5 Mistakes Making Your Outdoor Table Setting Look Cheap – Avoid Them This Summer with These Easy Fixes
These 5 easy-to-make mistakes almost always make a table look forgettable and low-end
As the months get warmer, your entertaining setup naturally shifts outside. From summer soirees to laid-back family dinners, a truly good tablescape is what makes al fresco dining feel special night after night.
While outdoor dining doesn't always mean formality, that's not to say you want your summer tablescape to look cheap and lacklustre. In fact, no matter your occasion, there are some age-old mistakes best avoided, as they always make an outdoor table look thrown together (and not in the oh-so-effortless way you want to achieve).
'The biggest mistake you can make in outdoor tablescapes is approaching it the same way you would a formal indoor tablescape,' explains wedding and event planner Hovik Harutyunyan of Harutyunyan Events. 'You want the design of the table to complement the outdoor setting rather than compete or clash with it.'
1. Disposable Everything – Invest in Chic Outdoor-Safe Tableware
Avoid disposable decor, and invest in quality pieces, like a linen tablecloth and ceramic tableware.
Unsurprisingly, disposable tableware almost always makes a backyard dining set-up look cheap. You wouldn't use plastic cups or paper plates in your dining room, so they should be left out of your alfresco eating area, too. Instead, invest in reusable outdoor-friendly tableware that you can bring out year after year and looks as chic as your indoor crockery.
'The quickest way to make an outdoor table look cheap is to treat it as the throwaway version of an indoor one,' explains Laetitia Laurent, founder of Laure Nell Interiors. 'Paper napkins, plastic cups...things like using a thin plastic cloth. People tell themselves, 'It's just outside,' and the table looks like it. Almost everything that reads as expensive outdoors comes down to real materials, plus a little layering, and neither one has to be expensive.'
'But they should be quality,' continues Laetitia. 'My French father has a great saying, 'You have to be really rich to buy cheap things'. What he means here is that low-quality items don't last, so you have to keep buying them over and over. This applies well to a tablescape – if you invest in a few quality pieces (many interchangeable for different seasons/settings), in the long run, you'll likely save money rather than continuing to buy low-quality, disposable items that have the added negative of just looking cheap.'
2. Not Layering – Build Up Your Tablescape for Interest
Layer, layer, layer. Start with a linen tablecloth and layer textured placemats, quality napkins, and a central table runner.
The best outdoor dining tables are layered. 'From a designer, things I like to avoid for outdoor table settings would be placing any plates directly onto the table,' explains Rasha Rizwan, interior designer at Mackenzile Collier Interiors. 'You should always layer them with a placemat or tablecloth,' adds Rasha. 'Layering with textured linens or even natural materials like woven rattan tableware can add texture and visual interest. Making the space feel more elevated.'
Investing in the best outdoor table linen will ensure your tablescape looks good beyond one season. Treat your tablecloth as a base, then layer a central table runner. Finish it off with your smaller elements, like colorful placemats and embroidered napkins.
3. Formal Drinkware – Keep Your Setting Visually Light and Not Too Fussy
While outdoor tablescapes should feel special, fine glassware feels a little mismatched in a garden setting.
'Using extremely formal fine china, serveware, and crystal' is a mistake,' says Hovik. 'More often than not, fine items like these should really be used for more formal occasions in an indoor setting. Depending on the outdoor event, items like this can feel psychologically and visually heavy and may compete with the outdoor setting.'
'The formality level of such pieces can also look a bit out of place or 'try-hard' if the event formality doesn't call for it – the true exception would be for formal outdoor weddings or black-tie events,' adds Hovik. 'You don't want the setting to feel overly complicated for guests.'
Whether you're having an alfresco lunch or an intimate dinner, outdoor-friendly glassware is your best bet. 'For an elevated and curated outdoor tablescape, it's better to opt for selections of colored glassware and unusually printed or colored china,' says Rae McCalmont, director at PBF Homes. 'Colored glassware adds a sense of whimsy and looks beautiful as the evening progresses and the table lighting illuminates the colors across the table. The biggest key is to keep the setting feeling layered, elevated, and fun!'
4. Too Much Stuff – You Want a Table to Look Full But Never Cluttered
Avoid filling your outdoor dining table with too much decor; instead, keep things simple and classic.
While it's important to cover the basics and ensure your table has all the fundamental pieces, you don't want to overdo it either (particularly if you've gone for a statement outdoor furniture trend).
'While you want to make sure the table design is not underwhelming or empty, you also don't want the opposite of having it feel too overwhelming or cluttered,' explains Hovik. 'I would really caution against an eclectic mix of small objects and knick-knacks that can feel visually messy or like you're hosting a garage sale. You really just need a few beautiful floral pieces combined with candles. Even a runner of just candles down the table can feel understated yet tastefully dramatic and elegant.'
Rasha suggests, 'Mixing materials.' She explains, 'Using too many plastic pieces can make the tablescape feel less intentional, so I recommend adding a mix of stoneware or ceramic, mixed with linen napkins to create more texture and visual weight.'
5. Too Small a Centerpiece – You Need a Strong Focal Point
Any good outdoor table features an eye-catching centerpiece of florals or foliage.
Whether it's a spring dinner party table design or a vibrant summer bouquet, no outdoor dining table is complete without a striking floral arrangement or centerpiece.
'I often hear the notion that 'if the outdoor setting is beautiful, you really don't need many florals on the table.' I could NOT disagree more,' says Hovik. 'While a beautiful outdoor setting or mountain/ocean views can be the star of the show, using small centerpieces (or no centerpieces at all) will truly make the table seem underwhelming and empty.'
'In fact, outdoor settings often call for even more pronounced centerpieces,' adds Hovik, 'because you often don't have chandeliers, walls, or artwork that complements the table. Thus, having a bare or under-decorated table can really make the table feel neglected or forgotten.'
'Incorporate wildflowers for a garden party or earthy tones that complement the landscaping,' adds Rasha. 'I also love bringing in natural elements like a simple stem arrangement in a vase, seasonal floral arrangements, or potted herbs to keep the table feeling natural and fresh.'
Shop Timeless Outdoor Dining Essentials
The best outdoor dining tables embrace the classics. A quality tablecloth, linen napkins, pretty but practical tableware, and of course, a thoughtful centerpiece. A table that looks cheap feels temporary rather than enduring, lacking the attention that makes alfresco dining so special.
Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.
