Celebrations are much different this year. I had planned to spend my birthday abroad, but 2020 had other plans. I wanted something laid-back but still had a fancy flare so I opted for a small backyard picnic set up to bring in my birthday.

I normally do dinner with my extended group of friends but decided to celebrate with a few people this year for obvious reasons. I had a great birthday and it turned out to be much better than I thought. Thank you for your warm wishes and kind words.

Here are some things to keep in mind for an intimate backyard picnic set up for celebrations.

1. Pick a Theme/ Aesthetic

   Since this will be outside, you’re most likely going to have a green or dark brown scene (grass and fences/trees around) so pick an accent color with that in mind. I overdo gold so I went for a softer more warm rose gold color. Rose Gold normally gives me baby shower vibes but it paired well with the green background and the garland.

2. Don’t Overthink It

   Once you have a simple vision together and gather the materials, it takes minutes to put together. Look through some items in your home to see if you can repurpose them for your picnic. My friends gifted me with flowers so I used that as a centerpiece for the table.

3. Don’t Overspend

You don’t need a fancy table, you can just use pallets or crates as a table. You can put a table cover over it but I used a table runner since I liked the rugged look of the wood. On some occasions, you may be able to find free pallets from the smaller businesses that receive shipments on wooden pallets. Big companies have some as well but probably have a standard way to get rid of them but it won’t hurt to ask.

4. Get Cozy

Think of bringing the comfort of your bed outside. Set out a blanket or a mat with some pillows. I used mats and pillows I got on sale at Ikea. I appreciated the cozy and relaxed vibe it created.

5. Light It Up

One of the simplest ways to elevate your picnic is by adding lights. You can hang them over the table as I did or wrap them around trees if you have any. I also added some flameless candles to set on the table to add extra light. It makes for a good day to night transition.

Table Runner, Ikea. Garland, Micheals. Outdoor Lights, Target. Flameless Candles, Ikea. Service plates, The Dollar Tree. Plates, Ikea. Cutlery Set, Party City. Pillows and Rugs, Ikea.

I have also loaded a video on how to set up a backyard picnic on Tiktok to show you how I brought this together.

Thank you for reading.