Country Western Party Decorating Ideas

Yellow, Petal, Flower, Table, Centrepiece, Flowerpot, Tablecloth, Cut flowers, Bouquet, Linens,

No matter what the theme, get ideas for table settings, flowers, and other decorations for your next outdoor party.

Picnic Bench with Blue Table Cloth

Debra McClinton

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Lakeside Table

Uncomplicated yet refined is the philosophy at this outdoor fete. Vibrant colors — in the flowers, the tableware, even the food — enhance the lush lakeside setting. A simple cotton tablecloth and summer flowers dress up the food-laden picnic table with a minimum of effort.

Red Daisies

Debra McClinton

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Daisy Decor

Galvanized buckets with red gerbera daisies brighten up wooden posts.

Daisies in Blue Glass

Debra McClinton

3 of 19

Hand-Picked Arrangement

If you don't have a garden from which to snip blooms, you can often find seasonal classics such as daisies and roses at the grocery store. Tucked into a small container such as this cobalt blue votive holder, summery daisies are a perfect choice: They can be bought the day before, they're hardy enough to withstand a car ride (even with a couple of quick errand stops), and it takes just minutes to arrange them.

outdoor party table setting

Miki Duisterhof

4 of 19

Outdoor Oasis

A giant umbrella shields party guests from the blazing afternoon sun, and hanging lanterns will illuminate the table come nightfall. Mix citronella candles with other colorful tea lights to keep away pests, and offer diners light cotton shawls to ward off a chill in the evening.

table with lanterns and flowers

Debra McClinton

5 of 19

Colorful Tableware

Use durable enamelware so you won't have any sagging or soggy paper goods that eventually flip over or rip, and you and your guests can go back for seconds (and thirds) with the same plate. Nothing is disposable, so trash is minimized — a picnic necessity!

birthday pinata

Claire Richardson

6 of 19

Playful Piñata

A vibrant palette will give the party its cheerful country look, and a playful piñata ensures the party will end with favors that drop from the sky (find one at talkingpinatas.com).

outdoor table set for tea party

Robin Stubbert

7 of 19

Pastel Table

Fanciful, intimate, and simple to prepare, a tea party is a party like no other. Set the scene with fragrant branches of lilacs and vintage china adorned with English rose motifs. Floral-print napkins, silver teaspoons, tiered serving pieces, and a dash of pastel-colored sugar all add a touch of romantic grandeur. And a chandelier hanging from a tree branch lends the affair sophisticated charm.

roses and peonies in a floral-print tote

Robin Stubbert

8 of 19

Floral Tote

For a winsome welcome, hang a tote brimming with flowers at the party's entrance.

flowers in vases

Thayer Allyson Gowdy

9 of 19

Small Things

Personal touches — a hand-delivered invitation, a warm welcome, beautiful bouquets — make the party.

bright flowers in a teapot

Robin Stubbert

10 of 19

Vibrant Flowers

Extravagant blooms, such as garden roses, lupines, peonies, and lilacs, set the scene, as do lush arrangements in pitchers filled with flowers from your own garden or a market.

party table on porch

Laura Moss

11 of 19

Throw a Party on Your Back Porch

Keep the decor simple with fabric banners in playful colors and bouquets of flowers handpicked from the garden.

birdcage with flowers

Aimee Herring

12 of 19

Thoughtful Favors

Fill a vintage birdcage with fresh or faux flowers (and birds!) for a unique take on the traditional floral centerpiece. Then pass out the miniature bouquets as thoughtful favors as guests leave.

blue and green picnic table

Janis Nicolay

13 of 19

Blueberry Picnic

A picnic table set with blues and greens under a canopy is a welcoming retreat from the summer sun. A blueberry pie, set in a larger dish and adorned with a wreath of fresh berry branches, serves as the centerpiece. Blueberry shortcake layered in parfait dishes and local goat cheese served with blueberry chutney are just as tempting.

three white cups holding utensils

Tria Giovan

14 of 19

Set Out Silverware

Set out silverware in containers. If a fork drops to the ground, guests can easily reach for another. When it's time to clean up, load the containers with silverware from the table and carry inside to the dishwasher.

large bottles of lemonade in a bucket of ice outside

Tria Giovan

15 of 19

Chill the Beverages

Chill beverages in galvanized buckets filled with ice. This saves room in the refrigerator and makes it easy for guests to help themselves whenever they're thirsty. Lemonade in glass bottles makes a refreshing choice.

table set outdoors with bales of hay

Alexandra Rowley

16 of 19

Hay Bale Seating

Rustic bales of hay make more theme-appropriate seating than basic folding chairs. Find them at a local farm-supply store.

guests eating at an outdoor table with sunflowers and lanterns

Aimee Herring

17 of 19

Hoedown Table Setting

Three tables joined together and covered with simple, inexpensive burlap create a long single dining table for 16 guests; railroad lanterns provide illumination as night falls. During a break from dancing, guests chat with neighbors over a plate of buttermilk fried chicken and herbed biscuits.

tiered dessert tray with sunflower cupcakes surrounded by suspended lanterns

Aimee Herring

18 of 19

Sunflower Cupcakes

Miniature sunflower cupcakes on an antique wire stand encourage guests to help themselves between dances. Lanterns suspended from tree branches light the way after sundown.

hoedown dance floor