Picnics are one of my favorite summertime activities. To me, there’s nothing better than sitting in nature while enjoying some company and delicious food. It’s a wonderful and fun way to enjoy the summer weather. In the midst of social distancing, picnics make for the perfect social setting!
After our professionally planned wedding anniversary picnic last month, I was inspired to create a beautiful and practical picnic setups of my own. The great thing about picnics is they don’t have to be complicated. They can be as simple or elaborate as you want and enjoyed almost anywhere – at the park, beach, backyard, on a rooftop, or even indoors.
The key to any successful picnic is a little bit of planning and creativity. For an everyday family picnic, I stick with the essentials. I like bringing a rug or blanket, a tray, a basket or cooler, and some decorative charm with a vase of flowers and pillows.
When planning for a larger party or something more extravagant, I bring some elevated essentials like a larger rug or blanket and more pillows. Then I elevate the ambiance by adding a low table, an ice bucket, a serving tray, and a tablescape.
If you’re looking to create your own dreamy picnic, below are my must-have lists for hosting a pretty and classic picnic, as well as a fancier picnic with all of the extras. Depending on your style and taste, you can choose different colors and designs, or add extra decor to suit your preferences. All that’s left is the menu and you’re ready!
Whether you’re planning a romantic picnic for two or a fun outing with family and friends, I hope this guide helps you make your next picnic the best one yet!
Classic Picnic
Simple and minimalist, great for leisurely everyday picnics
Rug/Blanket
This is the main and largest structure of the picnic setup as it provides a base and protection from the ground. I’m using this 4’x6’, 100% recycled plastic rug. This size is ideal for 2-4 people. It’s lightweight and low maintenance – you can simply roll it up and spills are easily wiped or swept away. Alternatively, you can use a waterproof picnic blanket, which is compact and easy to carry. You can add a soft blanket on top for comfort and aesthetics.
Rugs
Waterproof Picnic Blanket
Blankets
Serving Tray
The grass can make for bumpy and uneven ground. A tray gives you a stable place to keep your food and drinks while keeping everything from falling over. It also makes it easy to pass everything onto others. I also use this food tent to protect the food from bugs.
Pillows
I never thought I needed pillows until I picnicked without them. They definitely add an extra layer of comfort and are great for sitting or lounging on. I use 4 small rectangular pillows for picnics with 2-4 people. I generally have at least one pillow per person, but you may need more or less depending on the size of the pillows and the number of people.
Cooler/Picnic Basket
This multipurpose cooler is the “picnic basket” I use to store our food. I use ice packs or bags filled with ice cubes to keep our food and drinks cool. It’s large enough that I can keep dinnerware, flatware, napkins, and tumblers while picnicking until they’re ready to use.
Optional Items: cups, utensils, napkins, food, beverages, flowers
Fancy Picnic
Elaborate and fun, great for special occasions, perfect for social events
Theme
When planning a fancy picnic, a theme is key to tying all the elements together. I like to start by picking a palette of colors that I want to go with. Then I try to work in those colors with each element below.
Rug/Blanket
A 5’x8’ rug or larger is ideal for creating a spacious and captivating atmosphere. You want to make sure it’s large enough to fit your party and items comfortably. A soft blanket placed directly on top of the rug helps make it a cozier space. I love the design on my rug, so I prefer placing a blanket like a diamond so parts of the rug still show. If you don’t have a rug, you can lay out multiple blankets. I suggest using two blankets side by side with a third one on top in the middle.
Rugs
Blankets
Low Table
This is an absolute must for turning an ordinary picnic into an extraordinary one. A low table provides a flat and level surface to hold all of your food and drinks. It makes eating so much easier because it’s stable, spacious, and just the right height. I love using this 2’x3’ folding table, which has an adjustable height. It fits 4 people comfortably and 6 snuggly. If you don’t have a folding table with an adjustable height, you can still use a regular folding tabletop by keeping the legs folded in and propping the table up with wooden blocks. You can get blocks from your local hardware store and place them under the four corners of the table. Another alternative option is to use stacked wooden pallets covered with a tablecloth.
Pillows
Similarly to a classic picnic, depending on the size of your party, there should be at least one pillow per person. For fancier picnics, I like to add additional pillows of different sizes to make it more inviting and glamorous.
Wet Cooler
When going out for an extended period of time, I try to make sure we have enough drinks to keep everyone hydrated. I fill a cooler with ice, along with our drinks, to keep our beverages cold.
Dry Cooler
I pack all of our food into this cooler with ice packs or bags of ice to keep the food fresh. With whatever room is left, I pack other picnic items like dinnerware, flatware, napkins, and tumblers.
Tablescape
This is the focal display of the picnic and it can be decorated however you like! You can keep it simple with a tablecloth and vase of flowers or go all out with a table runner, chargers, and dinnerware.
Suggested Items: Tablecloth, table runner, napkins, dinnerware, flatware, chargers, cups, wine tumblers, vase of flowers
Wagon
This is very helpful in transporting all your picnic supplies if you’re picnicking in a remote location. The heavy duty wheels make transporting everything super easy. This is the same wagon I use on our beach trips.
Optional Items: ice bucket, serving trays, utensil caddy, bottle opener, food tent, portable speaker
