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You are here: Home / Tablescapes / How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

in In My Mother's Home· Maine Backyard· Summer Decor and Design· Tablescapes

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

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Some of the best outdoor dining experiences are right in our own backyards. Let me show you how to bring your indoor dining room outside this summer, fashionably.

I’m excited to be joining 11 other very talented bloggers today too who are also sharing their outdoor dining spaces with you, hosted by Pasha is Home.

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

If you are joining me from Melanie over at My Sweet Savannah Blog, welcome! Don’t you just love her post all about Alfresco dining? Melanie is so very talented…

1. Start with a Dining Room Table

Today I start with my parent’s small antique drop leaf dining room table as my foundation.

Drop leaf tables are very easy to maneuver and relocate to the outside.

Antique wood tables look both cozy and fashionable as you create and bring your dining room outside.

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.”

SHOP DROP LEAF VINTAGE TABLES

Antique drop leaf tables can be found in a variety of price ranges. Sometimes you can find them affordably at your local thrift shop or Habitat for Humanity too.

Speaking of, I found an adorable old oak dresser with an attached mirror at our Habit for Humanity out of Kennebunk, Maine over the weekend. Stay tuned for that makeover! Hint, it’s going into our small attic guest bedroom.

Old Oak Dresser

2. Tablecloth

“To tablecloth or not to tablecloth”, this is always the question! Personally, I love a table without a tablecloth. Especially an antique wooden table such as this one.

However, I feel like an outdoor table looks more clean and decorative with a tablecloth. So I made a quick visit to Hutchinsons Antiques in downtown Ogunquit, my go-to place for affordable vintage tablecloths, and found a small blue vintage tablecloth for just $18.

You may also enjoy This Summer’s Thrift Store Decor Finds.

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer
How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

Do you enjoy thrifting? Join me here every month in the blog series “Thrifting with the Gals“.

This small tablecloth allows the wooden table to still show, yet provides a nice colorful protection from the elements.

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

SHOP VINTAGE TABLE LINENS

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

I decided to drop one of the table leaves down and caddy-corner the table cloth for a little more character.

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

3. Create a Centerpiece

Enjoy a bouquet of your favorite flowers from the supermarket, garden, farm stand, or even the casual roadside wildflowers or weeds, etc…

There are so many options when it comes to creating A flower centerpiece. Choose your favorite basket, vase, pitcher, terracotta pot, milk glass vase, McCoy, crocks, trophies, etc…

Check out these 15+ flower arrangement posts for more centerpiece ideas.

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

Here I transferred the flowers from the basket to a small vintage McCoy vase. Super cute and colorful.

SHOP VINTAGE MCCOY VASES

And you may enjoy the post How to Create Beautiful Summer Weed Arrangements.

How to Create Beautiful Summer Weed Arrangements

Set the Table

Decorating an outdoor table with thrifted and vintage finds is one of my favorite things to do. Mixing various patterns, choosing the colors, glassware, candles, etc…

Keeping it simple without much fuss is important too. After all, you want to enjoy your outdoor dining room table while keeping the clean-up to a minimum.

First I add two large pewter candlesticks from my mother’s extensive pewter collection. Pewter really adds a beautiful appeal to an outdoor dining room table. Its natural elements and rugged style pair wonderfully.

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

SHOP PEWTER CANDLESTICKS

Vintage Blue and White Place Settings

I decided to use pewter plates as chargers on this outdoor dining room table to match the candlesticks and dress them with collected vintage blue and white dishes.

The first set is Enoch Wood’s English Scenery / Wood & Sons 1784. See more of this beautiful porcelain set in the post Set the Table in Blue.

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer
How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

SHOP WOODS & SONS DISHWARE

The second set, found at a yard sale, is J & G Meakin England Classic White NORDIC.

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

You may also enjoy the post, A Very Simple Vintage Plates and Windows DIY created with these same dishes.

SHOP J & G MEAKIN ENGLAND CLASSIC DISHWARE

I added four of my mother’s vintage wine glasses and flatware.

Along with 3 thrifted chairs and two of them were actually free. See How I Thrifted These for Free here.

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer
How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

SHOP VINTAGE CHAIRS

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

You may also enjoy:

4 Things You Need to Know About This Old Chair

Charming Antique Table and Chairs for Two

The Cutest Little Outdoor Beverage Table

How to Create an Outdoor Dining Oasis

How to Refinish a Wood Table in Less Than 1 Hour

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

After enjoying dinner, we’ll fire up this fire pit we made from rocks around our property.

How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

I’m so glad you dropped by today and if you are new to my blog, welcome! I hope you were totally inspired!

Please join me as a regular here at Dabbling & Decorating by signing up for my Saturday morning newsletter and never miss an update!

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How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer
How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

I’ve created the above custom pin just for this post!  Hearing from you makes my day and your comments mean so much to me! Please join me on Instagram & Pinterest to see more!

Next up on today’s tour is my friend Kim of Cottage in the Mitten. Kim has an amazing spirit and I enjoy following along with her so much over on Instagram too. You won’t want to miss Kim’s Easy Outdoor Table Setting!

AND THE OTHER GALS JOINING ME ON TODAY’S TOUR TOO!

  • Maine Lobster Themed Table Setting
    Authentic Maine Lobster Themed Table Setting
  • How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer
    How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer
  • 10 Dreamy Scandinavian Summer Cottages
    10 Dreamy Scandinavian Summer Cottages
  • Just 4 Blue Dishes on the 4th of July
    Just 4 Blue Dishes on the 4th of July
  • Red Geraniums Time-Honored Window Flower Boxes
    Red Geranium Time-Honored Window Flower Boxes
  • Coastal Grandmother Summer Decor "In My Mother's Home"
    Coastal Grandmother Summer Decor “In My Mother’s Home”
  • 5 Old Galvanized Bucket Planter Ideas
    7 Old Galvanized Bucket Planter Ideas
  • 9 Summer Porches You’ll Fall in Love With
  • Backyard Conversation Set and Fire Pit Patio Reveal
    Backyard Conversation Set and Fire Pit Patio Reveal
  • Simple Vintage Americana Porch Table Ideas
    Simple Vintage Americana Porch Table Ideas
How to Fashionably Bring Your Dining Room Outside This Summer

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Filed Under: In My Mother's Home, Maine Backyard, Summer Decor and Design, Tablescapes

Previous Post: « DIY License Plate Hat Rack and Wall Decor
Next Post: This Summer’s Thrift Store Decor Finds »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rachel Harper says

    July 19, 2022 at 8:15 am

    Ann,
    I love your table outside. The vintage pieces just make it.

    Reply
    • Ann says

      July 19, 2022 at 9:06 am

      Thanks so much Rachel🫶🏻

      Reply
    • Ethel Alderson says

      July 19, 2022 at 12:54 pm

      Just beautiful!
      What is the tiny round ble and white piece holding something.on.your table?

      Reply
      • Ann says

        July 19, 2022 at 1:20 pm

        Thank you Ethel. I think you mean the little pottery mugs holding the flatware💙

        Reply
  2. Kim Waldorf says

    July 19, 2022 at 10:24 am

    Ann, you always present a pretty view! Your table cloth finds are beautiful and so is your table! Dining outside is always so fun. Always a pleasure to hop with you, friend!

    Reply
    • Ann says

      July 19, 2022 at 11:04 am

      Thanks kindly Kim🫶🏻

      Reply
  3. Rachel says

    July 19, 2022 at 11:20 am

    It looks beautiful!! I love the tablecloth you chose and the simplistic nature of it all just fits the outside aesthetic perfectly.

    Reply
    • Ann says

      July 19, 2022 at 11:50 am

      Thank you so much Rachel. I’m so glad you dropped by💙💙

      Reply
  4. Jen says

    July 19, 2022 at 11:56 am

    So pretty, Ann. I always love to see how you incorporate unique vintage finds into your decor. And I LOVE the pretty blue dishes. Happy to be hopping with you today. Pinnd!

    Reply
    • Ann says

      July 19, 2022 at 12:32 pm

      Thanks so much Jen💙💙

      Reply
  5. Melaine Thompson says

    July 19, 2022 at 2:34 pm

    Loving the vintage vibes!

    Reply
    • Ann says

      July 19, 2022 at 3:21 pm

      Thanks so much Melanie🤗🤗

      Reply
  6. Jennifer Hadfield says

    July 19, 2022 at 4:55 pm

    What a gorgeous table, Ann! I love the linen and those plates are gorgeous!

    xoxo

    Reply
  7. Libbie Burling says

    July 19, 2022 at 8:39 pm

    Loving all of your vintage touches. Taking them outside just makes my heart happy!!

    Reply
    • Ann says

      July 20, 2022 at 8:46 am

      Thanks so much Libbie!

      Reply
  8. Pasha is Home says

    July 19, 2022 at 9:22 pm

    Ann – I love this quaint idea! Your vintage table and items on it are so perfect!!

    Reply
    • Ann says

      July 20, 2022 at 8:46 am

      Thanks kindly Pasha!

      Reply
  9. Aliya says

    July 19, 2022 at 10:11 pm

    Ann your table is beautiful!! I love how you used vintage pieces to make a gorgeous tablescape!!

    Reply
    • Ann says

      July 20, 2022 at 8:45 am

      Thank you so much, Aliya!

      Reply
  10. Kristin | White Arrows Home says

    July 22, 2022 at 2:35 pm

    This is so lovely Ann! Your table is so sweet and I love the linens and dishes and centerpieces. It’s fun to see it all come together with your gathered treasures and beautiful style!

    Reply
  11. Paulette says

    August 1, 2022 at 4:40 pm

    Love the look … what did you serve to keep it easy and simple? Need to recreate this look on my patio.

    Reply
    • Ann says

      August 2, 2022 at 11:44 am

      Hi Paulette. I find pasta is the easiest for outdoor dining 🍝

      Reply

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Welcome to Dabbling & Decorating, a thrifty & vintage home decorating blog.  A place where I love to share decorating tips, vintage and thrifty finds, DIY projects, and antiques from our collected homes in Vermont and Coastal Maine. And our Berner, Ella who loves to pop in from time to time…  I’m so thrilled you stopped by today and I hope you will become a regular here at Dabbling & Decorating! Read more.

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Welcome to Dabbling & Decorating, a thrifty & vintage home decorating blog.  A place where I love to share decorating tips, vintage and thrifty finds, DIY projects, and antiques from our collected homes in Vermont and Coastal Maine. And our Berner, Ella who loves to pop in from time to time…  I’m so thrilled you stopped by today and I hope you will become a regular here at Dabbling & Decorating! Read more here.

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