Emily Henderson transforms outdoor tables with mismatched melamine, layered patterns, portable LED lamps, and fresh herbs. Her approach mixes high and low pieces while keeping everything casual, functional, and budget-friendly for summer entertaining.
You walk onto your deck or patio and see the same boring setup. Plain table. Nothing special. Maybe you’re thinking you need to spend hundreds on matching outdoor china or fancy centerpieces to make it look good.
Here’s the truth: you don’t.
Emily Henderson emphasizes that outdoor entertaining should feel effortless, with easy access to food and drinks, comfortable furniture, and lighting that creates the right mood. Her style works because it’s real. No stress. No formality. Just good design that makes you actually want to use your outdoor space.
The Foundation: Start with Dinnerware That Works
Your outdoor table needs plates that can handle real life. That means dishes that won’t shatter when someone knocks them over, that dry quickly after a surprise rain shower, and that still look good enough for Instagram.
Henderson’s team had different approaches to outdoor dinnerware—Emily uses her everyday dishes outside since her kitchen is close to the deck, while Caitlin loves melamine dishes as everyday dinnerware. The point is there’s no single right answer. Pick what fits your life.
Melamine plates come in gorgeous patterns now. You can find floral prints, bold colors, and designs that look like real ceramic. The trick is choosing pieces you genuinely like, not just settling for whatever’s left at the store in July.
Henderson suggests starting with a punch of color, like cobalt dinnerware paired with a colorful tablecloth, then bringing in smaller complementary pieces in the same color scheme. This creates visual interest without looking like you tried too hard.
Layer Your Linens Like You Mean It
Here’s a styling hack that changes everything: stop using tablecloths the traditional way. Instead of covering your entire table, use a smaller cloth placed diagonally. This exposes the wood underneath, adds texture, and shows off any pretty fringe or details on the fabric.
Henderson’s technique involves using what might seem like a “too small” tablecloth on an angle, exposing the wood underneath to add texture and warmth while showing off the pretty fringe. It looks intentional and interesting instead of like you couldn’t find a cloth that fit.
Cotton napkins beat paper every time. They feel better, look better, and you can wash and reuse them all season. Henderson recommends layering your napkin between your plates and letting it hang off the table to break up the line of the table without taking up more surface room.
Pattern mixing works outdoors because sunlight softens everything. A striped runner with polka dot napkins? Yes. Floral plates with geometric placemats? Absolutely. The outdoor setting gives you permission to be bolder than you’d be inside.
Lighting Creates the Mood
String lights aren’t optional—they’re essential. Henderson believes string lights possess true magic, instantly improving mood when they turn on at night. They create a ceiling effect that makes your outdoor space feel like an actual room instead of just a table in the yard.
Beyond string lights, portable LED lamps changed outdoor entertaining. Henderson loves the Target lantern that’s rechargeable and dimmable for $30, though she also has a Tala lamp that’s ten times the price but really pretty. These lamps let you move lighting where you need it without running extension cords everywhere.
Lanterns grouped together add warmth. Mix sizes and materials—metal with glass, tall with short. Just be realistic about durability if you have kids or big dogs running around.
The Centerpiece Situation
Forget massive floral arrangements that block conversation. Your centerpiece should be low, interesting, and ideally functional.
Fresh herbs in simple containers work perfectly. Henderson suggests putting plants and trees in decorative baskets to give them added impact, especially citrus trees that provide the bonus of bearing fruit. Guests can snip basil for their drinks or their plates. It smells amazing and looks natural without trying too hard.
Potted succulents from your windowsill work great. So do wildflowers from the market arranged in thrifted glass bottles. The key is keeping things casual and collected-looking rather than formal and matchy.
Henderson uses mini bowls, trays, and tiered stands for serving, making everything accessible while keeping the table organized. This self-serve approach reduces stress and lets guests help themselves without waiting for you to play host constantly.
The Bug Problem (Let’s Be Honest)
Mosquitoes will ruin any outdoor gathering faster than anything else. Citronella candles need to be part of your setup, but that doesn’t mean they have to look boring.
Henderson considers bug repellent candles essential, noting she’s a mosquito magnet, and with so many cute options available, you can create ambiance while keeping bugs away. Look for ceramic containers, cement finishes, or wood styles that match your overall aesthetic.
Food covers are another game-changer most people forget. Henderson uses mesh food covers all the time, and guests are always grateful and surprised by them, especially the ones large enough to fit over a pizza or huge salad bowl. They keep flies away without making your spread look institutional.
Glassware and Drinkware Strategy
Acrylic glassware has come a long way. You can find fluted highballs, textured tumblers, and wine glasses that look like real glass but won’t shatter on concrete or tile.
Henderson notes that glassware is where you can play with texture and shapes, recommending specific acrylic pieces while acknowledging that pitchers and drink dispensers can be real glass since they don’t get tossed around as much.
Big drink dispensers solve the constant refill problem. Set up a self-serve station with lemon water, iced tea, or whatever fits your party. Add a tray with glasses and ice nearby so guests can help themselves.
The Finishing Touches That Matter
Side tables or stools near seating areas give guests somewhere to set drinks. Henderson loves adding sculptural stools to outdoor spaces because they work as side tables, extra seating, or fun plant holders. They’re small enough not to overwhelm the space but functional enough to actually use.
Throws and extra pillows make outdoor seating comfortable enough that people actually stay. Choose outdoor-rated fabrics that can handle some weather exposure. Mix patterns and textures just like you would inside.
Henderson’s approach includes using arrows, chevrons, ikat dots, and printed napkins together to create visual interest while maintaining a cohesive color story. The outdoor setting lets you be braver with pattern mixing than you might be in your dining room.
Budget-Friendly Reality Check
You don’t need to buy everything at once. Start with one great piece—maybe a set of melamine plates you love or some new string lights. Build from there as you find pieces that fit your style and budget.
Henderson created a cobalt dinnerware setup with a Modern Melamine Dinnerware Set, Fluted Acrylic Highball glasses, and a Cotton Plaid Tablecloth, proving you can create a pulled-together look with affordable pieces. Target, World Market, and Home Depot all stock surprisingly stylish outdoor entertaining pieces now.
The expensive furniture can wait. Focus on the tabletop first because that’s what makes meals memorable. Comfortable chairs and a decent table matter, but the styling details—the plates, the lighting, the little thoughtful touches—make people want to linger.
Making It Actually Happen
Your outdoor space won’t get used if it takes thirty minutes of setup every time. Keep entertaining essentials stored nearby in weatherproof containers. Pre-plan your favorite combinations so you’re not starting from scratch each time.
Henderson focuses on effortless entertaining, styling fresh florals from a market in bud vases and creating a food and beverage area where guests can help themselves. The easier you make it on yourself, the more often you’ll actually use the space.
Weather-resistant doesn’t mean ugly anymore. From durable bamboo serving pieces to melamine platters that look ceramic, you can find pieces that handle outdoor conditions without sacrificing style.
The Real Secret
Emily Henderson’s outdoor tabletop approach works because it’s not about perfection. It’s about creating a space that feels good to be in. Mix the expensive with the affordable. Use what you already have. Add pieces slowly as you figure out what you actually need versus what looks good in photos.
Henderson reminds us that what makes an indoor party good—drinks, food, easy access to both, lighting, music, and comfortable furniture—applies outdoors too, with decor matching the vibe you want to create. The fundamentals don’t change just because you’re outside.
Your outdoor table doesn’t need to look like a magazine spread. It needs to make you want to eat breakfast there on Saturday mornings. It needs to handle eight people showing up for burgers without stressing you out. It needs to feel like an extension of your home, not a completely separate project.
Start with the basics. Add the details that make sense for how you actually live. Skip the stuff that feels like work. Your outdoor space should make life better, not give you another thing to maintain and worry about.
That’s the real Emily Henderson outdoor tabletop philosophy—make it functional, make it pretty, and actually use it.
Comments are closed.