Get Your Outdoor Space Jubilee-Ready

The Platinum Jubilee is on the horizon, and here at Sara Miller London, we can’t think of a better way to mark the occasion than with a spot of al fresco dining. With the weather showing signs of warming up, it’s the perfect opportunity to take on hosting duties and catch up over some food and drink to celebrate. Read below for our top tips on creating the perfect outdoor dining space.

1. Gather the essentials together.

Explore our range of outdoor dining essentials. Our practical melamine collection is adorned in our timeless peony print – featuring the striking peony flower set amongst colourful foliage. The combination of soft hues and vibrant colours creates an uplifting design guaranteed to add a touch of style to your dinner setting. Whether you’re looking for salad servers for your super-food salads or a large-handled tray to serve your drinks or bowls of nibbles in the garden, we’ve got everything you need.

Or, if you’re looking for something a little different, opt for our exquisite Orchard Collection. Immersed with flourishing foliage, our Orchard range of tableware will add some enchantment to your everyday - featuring whimsical birds and delicate butterflies fluttering amongst luscious fruit trees in an idyllic secret garden. From cake stands for your sweet treats to gold-embellished mugs to enjoy your favourite hot drinks in, let your tableware do the talking.

Planning a picnic? Our Duck Egg Orchard Floral Bamboo Lunch Box with its soft uplifting pastel palette will keep your food secure and fresh when you’re on the move. Combine with our matching Duck Egg Floral Travel Tumbler to ensure your favourite drinks stay cool or warm throughout your outdoor gathering. With a pop-off air-tight lid and a 350ml capacity this stunning cup is both pretty and practical.

If you want to beat the heat don’t forget to stay hydrated and what better way to carry your water in style than with our beautiful 600ml Orchard Butterfly Glass Water Bottle. Featuring delicate butterflies dancing amongst luscious lemons, blossom and foliage, this glass bottle is even embellished with gold detailing for an extra touch of opulence.

2. Make the most of your space.

Outdoor dining is a great option across the board: for families, it gives the adults a chance to unwind in the fresh air and lets the little ones roam around more freely. Whatever the size of our space, dividing your outdoor area into sections can work really well: you could allocate a serve-yourself buffet table to keep food all in one place, a separate eating area with a laid table ready to go, a more relaxed seating area to retire to after your meal and a kids area.

If you have the room, you might want to introduce a games corner – activities like Giant Jenga and Twister will be sure to go down a treat – allowing grown-ups space to relax and catch-up.

3. Create outdoor ambiance.

There are a whole host of ways to achieve that perfect outdoor ambiance and help your guests feel comfortable and at-home. If you’re dining in the evening, you might want to experiment with lighting: solar powered fairy lights are a practical and decorative way of creating a warm and inviting atmosphere, whilst cordless outdoor lamps or candle lanterns make a lovely focal point and mellow the mood outdoors. Do also pay special attention to lighting pathways and steps to avoid any slips and trips. Or get your glow on with an outdoor fire pit or chiminea! A real flame can create the perfect focal point and will take the chill out of those long summer evenings. Bringing a wireless speaker outside for some low background music will complete the perfect outdoor ambience to enjoy stargazing with your friends and family.

You could try surrounding your outdoor seating with pots of herbs or beds of fragrant flowers nearby to naturally invigorate the senses. Or include scented blooms in a showstopping centre piece for your table like using our Duck Egg Orchard Floral Teapot re-purposed as a beautiful vase. Featuring a meadow garden flourishing with lemons and wildflower blossoms, this fine china teapot is the perfect way to make a real wow! Why not combine with our Orchard Collection cake plates, mugs and cake stand to create the perfect summer table?

4. Add colourful accents.

The sun is shining and the gathering is in full-swing. You can inject both colour and comfort into your garden and patio space from the get-go with some unique statement pieces like colourful throws, outdoor rugs or cushions. Providing it’s a dry day and surfaces aren’t wet or damp, why not accessorize and dress-up your outdoor chairs and benches with a scattering of our sumptuous velvet cushions? Our gorgeous range of cushions will help transform the look and feel of your al fresco dining area. The perfect combination of luxury and style, the opulent bursts of colour and eye-catching signature prints will add both colour and personality. Designed to mix and match, they’re guaranteed to create a visual feast for your space. Why not start out with our stunning Navy Orchard Birds & Gate Velvet Cushion? Perfect for cosying up with, this designer cushion features elegant songbirds perched amid luscious fruit trees in an idyllic secret garden and will make the perfect companion to your summer dining experience.