Get your patio summer-ready when you add a touch of these quick and colorful outdoor table setting ideas. Pops of color inspired by cool blue accents create a stylish new vibe to welcome in the summer al fresco style!
Work Some Color Into The Table Setting
Take an opportunity to sneak some color right in with the table’s place settings. I found these lovely round placemats in the prettiest blue color at HomeGoods.
They create the perfect colorful backdrop for neutral, simple white plates like the ones seen above. Round placemats also work especially well if you’re trying to style place setting ideas for a small round dinner table on the patio.
Add A Touch of Color With Napkin Rings
These casual Sigrid Olsen napkin rings are also part of my stunning summer decor finds at HomeGoods this season! The napkin rings have a mix of twine or jute and navy blue material woven together in beautiful patterns. They add another quiet hint of blue to the place setting with an added layer of different textures for interest.
To keep a casual look, I just use cotton or linen napkins in soft neutral colors that will match any color scheme.
Add Drama and Character with Glassware or Wine Glasses
Cool blue acrylic wine glasses add a bold layer of color while drawing the eye in. Interesting glassware provides an instant way to create visual interest while introducing another element of style to the table. The ribbed vertical patterns on both the wine glasses and water glasses add drama.
A cool Moody Blue Summer Tablescape
They also create simple ways to add a bold pop of color and character. They’ll bring an easy touch of modern style that’ll still blend well with our other choices…
Dress Your Outdoor Dining Area with Fun Table Linens
Take a moment to think about how color and character contribute to the face of a table in terms of fabric. Perhaps you’ve chosen a neutral tablecloth.
Maybe you’ve chosen to layer fabrics for a more dramatic look. For this cool blue patio look, we’ve layered a blue pattern tablecloth with tassels over a simple beige tablecloth for little touch of elegance. This adds a quick and sophisticated facelift to our outdoor dining area.
Outdoor Entertaining & Outdoor Table Setting Ideas
Always strive to make outdoor entertaining easier with worry-free tools of the trade. Keep things simple with melamine plates and acrylic or plastic glassware. These items are always high on my list of outdoor table setting ideas. We scored these sharp-looking neutral indoor/outdoor melamine plate and bowl sets by Tommy Bahama at HomeGoods. The simplicity of the plates will help to build up a beautiful tablescape in blue!
grab indoor / outdoor plates
If you’re looking for lightweight white dinnerware with a clean look that handles effortlessly from indoor settings to outside occasions, then look no further! Melamine white dishes are the perfect answer for quick summer patio entertaining. These are my go-to for styling a quick patio dinner table on the fly.
Quick Care Notes on Melamine Dinnerware
- Take care not to use these dishes in the microwave or oven. They should not be exposed to high heat.
- I like to maintain them by hand washing in warm soapy water with a soft sponge.
- Let dry in the dish rack.
- Keep your melamine dishes stacked with other dishes made of the same material once dried.
Quick Access To A Stylish Summer Table
Leave your dry melamine plates in an easy-reach area next to utensils, napkins, and seasonal glassware so you can set your summer table again on the fly! Here in the photo above you can see we’ve left a tray filled with our favorite blue acrylic cups, some fabric napkins, napkin rings, and gold flatware ready to go!
Food Tents and Bamboo Food Covers add a functional touch
Another favorite on my list of outdoor table setting ideas is food covers and food trays. A food tent or outdoor food cover is always helpful to keep the food fresh and untouched while grilling or serving food tableside. If you can, find a stylish one that doubles as a gorgeous serving tray! This stunning blue one (with abalone seashell detail) is one of my favorite summer finds from HomeGoods!
I use it to cover food as I’m moving back and forth between the table and grill, but, it looks so pretty with cocktail glasses on it! I just fell in love with that cool blue, once again…
Finish Your Cool Summer Tablescape With Sweet Flowers and Thoughtful Extras
I’m not gonna lie. Everyone has a different idea of what a centerpiece might entail. To me, it could be tapers, tea lights, votives, dried flowers, fresh flowers, and anything in between.
Any of these touches would make a great addition to your summer garden table. Let your heart be your ultimate guide to creating that perfect summery table decoration for your outdoor setting. Even simple glass jars filled with fresh herbs can double as rustic and fragrant table centerpieces.
Create a Simple Focal Point For Your Outdoor Dining Table with Flowers
Get inspired by your own flowering garden or seek out seasonal blooms and fresh-cut flowers for a simple centerpiece or flower arrangement that could create that perfect finishing touch. Here I’ve used a blue potted plant with one of my favorite flowering shade-loving plants, Tradescantia zebrina.
Maybe a simple citronella candle that keeps the bugs away and creates a pleasant fragrance for your guests is the right way to go. We scored this fabulous citronella candle by Sand + Fog at HomeGoods too! The container is wrapped in blue wicker, making it the perfect complement to our beautiful moody blue tablescape.
Play with fragrance, texture, and color. The best part about summer outdoor decor and summer entertaining is that there’s really no wrong answer! There is only the lovely and possibly eclectic combination of smells, textures, and tastes that only you, the host, can create when you entertain with love.
Keep Lighting and Ambiance Warm and Welcoming
To do this, you can create an intimate and stylish experience for your patio (and your guests) using different forms of lighting. Solar lights, mason jar lanterns, taper candles, and string lights all create that special touch for a perfect setting that sprinkles warmth and ambiance throughout your outdoor area.
Whether your have a small space or a larger outdoor area, different forms of lighting always help to create a cozy space we can enjoy more in the evenings.
These mercury glass tapers are one of my favorite ways to light up a table! I’ve mixed them into every possible table setting idea you can imagine, including a cool Halloween look! That Halloween table is one of the first tables I styled and photographed here at Red Wine Dragons blog. Sigh… how times flies!
Complement Your Patio Table with Other Outdoor Furniture
You can place small outdoor coffee tables at either end of your patio area and top them with lush potted plants or lanterns.
Use a different side table as a little wine, champagne, or beverage station and set up an ice bucket! Here we’ve got a little half bottle of refreshing sake on ice! It’s ready to be poured and enjoyed outside in the cool, fresh air with tasty appetizers.
Here in Chicago we have such a long stretch of cold weather that we value our patio time seriously! We treat those summer months like gold because they equal a truly enjoyable time of year. I go out of my way to create a beautiful outdoor space that my family can cherish and and enjoy while it lasts!
So, my advice to you (wherever you live) is to create new sweet memories every season!
Drink in all that gorgeous warm weather by filling the air with great decor, great ideas, tasty recipes, and pour lots, and lots of good cocktails! And yep…good wine doesn’t hurt either…
Cheers to your own colorful way of ringing in the summer.