Garden party decorations: table, lights and garden for the summer party

A good garden party is less about decorating the whole garden and more about gathering guests around one place where it's nice to sit for a long time. The long table is the natural centrepiece, and from there the cosiness spreads out to seating, lights and the small details that make the evening easy to remember.

Here you'll get concrete ideas for the table, the lights and the corners of the garden where guests end up staying, as well as what to think about when the weather gets involved in the party.

The short answer: table, lights and simple colours

If you need to decorate quickly for a garden party, there are three things that carry the whole mood. Lay a long table with a runner, colourful plates and a jug or two. Put out LED lights for the late evening, so you're not dependent on someone keeping an eye on an open flame. And keep the colours on the table to a couple of shades that match summer, so it all hangs together without looking overdecorated.

The rest of the article goes into depth on each part, from the table and lights to seating and the practical matters that can make or break an evening outdoors.

The table: a table runner, napkins, plates and small vases with summer flowers

A long table looks calm and inviting when it's laid with a runner down the middle rather than a fully covered tablecloth. It leaves room for platters, jugs and small vases with summer flowers, which guests can move around as the party goes on.

For plates, you can choose something with colour that goes well with summer's greenery. Lemon stoneware plates from &Klevering or orange porcelain plates from the same series give the table a fresh look without becoming cluttered. If you have a larger platter, the Lemon ceramic platter from &Klevering is perfect for fruit, bread or salad to be passed along the table.

• Choose a runner rather than a full tablecloth for the long table
• Mix plates in a couple of colours, but keep the napkins simple
• Include small vases or platters in the decorations so the table doesn't feel stiff

Want more tips for the table setting itself? You can read more in Table setting: how to lay a beautiful table or find more things for the table under Table setting.

Lights: LED lights and candlesticks that can stand out in the mild evening

When darkness falls, it's the light that carries the mood onward. LED lights are the safe solution outdoors, because they withstand both wind and dry grass without any risk of fire. It's best to place several small light sources along the table rather than one large one, so the light spreads softly across the whole party.

LED lights in coral and blue from Rice work nicely as a light, colourful detail between the plates, while LED block candles in green, purple and red from EJA or LED block candles in orange, pink and mint from EJA can be placed directly on the table without you having to worry about open flames. If you want to raise the light a little, The Audrey Lamp Base from AU Maison together with The Audrey Lampshade from AU Maison make a calm eye-catcher at one end of the table.

If you use real candles elsewhere in the garden, they need supervision all evening, and should be kept away from wind and dry grass. You'll find more good advice on this in How to create cosiness with real candlesAll LED lighting for the garden is collected together under LED lights.

Drinks: jugs, carafes and glasses, so it's easy to pour

For a garden party with many guests, it's an advantage if people can pour their own drinks as they go. A jug on the table does exactly that, while also becoming part of the decoration. Citron jug in ceramic from &Klevering or Citron jug in stoneware from &Klevering give a calm, yellow touch, while Italian lemon jug in ceramic and Orange jug in ceramic from &Klevering bring more of summer's colours to the table.

If you want a real eye-catcher, the Italian fish jug in ceramic in rainbow colours is a great conversation starter that's also practical for pouring. Add carafes for water or drinks and a set of glasses that match the style of the table.

• Place a jug at each end of the table so no one has to reach far
• Choose glasses that are easy to keep track of in the dark, preferably in a single colour
• Top up the jugs regularly instead of putting out one large container

See the range of Carafes and Drinking glasses if you need more for the table.

Seating and corners: throws, cushions and a place to relax

Once the food has been eaten, the party often moves itself to a corner with soft seating. Have blankets ready from the start so guests can grab one themselves as the evening cools down. A couple of extra cushions on the garden furniture make it easy to stay sitting a little longer.

If you have a balcony or a small terrace next to the garden, it can serve as a calm spot to retreat to from the big table. You can find more ideas for that kind of corner in Balcony styling: Turn your balcony into an extra room. You'll find blankets for the evening under Blankets.

Practical: think about the weather, keep food covered and bring decorations inside if it rains

A garden party depends on the weather, and you can plan for that. Ceramics and glass should be kept protected from rain and frost, unless the manufacturer states otherwise, so it's a good idea to have a spot nearby where the decorations can come in if the clouds start to gather.

Keep food covered with a lid or a cloth so insects and wind can't get to it while guests finish talking. Also keep an eye on whether candles and loose items on the table shift in the wind, and gather up small things like napkins and vases if you head in for coffee.

• Move ceramics and glass indoors in rain or cold
• Cover the food between servings
• Have a plan for where the decorations can stay dry if the weather changes

Summary

A garden party that works stands or falls on the long table, the evening light and a couple of quiet corners to retreat to. Keep the colours simple, factor in light and weather from the start, and let the rest of the decorations be what makes the table personal.

Read also

• Table setting: how to lay a beautiful table
• How to create cosiness with real candles
• Balcony styling: Turn your balcony into an extra room
• Summer decor: Light, bright and lively