How To Set Your Alfresco Table (or Picnic Rug or Park Bench)
The key to creating an impressive alfresco dining experience is bringing your surroundings to the table. Eating outdoors should be rustic, messy, full of laughter and your most delightful stories. Whether you are picnicking in the park or on your apartment balcony overlooking the city, your surroundings are the hero element of your get-together.
While alfresco is all about the outdoors and spontaneous moments on dazzling spring days, it doesn’t mean you need to compromise on the finer touches that make indoor gatherings feel polished. To create the perfect informal atmosphere feel free to still pull out your most treasured tableware, but get creative with the setting; from the traditional dinner table, to picnic rugs in a park and outdoor furniture at the bottom of the garden. Go with what looks cosy and welcoming by mixing and matching your cutlery, crockery, glassware, and linens to suit each individual friend who’ll be using them. Focus on pulling items from your colours which feature earthy tones and rustic patterns, like Royal Doulton’s
Maze Grill Mixed Pattern White Side Plates, paired with mismatched linen napkins in neutral tones. You can even swap out glassware for mugs (such as the
Olio White Mug by Barber Osgerby) bringing a truly intimate, casual feeling to your alfresco meal. Accenting your table or picnic rug with fresh greenery, like a bright green spray of leaves from a nearby elm tree or a structural branch, your outdoor setting will feel incredibly unique and special.