How to Use Linens in Vintage Outdoor Decor

Mark Mendez

June 13, 2013

Warm summer days with glasses of fresh lemonade offer a myriad of ways to enjoy your flea market treasures and vintage outdoor decor. Arrange vintage wicker chairs around a glass-topped pedestal table, and don’t shy away from using a handwoven napkin.

table_photos-1 — As you prepare to entertain, build your tablescape around one treasured piece in your collection that displays your personal style. Combine various style elements creating an outdoor vision of beauty. Clothe a small table with vintage linens, choosing one that adds both texture and color for a little surprise. An intimate tea for two needs only two chairs, serving accessories of varying eights and a bouquet of seasonal flowers tucked into a whitewear pitcher.

To show off your vintage outdoor decor, host a gathering—whether for a whimsical garden tea in the shade or a more formal al fresco dinner, sharing your vintage treasures is sure to bring a smile.

table_photos-12 — Who wouldn’t love to be welcomed to this table with the words, “Take off your Wellies and join us for a spot of tea”? Adding something unexpected to your tableau—such as these galoshes—creates an element of surprise; try a large bouquet of summer blossoms in a galvanized feed pail or an old pair of Wellingtons next to your vintage fringed linens.

Air Out Your Linens

How to prepare your pre-loved linens for use in vintage outdoor decor all summer long.

• Simple stains come out with a little lemon juice, salt and sunshine.

• After washing linens, air-dry them flat on the grass to avoid creasing.

• Store linens with lavender sachets to keep them smelling fresh and to keep away unwanted pests. Refresh occasionally with a few drops of essential oil applied directly to the lavender buds.

table_photos-23 — Layer your table. Start with a vintage tablecloth, chargers, more linens as napkins, then the dinner plate topped by a salad bowl. The charm of a vintage tableau is the mixing and matching of found treasures with some of your own items. Fresh roses and lavender from the garden provide a peaceful, calming scent and a unifying pastel color palette.

• Keep linens on open shelving in order to see what you have available.

• Discard what you don’t use to make room for your best treasures.

• Most vintage linens stand up very well to regular use.

• Using vintage linens for outdoor summer entertaining provides a sense of timeless beauty and luxury.

Written by Kathleen Birmingham

Styled by Jickie Torres and Lidy Baars

Photography by Mark Mendez

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