Hit up your local thrift store or antique shop (or your grandma's attic) for vintage items that can take your summer entertaining from meh to marvelous. These retro finds are really easy to incorporate into any gathering, whether it's a casual barbecue or a full-on garden party (or anything in between).
Set Up a Vintage Patio Table
You can find vintage patio tables and chairs at very affordable prices, and they're a fun and practical way to add personality to your outdoor summer entertaining. We love those wrought iron ones with a little table and two chairs (add a seat cushion, though, because those things are uncomfortable to sit on).
Dust Off That Antique Tea Set
You don't have to have a tea party to use that antique tea set you love. These are actually perfect for serving punch or a signature cocktail with a little extra antique flair. Don't stress if the pieces don't match either; that's just part of the charm.
You can find silver-plated tea pots very affordably, since they don't actually contain very much real silver. If they're worn or a little banged up, that's perfectly fine for entertaining outside!
Break Out a Vintage Croquet Set
Scout out the options at your local thrift store or neighborhood garage sales. Croquet is one of those games that people have loved for generations, and it's actually really easy to find vintage and antique sets you can still use today. You might need to restore the wood with a carefully placed screw or some wood glue, but it doesn't take much to make these totally playable when you entertain.
Embrace the Mismatched Look With Vintage Wine (or Water) Glasses
Sure, you could pick up some new melamine cups or plastic glassware for your outside entertaining, but it's actually way more fun to collect some antique and vintage colored wine glasses to use instead. When you use finds like these, you can show off your thrifting treasures. And if one breaks, you're not destroying your perfect set!
Use Pretty Vintage Linens Outside
If you've ever been charmed by the pretty floral patterns and stripes of vintage linens, you know how lovely these old textiles can be. Think outside their original use and turn them into tablecloths for your outdoor party. We love using old bed sheets, curtains, and even quilts this way.
If the textile you want to use as a tablecloth is too big, just fold it to make it the perfect size. If it's too small, layer it over another tablecloth or cover the table in several smaller pieces. There are no rules here.
Serve Iced Tea in Old Milk Bottles
Collecting old milk bottles can be a really fun hobby, especially if you love to hit the flea markets. You can find these bottles from lots of different dairies, and they usually have the logo still on them. But what's the point of a collection you don't use? We love serving iced tea and other drinks out of old milk bottles. Just add a straw, and you're good to go.
Transport a Picnic in an Antique Basket
An old basket can be useful in just about any room, but it's also great for summer entertaining. Pack a picnic to enjoy at the park with friends, or use the basket to transport food and goodies to your patio or backyard. It's a pretty and practical solution.
Turn Old Pallets Into Patio Furniture
There's no shortage of pallet projects out there, but one of our favorites is stacking pallets to create patio seating. This is totally customizable when it comes to height and configuration. Just use a few carefully placed screws to keep them from sliding around. Then, add lots of cushions in pretty colors.
Related: 10 Clever DIY Pallet Projects You Can Do This Weekend
Make Bunting Banners From Vintage Fabric
Small scraps of vintage fabric are really easy to come by at thrift stores and antique shops, but it's not as easy to know what to do with these beauties. You could make a quilt, of course, but another really fun option is to turn them into banners for your outdoor (or indoor) space. Choose fun summer colors and attach triangles of the fabric to a cord. Then tie it on your patio or between trees in your yard.
Serve Summer Berries or Dessert in Antique Tea Cups
Tea isn't the only thing you can serve in pretty antique tea cups. They're actually the perfect size for servings of summer berries, sorbet, ice cream, or anything else you want to dish up. They don't even have to match!
Related: Get the Tea on Antique Tea Cups – Value, Styles, & More
Use Those Mid-Century Snack Sets on the Patio
Snack sets with cups that nest in trays are actually perfect for outdoor summer entertaining, especially when you don't have enough tables to go around. Guests can hold their food and drink near a campfire or while lounging near a pool or lake. Once again, there's no need for these to match, so they're great to collect, too.
Turn an Old Wooden Crate Into an Anywhere End Table
For an impromptu hang-out, flip an old crate on its side to make an end table for people to set their drinks when you're entertaining this summer. The crate can double as a container to transport your picnic and then as a table to serve it, too.
Make Your Summer Entertaining Full of Vintage Charm
You don't need to buy lots of disposable paper plates or new plastic dishes to entertain this summer. Instead, hit the thrift store with a few specific items in mind. Your summer entertaining will be full of personality and charm.
