LOCKDOWN LOVE: National Picnic Day - Indoor / Rainy Day Picnics
Source: Mikaela Ruth
Dear Food Fam,
I want to share cool foodie things to do at home (“Lockdown Love”)! Have you tried having an indoor picnic? It’s great for boring, lazy, lockdown or rainy days. It’s also a great date night or family activity idea!
Read this Ultimate Guide to Throwing Indoor Picnics
Sections:
Setting the Scene
Things to Use
Picnic Food
With Kids
Romantic Ideas
None of these photos are my own… and I promise: ALL OUTDOOR PICS CAN BE PULLED OFF INDOORS!
SET THE SCENE
Source: RG Daily
Location: Outdoor picnics have ready made landscapes like beaches and parks to choose from. Indoor picnic landscapes are made! Make sure you have enough space and window light for a spacious, airy vibe.
Picnic Blanket: It’s a classic part of any picnic (bonus points if it’s checkered/plaid)! This makes any flooring more comfortable, clean and inviting. If you want to make the look more rustic or boho, use a nice rug instead of a picnic blanket! Make sure this blanket or rug is something you don’t mind spilling wine or dip on!
Floor and Throw Pillows: Pillows make for cozy cuddling. It’s also thoughtful for those who have a harder time on hard floors. Use the kind you don’t mind using on the floor or sitting on.
Trays, Low Stools or Low Tables: You’re home and don’t need to really carry furniture somewhere so get fancy! Low tables, trays and stools make eating easier and can look really boho chic.
Simple Games: Picnics are all about lazily passing time to enjoy oneself. You can’t toss a frisbee at an indoor picnic but you can enjoy a simple game like dominos or cards. I say “simple” because playing on the floor amongst food might make a mess. You might want games with less smaller pieces to set up.
Books: For a quieter or solo picnic, curl up to a nice book you’ve been meaning to finish!
String Lights: Think how all those swanky patios, outdoor weddings and biergartens decked in string lights boast a touch of starry whimsy! *Great to add romance!
Plants and Flowers: To let the indoors in even more, surround your picnic area with potted plants! Bouquets of flowers add romance.
Open Windows: Let in that light, that breeze and outdoor sounds like birds chirping… and cars honking (hehe!).
Source: ChefSousChef
Source: Ikea
Source: RDS Obsessions
Source: Broma Bakery
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Source: The Viva Luxury
THINGS TO “BRING”:
Baskets: Super cute and traditional way to make a picnic feel fancier! You’re not carrying anything very far in an indoor picnic but the look is iconic!
Picnic Blanket or Rug
Napkins: Fancy up the picnic by using cloth napkins that can act as plates, too!
Corkscrew and Wine Glasses: for wine.
Bottle Opener and Straws: for bottled drinks.
Cutting or Cheese Board: and related knives for cheeses and displaying fruits.
Utensils and Plates: YOU’RE HOME SO USE THE FANCY STUFF you wouldn’t normally bring outside! Fancy up the picnic by using real silverware!
Tumblers
Trash Bag: Don’t ruin the vibe by getting up to throw garbage into your real trash can until the picnic is all done!
THAT FOOOOOD THOOOO!
Source: Broma Bakery
Source: Gal Meets Glam
Source: Heroine on Heels
PICNIC FOOD
Source: Hello Fresh
KEY THINGS TO REMEMBER:
Finger foods: It’s harder to use utensils leaning over the floor. Make things more carefree by offering finger food. Slice sandwiches into quarters, display a spread of brunch-y toast…
Anything hygge: Foods that are hygge are often indulgent or comforting simple foods that are great for sharing and easy to eat with hands. Simple foods allow you to focus on setting the scene rather than cooking for the picnic. Foods that are great for sharing and are eaten with hands add a cozy, communal ambiance to any shared meal. (Read about the cozy art of hygge food, here).
SPECIFICS:
Cheese: This works best for shared picnics because everyone can sort of pick at a nice cheese board. Make a cheese board!
A roll of bread: Think of that classic baguette in a picnic basket… the kind you can tear or cut easily is best!
Bagels and Muffins
Pizza or Take out
Crackers, Popcorn, Bags of Chips
Veggies: Think celery sticks and baby carrots dipped in sauces you bring!
Fruit: The best fruit to use are finger food fruits like grapes and strawberries.
Kabobs: Fruit, veggie or meat. It all works.
Cookies and Cake: Add a festive touch to your picnic by having a special (and easy to slice/serve) cake or box of cookies. Bonus points if you get a little fancy and place the cake on a cake stand (since you’re near your kitchen, anyway).
Wine: The best part about this is that there’s no pressure to finish the bottle or keep it at temperature. At home near a good place to store your drink, you don’t need to worry about caring for it the way you’d worry when outdoors for long periods of time.
Individual and/or Bottled Drinks:
Beer
Lemonade
Sparkling Water
Fizzy Sodas
Juice
Source: ChefSousChef
Source: ChefSousChef
Source: Celebrations at Home
WITH KIDS
Source: Everyday-Reading
Growing up, I’ve loved “camping indoors”. My family would put up a tent in a larger room and us kids would turn out the lights and jump into the tent with flashlights. Sometimes, one of us would go outside the tent and scare the rest of us! So much fun!
…I digress but the long story short is that this indoor picnic may be super fun with kids if done in an energetic way! Maybe find some indoor camping ideas and incorporate them into your indoor picnic!
WHIMSICAL TOUCHES:
Board Games: Again - with not a lot of pieces!
Card Games
Chips
Popcorn
A Coach Cushion Fort
Blankets
Bubble Wands: When are bubble wands NOT a good idea? These aren’t so messy to play with inside if you use the smaller wands.
Stuffed Animals: They’re like extra friends to picnic with!
Books: to read to each other.
Throw Pillows: for cuddling and for pillow fights!
Indoor “Drive-Thru”: Project movies and family videos on a wall.
Source: Glitter and Bubbles
ROMANTIC DATES
Source: Mikaela Ruth
Source: Pretty Little Shoppers
I’m playing Captain Obvious here but this indoor picnic would obviously be a cute date night!
ROMANTIC TOUCHES:
Make it a Surprise!
Make it Dinner: Set up candles (flameless is best if you’re putting them on the floor)!
Box of Chocolates
Throw Blankets
Disposable Camera or Polaroid Camera
Bottle of Wine
Favorite Music: If you don’t have a cool speaker in the room, place your smart phone in a glass vessel like a bowl or glass to amplify the sound. If you have a record player, it could add a nostalgic ambiance to your picnic... since you are at home and can leave it plugged in, why not bring it out? … And of course: If you play an instrument like the guitar - play that!
String Lights
Flowers
Feed Each Other
Read Poetry: from a Poetry Book if you don’t write! if you can’t grab a poetry book, pull one up on your digital library or online!
Source: Carrie Bradshaw Lied
