Outdoor Dining Accessories

by Lauren Ragland

One of the best things about summer is undoubtedly getting out of the stuffy kitchen and dining al fresco, whether it's at the backyard picnic table, on the screened-in porch, or on a tiny terrace for two. With the kitchen far off in the background, you can really relax and just enjoy your meal, listening to the crickets humming and watching the sun sink into the horizon.

And as we've proven time and again in this column, it's the "little things" that can make all the difference.

Sure, you could just slap the burgers onto some cheap white paper plates and hand everybody a paper towel, but consider how quickly you can transform the outdoor dining experience from ho-hum to eye-popping by using just a few carefully-chosen table accessories.

• Tip: First, consider the practicality of the tableware you'll be using. If you're serving anything heavy, like giant hamburgers or over-stuffed sandwiches, or anything with sauce, like cole slaw, you want the heavy-duty kind of "paper" plates, which often are actually plastic, or at least are plastic-coated. The napkins should also be chosen according to what you're eating, but here you should also consider who is going to be using them: the ladies' luncheon with finger sandwiches requires a different kind of napkin than the post-game barbecue for the rugby team.

The fun part comes in choosing the color and pattern. You can find heavy-duty plastic cutlery in just about any color, so you're free to choose whatever you want in the plates and napkins. A floral print will emphasize spring time and the ability to enjoy the outdoors; an American-flag motif is obviously good for the summer national holidays. Take you time in choosing the print of the napkins, and then find plates to match.

Remember that matching doesn't mean choosing the same thing. There is more variety to be found in paper napkin patterns than in patterns of plates. For a baby shower, you could choose a blue-and-pink floral pattern in napkins, and complement it with plates in a checkerboard pattern in the same blue, or in the same pink. Often a geometric pattern is nicely offset by a floral pattern, and this variety keeps things from looking monotonous.

While you're at it, don't forget the cups, or the tablecloth. Again, you can mix and match, as long as you stay with the same colors. Be sure to include hot beverage cups if you plan on serving hot coffee or tea after the meal.

With these little things, your summer outdoor dining will be a real breeze!

Reprinted with permission from the Sheffield School of Design