PICNIC TABLE GLOW-UP
We were so lucky to buy a house with a huge backyard, but we weren’t naive that a huge yard = a huge amount of work. The patio deck was an area we just did not get around to in our first summer in the house. Although it’s a small space, it’s arguably one of the most used and it’s visible from our kitchen, so the aesthetic mattered. It seems that (along with everything) the price of patio sets have doubled recently and with the other projects we have on our list, a $2000 patio table was not in the cards. I had to get a bit creative and have secretly always wanted a chance to create a picnic table moment. I started with a mini vision board and got to work sourcing.
I think picnic tables get such a bad rep, and honestly think the coveted harvest table trend is only a glorified picnic table. The fact that the benches are attached actually adds a great layer of safety with small kids. My grandmother used to have a picnic set in her backyard and you used to have to be so careful wear you sat on the seat, because it would just topple over. Attached benches totally solve that problem! And because the benches run the full length of the table, it maximizes seating. You can very comfortably fit three adults, and easily four kids per side. Which upgraded our original six-chair set, to a table that takes up the same amount of space and seats 8-10.
Like with indoor dinning, intentionally choosing pieces vs going with a matching set, quickly adds a custom vibe. So capping off the picnic table with two armchairs easily elevates the whole look. Plus, it’s great to still have the option of a chair for people who prefer it over bench-style seating.
String lights are a must in my opinion, and these Amazon beauties add the perfect ambience. When they’re on, the light that shines in our window looks identical to the light from a sunset; nice and warm but still very natural. We really wanted to go with a Toja Grid system, but the low roof line and existing railing made it too crammed and would have left the lights hanging too low. We ended up just adding the post to the corner of the deck with a base bracket and secured it to the railing.
I love the whole low profile aesthetic of everything. We dressed it up with some low maintenance but showy potted bacopas, pillows and a few faux sheepskin rugs and voila! Look at that before and after! Easy patio glow-up for less than $1000. Anyone else up for creating a picnic table moment? Links and details below!
