When the warmer days arrive, your outdoor area, be it a deck or garden, really ought to be a comfortable spot for eating, not just an afterthought. This collection gives you 30 distinct ways to set up your outdoor table, fitting whatever look you prefer.
Anchor Your Rustic Dining With a Weathered Wood Table
Weathered wood shapes a substantial outdoor dining table. Simple, foldable director’s chairs sit around its reclaimed-wood surface.
Keep Drinks Chilled With a Built-in Table Cooler
A circular metal basin, nestled into a wooden outdoor dining table, holds ice and bottles.
Drape String Lights Around Trees for Evening Ambiance
Wrap warm-toned string lights around the trunks and branches of mature trees in your outdoor dining area. You could also add a hanging lantern above the table for additional light.
Tall Lanterns Add Dramatic Verticality to Outdoor Tables
Tall, dark lanterns sit among place settings and centerpieces on your dining table. These glass and metal structures are built to hold pillar candles.
Wooden Block Holds Row of Tealight Candles for Ambiance
A simple wooden block, placed along the center of your outdoor dining table, holds a line of tealight candles, ready for evening meals.
Brighten Your Table With a Yellow and White Patterned Tablecloth
A bright yellow tablecloth with a subtle white pattern layers over your outdoor table.
Echo Outdoor Colors With Patterned Tablecloth and Cushions
Layer patterns in complementary colors for your outdoor dining table. A turquoise and green patterned tablecloth sits on the table, and cushions on chairs and stools repeat those hues with pink and red.
Group Hurricane Lanterns and Greenery for Soft Lighting
Clear hurricane lanterns placed on your outdoor dining table provide a warm glow. Grouping them with small greenery adds a natural element, softening the industrial look of metal chairs.
The lanterns offer ambient lighting without obstructing conversation across the table.
Rusted Metal Screen Creates a Dramatic Garden Backdrop
If you’re looking for a warm backdrop behind slim, vertical trees, a large, rusted metal panel works well. This industrial screen sits behind the dining area, its warm tone setting off the surrounding greenery.
Anchor Your Outdoor Dining With a Stone Fireplace
If you’re looking for a substantial center for your outdoor dining area, a stone fireplace works well. Log storage areas flank it on either side, holding firewood.
Bright Blue Chairs Add Pop to Rustic Outdoor Table
Paint mismatched or weathered wooden chairs a bold, cheerful color for your outdoor dining area. Blue spindle-back chairs contrast against the natural wood table.
Rustic Pergola With Twig Roof Adds Natural Charm
A rustic pergola, built from natural logs, marks the outdoor dining area. Its woven twig roof provides dappled shade overhead.
For evening meals, string lights are woven through the branches, casting a warm glow.
Rope Swing Adds Playful Element to Dining Pergola
Rustic rope and a wooden swing hang from the pergola in the outdoor dining area. The swing’s wood matches the pergola and dining table.
Vertical Garden Walls Add Living Greenery to Dining Space
Vertical garden walls create a stunning backdrop for your outdoor dining area. Fabric planters filled with a variety of greenery and flowering plants bring life and color to the space.
They achieve this without taking up valuable table or floor room.
Hanging Candle Chandelier Adds Ambient Light
Metal forms a circular tray, suspended as a candle chandelier above the dining table. It holds several pillar candles, hung from chains.
Low Bamboo Table Creates a Boho Picnic Vibe
A low-profile bamboo table brings a relaxed, bohemian feel to your outdoor gatherings. Its detailing and natural material add a touch of exotic flair.
Layering plush rugs and floor cushions around the table creates an inviting, comfortable space for guests to lounge and dine.
Maximize Space With Built-in Bench Seating With Storage
In your outdoor space, built-in bench seating doubles as storage. The white painted benches with light striped cushions offer ample seating.
Frame Your Table With Black Metal Chairs and Cream Cushions
Black metal chairs with elegant cream-colored cushions bring a classic look to your patio, featuring open, lattice-like backs and curved legs.
Sunburst Mirror Adds Rustic Flair to Outdoor Wall
Look for natural twig-like rays for its textured surface.
Layer Pillows for Cozy Texture on Wooden Bench Seating
Drape a colorful striped blanket over your outdoor bench seating. Then pile on an assortment of throw pillows in varying textures and patterns.
Ground Your Dining Area With a Black and White Striped Rug
A bold black and white striped outdoor rug lies under a natural wood table and dark metal seating, its graphic pattern marking the dining area on the patio floor.
Bold Black and White Tablecloth Adds Graphic Punch
Layer a black and white graphic patterned tablecloth over your simple outdoor table. It features a large-scale polka dot design.
Drape Straw Hats for Casual Style on Outdoor Benches
Drape a straw fedora and a wide-brimmed hat over an outdoor bench. This works well when the hats aren’t in use.
They’ll be on hand for any spontaneous outing.
Weathered Urn Adds Dramatic Greenery to Table
A large, distressed urn filled with greenery makes a striking statement piece for your outdoor dining table. Its aged texture provides a beautiful contrast to the crisp white linens and colorful tableware.
The urn grounds the setting with a touch of old-world character through its distressed material.
Soften Your Pergola With Drapery Curtains for Privacy
When you need to define your dining area under a pergola, consider hanging flowing fabric panels. These light-colored drapes can be tied back during the day or drawn at night for privacy or to block a breeze.
Choose Woven Chairs With Plush Cushions for Cozy Seating
Rattan woven into seating with plush pads offers a comfortable and stylish option for your patio. Its inherent texture introduces an organic feature to the open-air eating space, and the soft pads beckon guests to settle into the space.
Opt for Wooden Director’s Chairs for Casual Comfort
Choose director’s chairs with quilted seat and back cushions for your outdoor dining. Their light wood frames suit the setting under a vine-covered pergola.
Wooden Benches With Patterned Pillows Create Casual Seating
Low wooden benches provide seating on the patio. They are topped with thick white cushions.
Patterned throw pillows in complementary colors are layered on top.
Distressed Mint Table Sets a Shabby-Chic Outdoor Scene
With a distressed finish, a weathered, mint-green timber table forms the basis for this open-air eating spot. The charmingly old surface offers a perfect background for a casual spread of white plates, bowls, and fresh strawberries.
Floral Tablecloth Adds Pattern and Romance to Outdoor Dining
Layer a vintage-inspired tablecloth with a delicate floral pattern over a simpler base on your rustic outdoor dining table. The cloth features muted colors and playful motifs.
