of our melamine is the perfect jumping off point. From there, I’d try to pick up the dark browns in the bamboo accent with maybe some bamboo flatware or woven placemats. Though the greenery looks great here, I would also opt for blue-and-white flowers like hydrangeas, or anything bright yellow. Use complementary colors to your advantage—or colors across from each other on the color wheel.
2. Do you have any tips on flowers/greenery?
I have so many flower tips! Where to start? My best tip is to use a floral frog, or if you don’t have a frog, a piece of chicken wire about 10×10 inches can be molded to fit almost any container. It’ll help your blooms stay in place and makes grocery store flowers look like they came from a florist!
You definitely don’t want your flowers to be too tall, so I usually like to use a low, wide-mouth bowl.
Another trick I’ve used that can be really charming is to group bunches of herbs in small cups down the center of the table. The smell is amazing, and it feels more laid-back than a floral centerpiece. I’ll do bunches of basil, rosemary, mint, and sage.
For an outdoor table, a few small potted plants clustered in the center of your table can be an easy way to entertain on the fly. Plant a few small pots, and your centerpiece is ready on a moment’s notice.
3. What is the best way to tastefully mix and match plates, linens, etc.?
Color is a great way to mix and match without going overboard, especially when it comes to dinnerware. Let’s take blue and white. You can mix almost any blue-and-white pattern together, add in a coordinating tablecloth, and then accent with a solid napkin in a color that perks everything up. I love yellows and hot pinks with navy!
We’re big believers in mixing and matching patterns, so much so that many of our collections have already done the hard work for you. We’ve paired a small geometric print with a large botanical watercolor.
If you’re mixing and matching from scratch, here’s a great rule: one large print, one small print, and one stripe.
4. We’ve heard that more is more regarding dinnerware. What is your take?
It depends entirely on your occasion and your personal style. If you’re a maximalist, then go to town creating an elaborate table. Personally, if I’m just having a casual dinner party with friends, I like to balance fancier accents with things that feel simple and handmade. So I might do a gorgeous floral centerpiece that’s a bit too much, but I’ll leave the table without a cloth and do a more simple place setting with plain white plates and woven placemats.
The same goes for a dinner party outdoors. I may use a set of melamine as my plates, but then I’ll add in a nice tablecloth and/or pressed napkins. Anything you’d use on your indoor table you can use outdoors, too.
5. What is your favorite way to personalize your table?
No matter the occasion, I always do place cards. Otherwise guests will always ask where to sit, and they inevitably ask while I’m running around trying to get everything out on the table. Plus adding your own handwriting to the table definitely shows your guests you’ve thought of them.
If you’re not a fan of place cards, add something that’s one of a kind like a set of accent plates from your mother or salt and pepper shakers you found at an antiques store.
If all else fails, I love to have something in the center of my plate. At Christmas, maybe that’s an ornament. In the summer, maybe it’s a sprig from the yard with a place card.
6. What makes a table inviting when your guests see it?
Low lighting (if it is nighttime), a pretty centerpiece, and place cards are my necessities. A centerpiece is so important because it creates a focal point on your table, which draws guests into the space.
