BACK PORCH ENTERTAINING IDEAS 

Last month we cleaned up all the pollen, added a new dining set and got the back porch ready for entertaining. Today I’m sharing ideas for a buffet style dining experience. We have three areas under the covered porch that are perfect for enjoying life outside. Let me show you how we use each area. It’s much easier to serve meals outside and I think it makes the food taste better!

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Creating a relaxing outdoor dining experience is easy. Just a few things from around the house, affordable items to set the table and serve with and that’s all you’ll need. To make it fun, I like to start with color and let nature inspire me when decorating outside. Using inexpensive flowers from Walmart and colorful fruit and veggies really make the table and buffet area come alive.

SET THE TABLE

• White Melamine dinner plates
• Better Homes & Gardens Melamine Teal Medallion bowls
• White napkins with inked details
• Buffalo check dish towels

The white dinner plate will make it easy to change up from party to party, just pop any colorful bowl or salad plate on top and you have a new look.

Just click to Shop the look, I love all of these:

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The Better Homes & Gardens wire basket is holds one of my vintage mason jars filled with grocery store flowers. I filled in around the jar with tangerines for more color and the kids love snacking on them. Shop your house for tablescape items, like these peat pot succulents, I use them anytime I need a pop of green. I have a small collection of old soda bottles and I love adding flowers in them to spread down the center of the table.  Keeping the decor on the table at a low height makes communicating across the table a lot easier.

When I spotted these teal buffalo check dish towels, I knew they would make the perfect placemats, the color is beautiful and brings life to my farmhouse style dining table.

Click each item to SHOP THE LOOK:

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When we designed the kitchen & dining area of our outdoor space on the back porch, we planned out this space for buffet style meals. There are several times a year when we host a crowd of family and friends, they always bring a covered dish or dessert and this is where we serve all those yummy dishes. 

BUFFET STYLE SERVING AREA

• Galvanized & wood turntable – can also be used with a dip in the middle
• Better Homes & Gardens white porcelain bowls are perfect for holding grilled chicken and broccoli salad
• Teal pitcher – thrift store find, filled with flowers
• Chalkboard – Goodwill find, repurposed
• Better Homes & Gardens stacking wire basket – add a tea towel and pass the bread
• Galvanized Hood Lantern Pillar candle holder – use with candles or greenery

Keep it casual with buffet style dining, make it easy to line up and fill your plate, perfect for porch dining. I don’t know about you but it’s so much more relaxing to have a casual meal. I am all about conversation and relaxing entertaining. 

Click each item to SHOP THE LOOK

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Looking back toward the house is where my Better Homes & Gardens potting bench is located. This is where you can grab your drinks. I added more old bottles with flowers from the yard, a dollar store wreath and few blue and green items from the house to spread the color around.

REFRESHMENTS / BEVERAGE SERVING AREA

• Better Homes & Gardens galvanized beverage dispenser
• bottled water
• Mason Jar caddie
• Better Homes & Gardens tray

Drink service on this end of the porch. This farmhouse style potting bench is perfect for serving beverages.

Click each item to SHOP THE BEVERAGE AREA:

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Love the divider on top of the beverage dispenser, it’s great for lemons or other fruit for drinks. Who doesn’t love sipping lemonade from a mason jar!?

Hope you’re inspired to have a meal outside and enjoy this awesome weather, on your back porch or patio or under a nice shade tree.

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