Guest Picks: 20 Favorite Finds to Bring Dining Outdoors
Think outside of the box and reuse a silverware caddy as a rolled sandwich or burrito delivery basket. It's perfect for picnics because you can slide one butcher-block-wrapped meal in each of the sections.
I love this selection of modern outdoor picnic blankets from the Angel Street Market store on Etsy. The patterns and colors are perfect for summer, and one would make a great personal gift for a friend.
Keep drinks nice and cool in a pine tote lined with Styrofoam. Etsy artist Super Awesome designed these guys for tailgating, but I'm pretty sure they're picnic-perfect as well.
A picnic in bed might be the perfect solution for a lazy Sunday. Pack up a bed tray with favorite non-perishable breakfast goodies (pastries, fruit, etc.) the night before, and keep it at the ready for when the family wakes up. Everyone crawls into bed and enjoys!
Picnics in the park can be oh-so-pretty with these beautiful chevron paper plates. I love the unique square shape to mix it up.
Another (even better) alternative to paper plates? Melamine. These floral dinner plates provide a dash of color to an outdoor tablesetting or picnic, and they're so easy to clean and reuse. They're even nonbreakable!
Environmentally conscious folks will love the idea of reusable flatware for outdoor picnicking. I love these stylish and well-crafted wood flatware sets that are compostable, free of chemicals and great for outdoor eating.
Pack a picnic basket with plenty of cloth napkins to clean up after finger foods and messy eaters. These basic cotton ones come in a variety of colors and are perfect for on-the-go eating.
If your outdoor event centers around delicious cheeses (or crackers, fruit and the rest of this particular snack category), try out fromage papers that are built especially for keeping the good stuff fresher, longer. They're great for gifting as well.
Large outdoor pillows are great for lounging around in the beautiful sunshine. Throw a couple on top of a picnic blanket in the backyard for a perfect midday lunch alfresco.
Picnic tablecloths are perfect for covering wooden picnic benches at the park, but they also double as easy floor coverings for picnics in the grass — my favorite spot to lounge and eat on a sunny afternoon.
Throw an instant beach picnic with a colorful oversize towel and deli sandwiches. This towel from West Elm is one of my favorites.
An outdoor meal is often not complete without some sort of barbecued goodness as the main entree. I love the green color of this gas grill!
It's party time! These brilliantly colored margarita glasses make for a festive affair.
For fancier outdoor soirees, consider cute little place card holders to direct guests to the correct spot. I love that these are mini slate boards that can be reused again and again.
For outdoor lighting ambience, I love lanterns that hang sporadically through the trees, along a path or above a table. These rattan globe lanterns will create beautiful shadows and the perfect evening glow.
Bugs love a sweet and tasty treat in the form of outdoor barbecues and picnics as much as we do. I need to stock up on simple, natural citronella candles to keep the flying bugs away.
A picnic basket is a must during the summertime. Stock it with plenty of melamine dishes, bamboo flatware, paper towels and wet wipes for instant on-the-go meals.
String lights are one of my favorite outdoor accessories. They add so much to an evening on the deck, a dinner at the barbecue or a night of watching the stars. I love those little twinkle lights hung up in trees, on pergolas and between buildings. Beautiful!Next: Color Makes a Garden Dining Room Sing in Santa Fe
Serve up yummy appetizers or cocktails in tropical style on this woven tray. It's perfect for outdoor entertaining.
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