With these warmer days, it’s the perfect time to embrace al fresco dining, and many of us are getting into the picnic spirit! Picnicking is a quintessentially British pastime, offering a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. To help you elevate your picnic experience, we have pulled together our top sourcing tips to create a stylish and comfortable setting.
The Blanket
A good blanket is the foundation of any picnic. It should be lightweight, easy to carry, and comfortable to sit on—no one wants a scratchy blanket! One of our favourite fabrics, ‘Mixed Tones’ by Designer’s Guild, also comes as a fabulous throw, making it the perfect canvas for your picnic.
If you need something larger, our ‘Knight Wood Coverlet’, designed in collaboration with Annie Selke, doubles as a great picnic blanket. The olive colourway perfectly complements a natural setting.
2. The Hamper, Tote, or Cooler
Transporting your picnic essentials in style is key. Right across the road from our office, the V&A Museum offers a wonderful selection of tote bags that are both stylish and practical.
For a more traditional option, Coco & Wolf offers charming wicker picnic baskets, some featuring ruffled edges made with Liberty Fabrics.
For maximum capacity, we love our ‘Lost and Found Bag for Life’, available in three fun colours—orange, navy, and green. It’s like Mary Poppins’s suitcase, fitting an impressive amount of items inside!
3. Crockery & Cutlery
For those who dare to bring crockery, cutlery, and glassware from home, it certainly adds a touch of luxury to your picnic—just be sure to wrap them carefully! Carolina Irving & Daughters offers a wonderful selection of hand-thrown pottery made by local artisans in Italy, with hand-painted details in Portugal.
Our ‘Calypso’Â range, designed in collaboration with Spode, is perfect for adding a pop of colour to your picnic. Mix and match to create a vibrant setting. For a touch of unexpected fun, consider a pelican platter from Villa Bologna!
4. Style & Comfort
Finally, add a touch of comfort and style with colourful cushions. Our ‘Friendly Folk’ performance fabric cushions are perfect for the outdoors—they’re shower-resistant and anti-mildew, while also featuring charming scenes of creatures amidst English hedgerows and rolling hills. For practicality, our acrylic trays not only add playful patterns but also provide a flat surface for resting your treats.
We hope this blog has inspired you to elevate your picnic with a touch of pattern, colour, style, and comfort. Happy picnicking!
