It has been raining here every day for the past two weeks except for one beautiful, perfect day. This day felt like summer and we stayed out in the yard enjoying every minute of it. All of our trees and plants were beginning to bloom, the air was warm and fragrant, and the promise of the many beautiful evenings we will be sharing out here together made me excited for the days to come.
One of the things I love about Summer is how we really live outside. Creating a stylish and affordable outdoor space that feels like an extension of our home is always a priority for me because of the amount of time we spend together in our yard in the summer.
I took the kids and headed to our IKEA a couple weeks ago to pick up these beautiful tables and chairs. I love the french country look, so I picked out the TÄRNÖ folding bistro chairs and paired them with two FALHOLMEN Tables. We have a large extended family, so having two tables (I placed them end-to-end) is ideal for our get togethers. (Note- I could have fit 3 chairs on each side of each table instead of just the two that I did here.- so up to 8 chairs total per table. These would be beautiful for a wedding or special event!)
I love that the chairs and tables are so compact and easy to store. The chairs are the folding type, but they are very comfortable and sturdy- even on the heavy side, which is nice. When you are at your IKEA, you will have to sit in one to see what I mean. If you follow me on Instagram, a few days ago I shared a video about how easily the tables store as well. If you unscrew the cross bars underneath, the legs are actually on hinges and they fold up and store very compactly. They are very sturdy as well, and would have no problem staying out all summer for everyday use.
I am a big believer in keeping items in our home- dishes, linens, etc.- that transition from one season to the next and from one space to the next. With 4 children, I never buy things that are too fancy or special that they can't be used and enjoyed in every space- including our outdoor spaces. Having versatile tablewares makes creating tablescapes like this one very quick and easy when it is time to entertain family and friends.
If you have the basics on hand, it is super simple to drop by the grocery store and add pretty flowers and food to the table- making it feel inviting and special but not fussy.
Some of the basics that I keep on hand for both everyday use and for entertaining are white dishes and platters, antique breadboards, easy to launder cloth napkins, pitchers for both drinks and floral arrangements, cake stands, and candles.
The dinner plates, side plates, napkins, green glasses, large glass candle holders (I use them for flower vases as well), and the large white pitcher with flowers are all very affordable and from IKEA. I am not sure if they still sell the large white pitcher- I bought it years ago, but I believe they still carry everything else. I plan to grab two more of the large glass vase/candle holders next time I am there. I have had them for a couple years and use them all the time.
One of my favorite things about this time of the year is how the earth comes alive with all of the beautiful colors. When I saw these oranges at the grocery store, I knew I wanted to spread their happy color all over my table. I loved the combination of the pale blush pinks, dark red, greens, and the fun happy orange. When trying to decide what flowers to pick, my advice is to just pick one to start out that speaks to you- one that you love and build your arrangement from there. I chose the oranges first and loved the blush roses, then I just added the others that coordinated. There is no wrong way to do it. It is your own artistic expression, so don't be afraid to try!
Dusk in our yard is my very favorite and it makes me so excited for all of the evenings to come!
I am a Brand Ambassadör for IKEA U.S. This is a sponsored post.
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Jane
Your table is just amazing! I love to play around ours at the lake, although it only seats 8. So many elements of your settings has inspired me: the pretty place settings with the oranges, so fresh. The formal arrangement is insane!! I need to Pin this. I love fresh flowers but I'm sort of inpatient and nothing is anywhere near as pretty as this!!
Thanks so much. Happy Summer! 🙂