Summer tablescaping on the pink pagoda

The thing I love most about entertaining outside, is the lack of mess and clutter it creates inside! Our homes have to work so hard these days - and my boys are definitely not getting any smaller - so every spare inch counts. Which is why, when Very asked if I’d partner with them to help show off their fabulous home & garden range, my instant thought was to create an outdoor tablescape perfect for summer entertaining. AKA getting my guests out of the house and into the garden ASAP before they notice the piles of laundry everywhere.

Another thing I really love about eating outside is that perfection is not expected – in fact it’s impossible. Because things go wrong outside – there might be a shower of rain; the candles could refuse to light in the breeze; you might have your starter stolen by the neighbour’s cat. But it’s these unexpected and unplanned-for moments that make for the best dinner party anecdotes. And anyway, you put your guests at ease when real life intervenes.

When it came to choosing a theme for my outdoor table, I was inspired by this pretty floral dinner service and the woodland behind my house to go for a vintagey wild flower feel, with faded fabrics and a pink, blue and green colour palette, to match my interiors. See below for plenty more pics, links to the decor items I used, plus table styling tips…

Please ignore the fact that I clearly hate ironing

My 5 tips for fuss-free table styling:

1. Use tall glasses or tumblers as vases - smaller arrangements mean guests can see each other more easily across the table

2. A white tablecloth makes everything look classy - use a flat sheet if you don’t have one and layer with a table runner and placemats

3. Outdoor rugs help to zone your dining space and make it feel like an outdoor room

4. An indoor plant makes a great centrepiece without having to spend more on flowers

5. Ribbons round cutlery looks fancy and only costs a few pence - tuck a flower in too for extra style points (I forgot!)

Links to decor:

• Floral ceramic dining set

• Outdoor rug

• Purple wine glasses

• Crystal tumblers

• Crystal high ball glasses (used as vases on the pink shelf)

• Green succulent tea light holder (on pink shelf)

• Eucalyptus table runner

• Hessian place mats

• Pink napkins (on side table)

• Teal & grey Aztec cushions

• Black and grey geometric cushion

• White meadow planter (in centre of table)

This post is sponsored by Very, but all thoughts, opinions and decisions not to iron the tablecloth are entirely my own. And here’s the link again to Very’s treasure trove of a home & garden range