9 stylish picnic essentials to celebrate the change in season

Spring is here, and it’s time to plan your outdoor picnics with my tried-and-true favorite picnic essentials

A selection of the best picnic essentials
(Image credit: West Elm, H&M Home, Pottery Barn)

I love spring. There’s just something about the weather getting warmer that makes me want to overhaul my home and go shopping. I’ve already stocked up my cart with my favorite spring tablecloths, but it’s time to focus more on my favorite part of spring, which is the hosting.

Having a picnic is an easy way to bring all your friends together when the weather gets warmer, especially when you don’t want things to be too formal. Upon perusing my favorite home retailers, I was thrilled to find a slew of stylish picnic essentials that’ll help make the process easy to organize. 

There are hand-woven picnic baskets created to withstand the elements, some pretty blankets to rest on, tons of napkins and serveware for all your favorite foods, and even picnic tables that are relatively affordable, especially for furniture pieces. With so many different options available right now, however, it can be hard to figure out what to shop, which is where I come in. I looked at pretty much every one of my favorite stores to find the picnic accessories to transform your spring gatherings. 

My criteria for helping you choose the best picnic essentials were simple: I looked for items that were on-trend, could double as spring decor, were easy to clean, and able to withstand all weathers (just in case). From disposable napkins to colorful linens, here’s everything you need to host the picnic of the season this spring.

Outdoor entertaining ideas, garden picnic

(Image credit: The White Company)

The best picnic essentials for spring


These picnic essentials are giving me all the spring vibes, and I can’t wait to start having some picnics in the park soon. When you want to host something simple without having to go all out or clean up your patio, hosting a picnic is the most low-key way to bring your favorite people together, especially when your plans are impromptu. From the best picnic baskets available to handcrafted blankets for lounging, this list has everything you need for the perfect spring picnic day.

Nikhita Mahtani
Style Editor

Nikhita is the Style Editor for Homes & Gardens, making sure our home-savvy readers are always aware of the latest trends and deepening their knowledge of classic design. Nikhita graduated with her Master of Arts in Magazine Journalism from New York University, and has spent a decade in interior design and shopping roles at shelter publications ELLE DECOR and Domino Magazine.