2 Tablescapes for Outdoor Dining

The best part about a breezy summer evening is being able to eat outdoors. There is just something about being able to relax, chat and eat with family and friends while also enjoying God's creation.

Since I just finished our Patio Makeover, I thought it'd be fun to dress up the table for some outdoor dining.

AND because I can be a little girly when I want to be -- I dressed my table up twice. I created two very different looks with many of the same items, all of which I already owned. It was like a self-challenge to test my creativity... and it was awesome.

Is this the type of thing everyone does in their spare time??? Probably not.

{UPDATE: I wrote this post about 2 weeks ago, planning to post it this week. Then, by chance, several of the Bloggers that I follow did a series called "One Room, Three Ways" last week. During the series they chose 1 room, decorated it 3 different ways, mostly with items that they already owned. Go check it out! So, it appears I'm not the only person who does this type of thing for fun -- Yay!}

Outdoor Dining Look #1: Simple Formal

This look plays directly off the blue and earth tone color scheme that our Patio Makeover was designed around.

The first layer in this look is a simple white tablecloth I picked up at Meijer in their After-Christmas Clearance several years ago. I don't recall the exact cost but I'm sure it was at least 50% off. I mentioned it before in this post, but shopping holiday clearance is a great way to find affordable home items.

I got the burlap place mats at Meijer after Christmas, too. In this tablescape they make the formal place setting a bit more simple.

The paint-dipped terra cotta pots and mason jar vase also keep the tablescape from feeling too fancy.

Outdoor Dining Look #2: Colorful Casual

This tablescape gets a bit more casual {by losing the place mats and salad plates} and a lot more colorful.

Isn't this tablecloth lovely? I picked it up at a yard sale for less than $3, there were no stains and it has a total Anthro vibe. Even though the Patio Makeover centers around only blues and oranges, this colorful tablecloth ties in wonderfully.

Since this look doesn't include quite as much orange, I did put the orange throw pillows back in the storage bench and just kept the blue lumbar pillows.

I kept the same white china, but switched out the napkins with these sage green ones. Guess where I got them? After-Christmas Clearance once again, only a few bucks for 9 cloth napkins.

Also, to keep it less formal, the napkins and silverware are laid across the dinner plate instead of beside it.

Removing the second terra cotta pot makes the centerpiece smaller and more casual. The mason jar has a few clippings of the cilantro from my herb garden. So simple and lovely. Plus, it smells good, too!

I'd have to say I'm partial to Look #2: Colorful Casual. Even though I loved playing "dress up" with my patio table, I'm still a casual girl at heart. So the Colorful Casual look is just the right mix of girly and comfort for me.

Which look is your favorite? I'd love to hear from you! Tell me which look you like, and why, in the comments.