Tips for a stylish picnic

As soon as the clocks go back and the days grow longer I am itching to spend time outdoors and indulge in some al fresco dining. The only snag is that picnics are never quite as fun and civilised as they sound. Limp sandwiches,  warm drinks and the odd swarm of wasps is enough to put anyone off!

Growing up in Spain, where eating outdoors is a very serious matter, taught me a thing or two about picnicking. In Spain you don’t just head our with a blanket and a meal deal under your arm. Eating outdoors is a much more complex affair where tables, chairs and table cloths are indispensable. Food must be freshly prepared and drinks must be on ice at all times.  Sometimes I laugh at the amount of paraphernalia required for what should be a simple picnic but the truth is that it is a much more enjoyable experience and well worth the effort. That said, a picnic at home is a great thing to do too, children love it and it’s a fun and informal dinning option when you have friends over during the summer months. Remember, informal doesn’t mean it can’t be fabulous!

In this post I am sharing some tips to help you picnic in style and I am thrilled to showcase some beautiful items sent to me by Anthropologie, if you follow me on Instagram or have visited my site before you will know that I adore their homewares. Brace yourself, you are going to want to buy everything!

Get comfortable!

Comfort is not always synonymous with picnics but if you have the luxury of hosting a picnic at home then go for it! Bring out the rugs – sheepskins look amazing though not ideal on very warm days – add lots of squishy cushions in all shapes and sizes and settle in for a lazy day and a snooze in the sun!

Style it happy!

Think of your outdoor space as another room and style it accordingly. Pretty details like freshly cut flowers in jam jars are perfect for a summer gathering. Scented candles and fairy lights really set the scene too, I have accumulated a few baskets over the years and find these incredibly useful for carrying all the picnic essentials and they double up as tables and chairs.

Table details

Real plates, glasses and cutlery are a real luxury on a picnic and really elevate the whole experience. I am honestly over the moon with my Strata plates from Athropologie, they just scream summer. These wine glasses in a tumbler style are really on trend and work well outdoors as they are less susceptible to spilling than a traditional stemmed wine glass.

If you don’t want to use real plates and cutlery  you can source chic disposables from Meri Meri.

Food & drink

I like to keep food simple, sharing platters of fruit, cheese, crudités and a selection of dips and breads fit the bill perfectly in my book.  They are really quick to prepare and your guests can graze on them at their leisure. Use wooden boards and pretty platters for serving.

Flavoured fruit waters are delicious and they look gorgeous, have plenty of these around on very hot days. Even guests drinking alcohol will be grateful for a refreshing non-alcoholic drink. If you are feeling adventurous and have time you could make some pretty ice cubes using fruits like pomegranate seeds and blueberries or edible flowers which you can source here. Browse my cocktail hour Pinterest board for inspiration.

All we need to do now is pray that summer is here to stay! Are you a fan of picnics?

Antonia x

Shop the post

Strata Side Plates – Anthropologie

Tasseled Cushion – Anthropologie

Wine Glasses – Anthropologie

Bon Amie Bottle Opener – Anthropologie

Ocean Speckle Candle – Anthropologie

Picnic Baskets – old but find similar here

Sheepskin rugs – Ikea 

Wine from at selection at The Wine Butler 

This post was written in collaboration with Anthropologie. All words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Tinker Tailor Online possible.