BRAND AMBASSADOR
Toni’s tips on creating a cozy al fresco dining space
Hi friends! Happy Summertime!
I’m soaking up all the goodness of this season with my boys and spending lots of time outside in our backyard and garden. We love growing our own fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers, and it’s so much fun to walk the garden and pluck an apricot from one of our trees. Our strawberry and blackberry bushes give us the sweetest treats, and my favorite activity is clipping fresh flowers for arrangements.
We also love dining al fresco during the summer months, so we set up this DIY Farmhouse table in the middle of our garden and strung tons of lights above for ambience and cozy vibes.
3 STEPS TO CREATING A SUMMER TABLESCAPE
Layers and Texture
I love me some layers, and rustic and romantic vibes are forever my favorite. For this summer table, I started by adding two vintage linens over our rustic farm table. Each place setting includes a combo of striped plates, rattan-covered glasses, colorful cloth napkins and gold silverware, for lots of added texture.
Cozy Vibe Extras
I always love candles along with layering each café chair with neutral-colored throw blankets and cushy pillows. I also lined the center
of the table with lots of votive candles in glass holders. You could keep it simple and beautiful with just a few candlesticks as your centerpiece or maybe a vessel or two of floating candles. Try to build in ways to keep your guests lingering longer. You could experiment with various backdrops by placing your table under a pergola or tree or near a trellis of flowers.
Flowers
Add your favorite blooms. I filled an old bucket with oodles of flowers, some clipped right from our garden and a few faux stems too, to fill it out. Any vessel will do—a vintage pitcher, an old tin or even a sand pail. I also included a few small arrangements in vintage bottles down the center of the table. You can create the perfect budget-friendly summer arrangement with flowers from your local grocery store.
I hope you feel inspired to get outside and set up your own summer tablescape. Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and make some memories!