How to Create an Afternoon Alfresco

Outdoor dining can be a lot of fun and it gives you a great opportunity to show your creativity on the tabletop.

• When dining outdoors, use inexpensive sheets in lieu of a tablecloth for easy care.
• Set the table with your best flatware (stainless or sterling) for a touch of luxury in an unexpected venue.
• Not all place settings need to be the same: Create more interesting mixes by combining several related colors.
• Focus place settings with consistent green straw mats while using assorted napkins to offer individual personality to each one. 
• Create an alfresco centerpiece with potted plants and clay pots; inverted pots hold pillar candles of assorted colors and heights.
• Use scrubbed pots to serve foods like grapes or breadsticks.
• Add color by day with candles, and then soft light when the sun goes down.
• Instead of placing people around one table, consider putting them along one side of the table to face a view or face away from a distracting one.

Having place cards puts people where you want them. For example, put place cards into a green apple to add a nice color accent and coordinate the garden theme.

• Position colorful napkins between the plates and drape them toward the chair for a unique look.
• Elegant flatware adds contrast to round textured mats.
• Elegant stemware provides balance to the natural elements in the center of the table.

Let your dinnerware influence your design direction.

• You can use a natural element like a leaf (inspired by the dinnerware design) as a name card.

Sometimes the best ideas come from the things around you — including the textures and the patterns on your dishes.

• A simple shell makes a great place card.
• A name card shell also makes a beautiful personalized gift for your guests and a reminder of a wonderful dinner party.

Accent pieces add interest to your entertaining style.

• A cabbage-leaf salad plate and bowl, bunny salt and pepper shakers and a cookie jar add whimsical uniqueness to this tabletop.
• Sterling flatware adds a beautiful finishing touch to the table.