Outdoor Dining at Home: How To Set a Party-Ready Patio Table

Outdoor dining is one of the most glorious perks of summertime; the balmy summer air and the longer days offer plenty of opportunities for alfresco dining and entertaining. A meal served on a patio table always feels special, like a celebration of all good things, but the right table setting can transform a simple meal into a culinary occasion. Follow these tips for inspired ideas on how to set and decorate a party-ready patio dining table so you can enjoy the best of what summer has to offer.

Before You Begin: Create Space and Set the Mood

Before you set a celebration-worthy alfresco dining table, consider its placement. Make room for the table and everyone around it to sit comfortably; leave enough space to pull out chairs without bumping a wall, and sufficient room for guests to walk around the table without tripping over furniture. A colorful outdoor rug under the table defines the space and makes any area feel like an extension of the home.

Outdoor String Lighting

If the patio or deck is too small, move your alfresco dining into the backyard. Shade the table and guests under a pergola, gazebo, or multiple patio umbrellas set up in sturdy bases arranged around the perimeter. Hang a set of outdoor string lights in nearby trees or weave them through the slats in a pergola for illumination after sunset.

Colorful padded cushions and pillows make chairs extra comfortable, especially important when the dinner party continues for hours. Choose cushions covered in weather-resistant fabric that can stand up to UV rays, rain, and humidity. When the sun goes down, attractive outdoor throws take the chill off the evening.

Essentials for an Outdoor Table Setting

Though you can pull out a stack of paper plates, a tub of plastic utensils, and a sleeve of red cups and call it an outdoor party, nothing raises the bar like a stunning table setting. Set the table from end to end with essentials that make your guests feel special. From a tablecloth base to the extras that make each place setting pop, these necessities help create the perfect landscape.

Lay a Foundation With Table Linens

An outdoor tablecloth establishes the foundation for everything you layer on top of it to create a festive atmosphere. Next, use a table runner to add depth and highlight the centerpieces. Frame place settings with linen napkins and placemats made in bamboo, linen, or polyester.

Choose a theme: Casual seaside, floral garden, rustic farmhouse, or stars and stripes are classic patterns for outdoor table linens. Or, choose vibrant solid colors that match the tableware and décor. Crisp white tablecloths, runners, placemats, and napkins look elegant for a formal occasion and provide a blank slate to build on.

Add Sturdy Outdoor Dinnerware and Serveware

Melamine plates, bowls, trays, and platters are not only sturdy enough to handle the great outdoors, but they also come in eye-catching colors that make every occasion more fun. Choose a party theme and run with it: Outdoor dinnerware comes in patterns from ocean escapes to garden mosaics. Solid hues look great, too. Choose a base color that matches a wedding shower, graduation, holiday, or other occasion, and build around it.

For a true summer-party experience, stock up on outdoor serving trays, dip bowls, and platters to pass drinks, appetizers, snacks, and side dishes.

Pass Around Unbreakable Drinkware

Sturdy, unbreakable drinkware is essential for alfresco dining. Choose tumblers, goblets, and pitchers in colors that match your décor, brighten the table, and embody the spirit of summertime. Use acrylic highball glasses for ice water so guests stay hydrated in the heat; double old-fashioned glasses work well for sweet tea, lemonade, or signature cocktails.

Finish With Decorative and Purposeful Extras

Florals: Use flowers, plants, or greenery to make the table feel like it’s a natural part of the outdoor setting. Set out small vases filled with flowers on stems; snip buds and float them in clear, water-filled bowls; wind vines with lush foliage down the length of the table. A tiny potted succulent plant at each place setting makes a thoughtful take-home party favor.

Centerpieces: A centerpiece can be as uncomplicated as a row of pillar candles in glass hurricanes, elaborate as a collection of seashells, coral, and driftwood scattered atop sand, or delicious as an overflowing charcuterie board. Set your display in the center of the table where guests can admire it.

Food domes: Mesh food domes keep the bugs out, but still allow the beauty of the cuisine to shine through. Most domes come in colors that match your table, or feature embroidery that adds festive flair.

The Proper Way To Set an Outdoor Dining Table

Use one of three basic table settings for hosting a big holiday dinner, weekend potluck, or informal supper. Take these settings to your outdoor table and create a stunning arrangement of plates and drinkware that will impress even the most particular guest.

Basic Table Setting

Ideal for: Everyday dining.

Set a dinner plate in the center of the placemat.

Lay a folded linen napkin to the left of the plate.

Place a fork on top of the napkin.

Place a knife to the right of the plate with the blade directed inward.

If using a spoon, place it to the right of the knife.

Set the water glass or tumbler above the plate, slightly to the right.

Casual Table Setting

Ideal for: Formal dinners, bridal and baby showers, engagement and graduation parties.

Set a dinner plate in the center of the placemat.

Place a salad plate on top of the dinner plate, followed by a soup bowl on top of the salad plate.

Lay a folded linen napkin to the left of the plate.

Place a dinner fork on top of the napkin and a salad fork to its left.

To the right of the dinner plate, place a knife with the blade directed inward and a soup spoon to the right of the knife.

Set a water glass to the right of the plate, above the knife.

To the right and slightly above the water glass, place a goblet for wine or another type of beverage.

Host Tip: Set out only the glassware, tableware, and flatware that you plan to use. If you are not serving soup, eliminate the bowl and spoon. If salad is not on the menu, eliminate the extra plate and fork.

Formal Table Setting

Ideal for: Backyard weddings, special birthdays, milestone anniversary parties, or any important event that requires a formal setting.

Since a formal table setting does not include a placemat, lay out a crisp outdoor tablecloth as a base.

Set a charger at the center of each place setting.

Place a soup bowl on top of the charger.

Lay a folded linen napkin to the left of the charger.

Place the dinner fork on top of the napkin and the salad fork to its left.

Set the dinner knife, blade inward, to the right of the charger and the soup spoon to the right of the knife.

Place a bread plate above the napkin; set a butter knife horizontally across the plate with the tip pointing left and the blade down.

Set the water glass directly above the dinner knife. To its right and slightly downward, place the white wine glass. Set the red wine glass to the right and slightly above the white wine glass.

Directly above the charger, place a dessert spoon with the handle pointing to the right. Or, a dessert fork with the handle pointing left.

Host Tip: After the soup course is over, clear the bowl and place a salad plate on the charger. Once the salad course is complete, remove the plate and the charger and replace them with a dinner plate.

Now that you know how to create a table setting that will make your guests applaud, explore our patio furniture buying guide and find the right set to bring comfort and function to your outdoor entertaining space.

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