How To Easily Create A Casual Boho Summer Picnic

Do you enjoy dining outdoors in the summer? Entertain family and friends all season long with my tips for how to easily create a casual boho summer picnic.

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Welcome to Supper Club

School is out for the year, and the temps are rising, which can only mean one thing. It’s summertime! To celebrate, this month I am teaming up with my friends from supper club to share our summer-inspired tablescapes. If you are visiting from my friend Stacy over at Bricks ‘n Blooms, I am glad you are here!

For those who may be new, thank you for stopping by, and welcome to Midwest Life and Style! My name is Jen. I am a wife, a mom of two, and a lifelong Nebraskan. I hope you’ll take some more time to look around to see what MWLS is all about.

Here, you will find posts on topics like made-from-scratch recipes, decorating for the seasons, and simple do-it-yourself projects. My main goal is to inspire you by showing you that you do not need to spend a lot of money to create a beautiful and inviting home.

How To Easily Create A Casual Boho Summer Picnic.

There is nothing quite like taking some time to relax outdoors and enjoy dining with your family and friends. I love the idea of a casual summer meal and was inspired by my friend, Aliya at Open Doors Open Hearts, to create my own easy boho-style picnic.

Bohemian style (or Boho for short) includes a mix of patterns paired with natural elements and thrift store or vintage flea market finds. Perfect for casual outdoor summer dining! And the great thing about boho style is that you can totally make it your own. Here are some tips on how to easily create a casual boho-style summer picnic!

Elements of Casual Boho Summer Picnic

The Table

The first step to styling a casual boho summer picnic is to create your table. One feature of a boho picnic is a low table. I found many beautiful low picnic tables online, but most of them cost $350 or more! Nope! I could not justify spending that kind of money when I knew I could find something for less.

I am so glad I waited and shopped around. Instead of buying a table, I made my own by stacking some pallets I bought on marketplace. The total for all three pallets? Only $30! That is more like it!

I was fortunate to find pallets that were in mint condition with no large gaps between the boards. However, If you have pallets that are in rough condition or need to be repaired, go check out this post from Aliya to read her easy tutorial and see how to build your own DIY boho picnic table.

The Seating

Next, bring the indoors out with the addition of some cozy floor pillows and blankets. Create an eclectic look with a mix of colors and patterns, or create a more cohesive look as I did here using a bright, vibrant summer color palette made with shades of peach, pale pink, golden yellow, and creamy white.

Comfort is key to create a laid-back boho picnic, and these casual summer floor pillows fit the bill! They come in multiple colors, and they won’t break the bank. I chose to keep my pillows to a minimum, but don’t be afraid to add more if you want.

To up the cozy factor, I added a striped throw blanket with tassels to my outdoor picnic. If you don’t have any throws, get creative and use rugs or colorful quilts. Anything goes!

The Place Settings

For the place setting, create layers with a mix of natural elements and bright summer colors. To start, cover your table with a table cloth like this delicate vintage-looking lace cloth to add a romantic touch.

Then add wicker charger plates and layer your plates and bowls on top. If you saw my recent spring garden tablescape, then you might recognize these chargers. They are one of my favorite decor pieces that often appear in my styled tablescapes.

Melamine dishes like these orange plates and the glass-look bowls are the perfect choice for casual outdoor dining.

They are kid-friendly and easy to pack and take along to your picnic destination. (Even if it just your backyard!)

I added some floral plates to my tablescape too. They aren’t plastic, but I fell in love with the watercolor floral pattern, and they complement the rest of the dishes on the table perfectly.

To complete the place setting, add glasses, silverware and a napkin tucked into a napkin ring.

And remember those vintage finds I talked about? Don’t forget to add them to your tablescape too! I used several thrifted pieces, including the berry basket, salt and pepper shakers, vintage glasses, silverware, and water carafe.

The addition of a pretty paper straw in the drink cup and a bottled summer drink is a fun and cost-effective way to add a finishing touch.

The Centerpiece

And last but not least, let’s talk about the centerpiece. Adding a flower centerpiece is an easy way to add a quick pop of summer color to your table.

Your local farmer’s market is a great place to find beautiful blooms this time of the year. Or check the floral department at your grocery store.

I grabbed a few small bouquets at Trader Joe’s (my favorite place to buy fresh flowers!) to create my arrangement.

Then I mixed in some faux peach stems for an added summery touch. 

And don’t forget about the food! Keep your picnic hassle-free with foods that are easy to transport and eat with your hands. Use a wood serving board to create simple trays filled with meats, cheeses, bread, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Feeling inspired to create your own casual boho picnic this summer? Shop the linked images below to grab some of my favorite must-haves.

How To Easily Create A Casual Boho Summer Picnic.

That’s it! I hope you enjoyed reading my tips for how to create a casual boho summer picnic. This was so fun to set up and style. Even both of my daughters got in on the tablescape action. I see a lot of backyard picnics in my future!

Are you planning any picnics this summer? Do you have favorite picnic foods? I would love to know, so tell me in the comments below.

Next, be sure to see how all of my friends styled their summer tables (linked at the bottom of this post), and don’t forget to see our dinner party menu with five brand-new summer dishes to add to your recipe collection, including my recipe for old fashioned strawberry peach crisp.

More Summer Inspiration

Looking for more summer tablescape ideas? Visit Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse to see how she styled her table, and check out all the summer-inspired tablescapes linked below.

Happy Summer!

Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse / Anne and AnneMarie at Simply 2 Moms / Michele at Vintage Home Designs

Stacy at Bricks ‘n Blooms / Jen at Midwest Life and Style

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