Freshly cut flowers, ice cold drinks and decadent food…nothing says Nantucket in the summertime quite like a picnic with your closest friends and family. Here’s a few tips and tricks to create an experience you’ll savor well after sunset.

• Picnics are an opportunity to balance curated design with casual vibes and fun. Every detail, including seating, table, decor, food and drink, should play nice together. We love making them interactive by engaging all your senses and getting guests involved with a few icebreaker games.

• A picture-perfect picnic is a work of art built from the ground up. For seating we recommend layering comfortable throw pillows and blankets with a nice low, sturdy table. When it’s time to set your table, melamine dishware is our go-to. It’s durable, easy to clean and very picnic-friendly. We found this to be a great alternative to fine porcelain or ceramic, and we love having reusable dishes to help with our environmental impact.

• Now time for the fun part: making a statement with your décor. Use your picnic to create an atmosphere or set a mood, or pick a theme and look to your surroundings for inspiration. You can enhance the coastal environment by decorating your table with sunset colors or keep it simple and sophisticated with neutral shades.

• When it comes to color, we say the brighter, the better! Adorn the center of the table with a brilliant table runner paired with fresh flowers and ruby grapefruits cut in half. We love using this citrus trick as it gives the table a bright summertime look and the delicious citrus scent is an added bonus.

• Choosing a neutral color palette will allow you to layer multiple different textures without fear of it being too busy. A eucalyptus garland adds life and freshness to the table. You can create height and drama with tall candleholders. We love neutral tables that are classic and portray a nice laid-back yet refined look.

• Finally, you can never go wrong with a crowd-pleasing seaside-themed table. Make sure to look around the house for little trinkets or knickknacks that just might be the perfect touch to elevate your table. We like to pair tall candleholders and short local hydrangea bouquets to complement this seaside setting.

• Don’t be afraid to experiment with different levels, textures and colors to create your Instagram-worthy picnic table. We truly believe a picnic is the perfect way to celebrate with friends and family this summer. What better place than Nantucket to draw inspiration from and get creative among the beautiful island scenery we all know and love.