How To Create a Dreamy Outdoor Dining Space

I am sharing with you my tips and tricks on how to create a dreamy outdoor dining space in your own backyard!

This post is in partnership with World Market and contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Guys, I’m still pinching myself that a large portion of our home has now been painted white! The rest should be wrapped up today and I can’t wait to share more! The first area that was completed was our back patio. I may have hinted to our painter that I had an outdoor dining post coming up that would turn out so much better if he were able to wrap this area up first 😉

Today I’m going to share tips and tricks for creating your dream outdoor dining space! And lucky for you guys, I noticed World Market has started their Memorial Day sale early. Several of the decor items are already marked down, but you can also save 15% on your entire purchase online with code STARS15, or 20% if you’re a World Market Explorer Member (free to join) with code FLAGWME. Following are my favorite tips for creating a stylish outdoor dining space you’ll love for years to come!

Know Your Color Scheme

Previously, our dining area was a sea of brown. Brown house, brown windows, brown table, brown chairs. It all just seemed to blend together. It was really hard to get the casual coastal look I was going for when everything was so monotone. Here’s a look at the “before”.

I had been eyeing these navy outdoor bistro chairs for some time and knew they would be the perfect update to transform the space. Paired with these Sunbrella striped pillows, the space immediately becomes consistent with my interior coastal decorating style! Here is how the space looks now! I couldn’t be more excited about how it turned out! By adding in the pops of charming blue and white, the space completely changed! By having key pieces in your favorite decorating color scheme, I think you’ll be amazed at just how easy it is to transform your outdoor dining space!

I can’t say enough good things about these chairs. Not only are they too cute to look at, they are comfy, weather-resistant and durable! If blue and white aren’t your thing, they also have a black and white version.

Ground the Space With an Outdoor Rug

We’ve had this textured neutral rug for nearly three years, but World Market has a great selection of outdoor rugs. By using a rug, you ground the space and help define the area – especially if you have other outdoor furniture on your patio. Outdoor rugs are also a fun way to pull in some additional color and pattern!

Here are a few of my current favorite outdoor rugs:

Add in Greenery or Flowers

By adding in some clippings from your yard or the grocery store to your tablescape, you instantly add organic appeal to your table. This could also be achieved by adding flower pots around your dining space, and even adding green clippings to your place settings like I did below. I also brought in some bougainvillea to add a punch of color. I love how beautiful the petals pair with the rich blue accents!

Create A Dedicated Drink Station

Having your drinks in a central location off the main table will help free up tabletop space. My friend gave me this old barcart some time ago, and I thought it was perfect for the outdoors. While a barcart isn’t necessary, having an ice bucket like this acrylic textured party tub is a necessity! I was surprised at just how much it holds (basically the equivalent of five bottles of wine)!

I love that World Market also carries unique drink and food options that work so well for parties! These artisanal lemonade French soda and artisanal cherry and lemon French soda are a delicious (and beautiful!) alternative to your basic cans of soda. And you know I had to buy this gold pineapple bottle opener – the perfect final addition to the drink station!

Select Outdoor-Friendly Service Pieces

We have a fairly strict no-glass policy in our backyard for safety around out pool. But, I’m guessing most people prefer to avoid glass outside as well. That’s why I’ve always been a fan of World Market’s melamine plates. Their styles look like ceramic or stoneware but you don’t have to worry about them breaking! And I feel like they are a better alternative to paper because you can re-use them and they don’t blow around every time the breeze picks up (which is non-stop in Nebraska. These Indigo Melamine Dinner plates ore so beautiful in real life!

I paired the plates with these natural fiber oval placements, gold flatware, acrylic wine glasses, and these dotted stripe napkins! I specifically chose these placemats because of their wider size. I love that I don’t have to worry about placing the utensils directly on an outdoor table.

Add In Ambient Lighting

If you plan to use your outdoor dining space into the evenings, I highly recommend adding in ambient statement lighting. There are a number of ways this can be achieved. We plan to add string lights above the table again once our paint has cured. But you can also add in candles, lanterns or ground lighting to achieve that magical garden feel! Here are a few options I think you’ll love:

Simplicity is Key

Above all else, remember that simplicity is key! Don’t “overdecorate” your outdoor dining space or feel like every detail has to be perfect. Outdoor dining is intended to be casual and fun and the more you can enjoy yourself, the more guests will enjoy themselves as well!

I hope you enjoyed these decorative outdoor dining tips! You can find all of my sources for this space below.

Be sure to also check out all of the other gorgeous outdoor dining options that World Market has to offer! Thank you again to World Market for partnering with me on today’s post!

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disclosure: some affiliate links used