A Casual and Easy Outdoor Summer Table Setting with Hydrangeas

The Summer was made for outdoor dining, which is why I’m so excited to share this casual outdoor summer table setting with you!

Today I’m joining Pasha with Pasha is Home and sharing 11 outdoor Summer tablescape ideas with you.

Did you see Kim’s easy outdoor table setting?!

I absolutely LOVED it!

As I do her!

If you haven’t ever stopped by, you should definitely do it!

So if you’re like me you’ve seen all the back-to-school stuff out and about.

But even though that probably sends a rush of anxiety as you think about all the back-to-school stuff you need to get done, I want to remind you:

There is still so much Summer left!

So much Summer in fact, that you have plenty of time to throw together a casual and easy outdoor tablescape multiple times before school actually starts back up!

If you’re interested you can head over to YouTube and watch the video of me putting this tablescape together.

Before we dive in, let’s get into some of the questions about setting a Summer tablescape.

How do you decorate a table on a budget?

• Use what you have at home for decor
• Use fresh produce on the table
• Shop at thrift stores, secondhand stores, or garage sales to find up-cycles, candles, candle sticks, vases, etc..
• Cut flowers from your flowerbeds (or the side of the road)
• Get creative! A beautiful table isn’t always the “expected” idea

I’m all about thrifty decor.

I love all those beautiful pieces from Pottery Barn and Anthropology, but I can’t bring myself to spend that kind of money on decor.

Thrift store and garage sale flips are one of my favorite ways to decorate a table or a room on a budget.

How can I decorate my table?

When decorating a table incorporate:

• flowers/greenery
• textiles in the form of napkins or a tablecloth
• ambiance with candles and/or string lights
• dinnerware

There are so many different ways to decorate a table.

You can do a symmetrical table like this Summer garden party.

Or you could set a table with a long low centerpiece like this peaceful table setting.

Or one of my favorites is a tablescape that’s a little less traditional with an off-center “centerpiece” like this Early Fall tablescape.

There are no real rules when you decorate a Summer table.

It’s all about what works for you and your family.

Outdoor Summer Table Setting | Tablecloth

This is by far my favorite “tablecloth”.

I add the quotations because it was actually a twin sheet that I picked up at a thrift store.

My original plan was to turn this sheet into pillows but I just haven’t go around to it yet.

And the truth is, I’m glad I haven’t haha!

The pattern on this fabric is so calm and cozy.

It reminds me of that European cottage feeling that I love so much.

It’s nothing flashy, very simple.

But I think that’s the big reason I love it so much.

Since I was going for a casual table setting, I decided to just lay it down on the table traditionally.

Nothing fancy.

Just the tried and true way to throw a tablecloth on a table.

Outdoor Summer Table Setting | Hydrangeas

After that tablecloth is on the table, the next thing I did for this casual table setting was added hydrangeas.

Honestly, I can’t think of a more casual cottage flower.

Hydrangeas are just your regular run of the mill flower.

They aren’t fussy plants which I think adds to that casual feeling.

PS If you need some tips about hydrangea care check out this post!

The other thing I love about them, is they make a statement all on their own.

Sure you could make a beautiful flower arrangement using all kinds of flowers, but with hydrangeas you can just throw them in a vase and call it done.

Casual.

Simple.

Beautiful!

To increase the casual feeling I just put them in a bowl.

They did flop about until they were balanced properly, but if you use the tape trick I talked about in this post you don’t need to worry about that.

Outdoor Summer Table Setting | Candles & Lights

This is one of my favorite parts of all table settings.

I mentioned in my YouTube video that you don’t even have to light the candles and they will still give you that romantic feeling with minimal effort.

But if you are wanting the ambiance that comes with lite candles but don’t want the mess or the anxiety of an open flame at the table, I recommend battery operated candles.

One of my friends has them all over her dining room and living room and they are so cozy.

The best part about those is they come on a timer.

So we’ll just be hanging out talking and then I’ll notice the candles turned on.

At our house, we eat with the candles burning and it’s always been okay.

In fact, the big girls ask fairly often for me to put candles on the table for dinner.

The ambiance of candles is a huge help to creating a beautiful tablescape.

Outdoor Summer Table Setting | Dinnerware & Food

The last thing I add to an outdoor Summer tablescape is casual dinnerware.

You don’t need anything fancy.

Just regular everyday dishes.

I grabbed the plates and cups off our kitchen shelves.

For our cups, we use mason jars, which actually increases that casual laid-back feeling.

Is there anything more casual than drinking from a mason jar?

I hope this encouraged you to get outside and do something special with your family.

I also hope that it inspired you to see that you can have a casual outdoor summer tablescape that is both beautiful AND easy to throw together!

Now that I’m done sharing my tips for casual outdoor dining make sure you head over and check out Jen’s honey-themed table decor!

Gorgeous!

And isn’t a honey-themed tablescape a brilliant idea for Summer?!

Please Pin for Later!

Don’t forget to head over to Facebook or Instagram to see our day-to-day fun!

Also, make sure you follow along on Pinterest to check out all the other inspiration I’ve been pinning!

Have a great week! XoXo

Open Your Doors,
Aliya

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