Farmhouse Al Fresco

Celebrate spring with an outdoor dinner party full of farmhouse charm.

- Victoria Van Vlear

The weather is warming up, so dust off your outdoor furniture and host a farmhouse al fresco dinner this spring. Blogger Yvonne Platt of Stone Gable has created this stunning tablescape for a sophisticated but relaxed meal with friends. Here are her ten top tips for entertaining this season.

1. Change your table trappings. You don’t need to have every kind of covering at the table. Table cloth, runner, placemats—pick one or two to let the grain of your farmhouse table show through. “I didn’t use placemats at the table,” Yvonne says. “Just a blue and white striped table runner that lends itself to farm-to-table dining.”

2. Cotton, not silk. When it comes to farmhouse dining, simple and easy is always best. Don’t take out your grandmother’s heirloom silk napkins if you’re eating outside or there are kids at the party. “I have no fussy linens on this table,” Yvonne says. “I want ones that I can pop right into the washer.” Cotton is simple, easy to clean and not pretentious. Save the silk for Christmas.