How to Set an Outdoor Table

By Tim McKeoughJuly 7, 2023

It’s summer: time for alfresco dining! But first, you’ll need to set a table – one that’s “a little more fun and a little less fussy” than you’d set indoors, said the interior designer Young Huh.

Here’s how she does it at her weekend house in Hyde Park, N.Y. →

Choose the setting. If you’re cooking something fancy, put the table near the kitchen. Otherwise, put it under a tree or spread a blanket on the grass, for “an instant romantic mood,” Huh said.

If you’re using a table, dress it with a tablecloth for a crisp, clean surface.

Before you do anything else: Flowers! Instead of using a big arrangement, try multiple small vases, so “everybody gets some flowers at their place.”

Then choose the tableware.“But nothing too precious,” Huh said, “because there’s a high percentage of breakage when you eat outside.”

Add place cards – and candles, too, even if it isn’t dark. “I always do candles outside, usually in lanterns,” Huh said, so the wind won’t blow them out.

Plan your cleanup in advance. Have big trays on hand to cart everything back to the kitchen. And use dishwasher-safe tableware (you’ll thank us later).

Want more decorating ideas from the pros? Check out this helpful advice: