The weather has picked up recently and it’s finally starting to feel like summer. With good weather comes being out in the garden especially when we can’t be anywhere else.
We recently had our garden renovated, keep an eye out for that post as it shows a crazy dramatic before and after! There are still a few things left to do and buy before it is fully completed, but I was too impatient to wait and decided to have an impromptu picnic.
I was inspired by a picture I saw on Pinterest, where someone had used sheets to create a makeshift tent. I did the same thing by using flat white sheets draped across the laundry wire, it ended up looking super cute and surprisingly gave us a lot of space to sit under. Tip: use laundry pegs to secure the sheets to the wire and use weights to hold down the edges. I used two thick wooden planks that were heavy enough to hold the sides down securely, but you can use bricks or even tin cans!
The idea behind the décor was to create a space where we could lounge around as well as eat. Simplicity was the theme with hints of Moroccan influence. I laid out a plush rug to protect us from the hard brick floor, this made the area cosy and comfy to sit on. I then set up a small rectangular table in the centre to display the food, this was essentially a piece of plywood resting on top of tinned food cans which gave the perfect height for purpose and looked great. Initially, I wanted a wooden crate/pallet however we couldn’t get one on short notice that didn’t involve driving 50+ miles. Tip: you can buy plywood relatively cheap at B&Q they also have a section of free recycled bits of wood which have some gems so check that out before buying.
I did as much as I could to decorate the table considering there wasn’t a huge amount of space to work with. I layered plates to add dimension and kept the main decoration running across the middle of the table. For the centrepiece I used a floral garland, candles and a lantern, this is where you can get super creative especially if you have a larger table. I found the cutest pillows on Shein that were inexpensive and went with the theme, I dotted them around the table to be sat on. I also found a rug with a lovely print which was perfect for the entrance of the tent. On the opposite side to the entrance I put up two mirrors, this was a good way to open up the space, bring in light and make it appear larger. The foam mirrors I used were from a DIY I recently did, I have a blog post with all the details on my page! I added some finishing touches that bought it all together such as, a shisha pipe, a green plant, some more lanterns and a middle eastern tea set. It honestly turned out better than I expected and was such a vibe!
For the food, I put out chocolate strawberries, brownies, baklava and berry meringues on slate and wooden server ware. These not only tasted great but added to the overall décor of the table! Once we were done with lunch, I rearranged everything so we could lounge and watch Netflix. I pushed the table against one side of the tent and lined up all the pillows against the other so we could sit and stretch out. The table held the remainder of the desserts, drinks and my laptop.
This was such a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon and I would highly recommend you giving it a go! I hope you enjoyed reading this post and got some ideas for a little picnic of your own, comment below your thoughts!
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