Enjoy dining al fresco this fall with my simple tips for styling a cozy backyard harvest picnic.
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Fall Harvest Dinner Party
Today is a good day, friends. It’s finally fall, and supper club is back once again! This month I’m excited to team up with my friends Stacy, Rachel, Anne, AnnMarie, and Michele, to bring you more table styling and recipe inspiration.
In August, we kicked off autumn with ideas for hosting a tailgate at home. This month, we’re celebrating the season by sharing ideas for styling a fall harvest tablescape, and I’m sharing my tips for hosting a cozy and inviting backyard picnic.
Once again, we have invited a guest host to join the fun. We are thrilled to welcome Robyn from Robyn’s French Nest. I was blessed to meet Robyn at the annual Haven Conference this past summer. She is as sweet as they come and incredibly talented. I hope you’ll take some time to visit Robyn’s blog. I know you’ll adore her as much as I do.
If you are joining me today from Anne and AnnMarie over at Simply2Moms, thank you for stopping by!
I’m Jen. A wife, mom of two, and lifelong Nebraskan. I have a slight obsession with Diet Dr. Pepper and love to bake, blog, and share my passions for all the things that make a house a home.
Here at MWLS, my goal is to inspire you and show you that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to create a beautiful and inviting home.
Simple Tips For Styling A Cozy Backyard Harvest Picnic This Fall
Okay, enough about me. Let’s get to the picnic!
We love to dine outdoors whenever we get the chance. Lately, I’ve enjoyed styling several picnics like this casual boho summer party and this romantic outdoor table for two.
Now that the weather has cooled down and the mosquitos are minimal, it’s the perfect time to enjoy a meal al fresco. Here are some of my favorite quick and simple tips to help you get started with styling your own cozy backyard harvest picnic this fall.
Choose Your Table
We don’t have a large outdoor dining table, so at times I have to get a little creative.
If you’re short on dining space too, a few stacked pallets are a great solution to create a boho picnic table. I was fortunate to find pallets with no warped or broken boards. However, If you have some that need to be repaired, read this post to see how my friend Aliya at Open Doors Open Hearts salvaged a few pallets to build her own table.
Add Some Seating
Create a casual and inviting feel for your fall picnic with mix and match seating.
Mini hay bales draped with plaid blankets are a simple way to add instant fall vibes. And, as a bonus, the bales can double as porch decor when you’re done.
Up the comfy factor, with the addition of a few floor pillows for extra seating. These pillows are great for indoors too, and the best part is they won’t break the bank!
Create A Simple Centerpiece
Create a simple centerpiece by using things that you already have on hand.
When I think of fall, I think of fresh-picked apples straight from the orchard, so these beauties were the inspiration for styling my harvest-themed tablescape.
A basket adds texture, height, and a rustic feel to the table. Filled with apples and bunches of fresh eucalyptus, it’s the perfect focal point.
To add some ambiance to the picnic dinner setting I mixed in pillar candles with some vintage brass candle holders.
Amber jars are one of my favorite things to decorate with this time of year, so I decided they needed a spot on my table too. I filled them with few cattails and some pampas grass clippings from our yard.
And voila! My centerpiece was complete.
Set The Table
Like the centerpiece, I chose to keep the place settings simple to match the causal-elegant feel of the picnic.
I created layers using a rattan charger and my everyday cream stoneware.
I made some DIY frayed napkins out of rust-colored fabric. Then, to tie everything together, I placed an apple on the top of each plate.
To finish the place setting I added some gold silverware and glass mason jars filled with cider.
Simple Tips For Styling A Cozy Backyard Harvest Picnic This Fall
I hope you enjoyed reading my tips for styling a fall picnic. I loved using apples and a mix of greens from my backyard to create this simple and cozy harvest-themed table.
You can shop from the links above to recreate this look, or use what you already have to create something uniquely you. There’s no right or wrong way to set a picnic table. Just have fun with it!
As always, thank you for stopping by the blog. Your support means so much to me, and I always enjoy reading your comments and questions.
More Fall Harvest Tablescape Inspiration
Looking for more tablescape ideas? Be sure to visit Michele at Vintage Home Designs to see how she styled her table, and check out all the autumn harvest-inspired tablescapes linked below.
And don’t forget to see our fall harvest menu. It is filled with six brand-new delicious dishes, including my super simple turkey apple and cheddar panini. You’re sure to find some new favorites, and the menu will help take the guesswork out of planning the meal for your next fall gathering.
Happy fall!
Stacy at Bricks ‘n Blooms / Anne & AnnMarie at Simply2Moms / Jen at Midwest Life and Style
Michele at Vintage Home Designs / Robyn at Robyn’s French Nest / Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse
Cindy@CountyRoad407 says
I would love spending time out there. Hope you get to enjoy it!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Cindy. It’s finally feeling like fall so we plan to!
Shawna says
I love this idea so much and your styling is gorgeous! It makes me want to plan a picnic right now.
midwestlifeandstyle says
That is so kind, Shawna. Thank you, friend. I appreciate it!
Kelly says
Jen your Fall tablescape is beautiful as usual! Love the apples…you have inspired me!!!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you so much, Kelly. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
AnnMarie says
This may be my favorite tablescape you’ve done yet! So many gorgeous colors and textures.
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, AnnMarie! I appreciate your kind comment so much. The wind and weather were less than cooperative on photoshoot day, so I was not feeling overly happy with how the pictures came out. I think sometimes we are always our worst critics, aren’t we? Happy you can see past it all to find the fall inspiration.
Paula@SweetPea says
Your fall table is gorgeous!!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you so much, Paula!
michele/vintage home designs says
I just love this fall outdoor picnic idea! Such cute ideas and I love the apples on each napkin and the haybale for seating.
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Michele! I love creating these tables each month and seeing everyone’s creative ideas. Can’t wait for the yummy recipes on Saturday!
Robyn says
Jenn! This is so gorgeous! I love those chargers and all the texture you used. The hay bale seats are the BEST! Thanks for these fun ideas!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Robyn. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Happy to have you joining us this month. Cheers to fall!
stacy says
What a beautiful table Jen! I love the eucalyptus and apples. The bale of hay seating is the perfect touch! xo
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thanks so much, Stacy. Happy fall!
Rachel Harper says
Jen,
I loved the apples and cider. Perfect fall harvest table setting.
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Rachel. I love using apples for the fall, so this was a great way to incorporate them.