How to Have a Picnic at Home Instead

Is the simple joy of spreading out a blanket, laying in the sun, and having great conversations over yummy snacks completely a thing of the past? I don’t think so, and I’m here to tell you how you can have a picnic right at home. With things beginning to open up here in Ontario, some (including myself) are a little anxious to partake in normal life right this second. Which got me thinking that why can’t you have a picnic at home instead of a park?

While I would love nothing more than to lay out our blanket at the rose garden park where we took our wedding pictures, it unfortunately wouldn’t be the most relaxing with a global pandemic in place. So, we improvise. In today’s blog post, I share some tips on how you can have that park feeling picnic in the comfort of your own home.

Here’s What You’ll Need

Cozy Blanket

First and foremost, you’ll need something to sit on. We live in a condo and unfortunately don’t have any grass to lay on, so a nice thick blanket (that you don’t mind putting on the ground) will do. Maybe even bring out some cushions if you can throw them in the wash after, too. Having something to sit on is definitely a lot cuter (and comfier) than plain ol’ tiles.

Picnic Basket

Just because you’re at home, doesn’t mean you can’t extract the simple joy of opening your basket and digging in. If you don’t have one, Amazon has you covered! Try taking a look at a similar basket that I have like this one. Putting everything in your basket helps from going in and out of the house to get things. If you truly want a picnic experience, try and gather all your items at once so you can enjoy being outside as much as you can.

A Glass of Something Nice

Champagne. Sparkling wine. Wine in general. You get the point. A bottle of something nice that you can enjoy simply can’t be beat. Leave the bottle in the fridge the night before so it’s nice and cold for when you plan to enjoy it. Don’t forget to put some ice packs in the basket to keep everything nice and cool, too. The weather is getting warmer and no ones likes a warm drink.

Your Favourite Snacks

Snacks. You can’t have a picnic without snacks. Or even a light lunch would do. Whatever you’re feeling you might want to munch on, prep it in advance and place it all in little containers for you to enjoy. Try going for a mix of fruits and veggies, with some sliced up sausages, cheese, and olives. I’m already getting hungry. A staple in our house is bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We’ve brought this on picnics before and it’s such a treat. Have fun playing around with the different foods you can put together. Try and level up from your standard snacks like chips and cookies. Doing something a little different helps make your picnic extra special.

Bouquet of Flowers

If you have them, add them in. Whether you have real or faux flowers kicking around the house, bring them out with you, you won’t regret it. Flowers give everything that extra little touch of life and happiness and who doesn’t want to add that in to their adventure? Plus, it can help make for cute Instagram pictures.

Decide on Your Preferred Picnic Time

The last thing you’ll need is to decide on what time you want to have your picnic. An afternoon delight, a chilled evening? Or both! Any time of the day works, just pick your favourite!

And that’s it! Picnics have been part of our relationship from the very beginning and I was really looking forward to being in the park on a Sunday afternoon with my husband this year, but a condo balcony picnic can be just as good! After all, picnics are 90% who you’re with and 10% about location. Having our picnic at home meant that Parker was able to join and honestly, I think he loved it more than I did.

Have you ever gone on a picnic before? If so, what are things you’ve brought with you?

If picnics make you happy, check out my post, 10 Simple & Special Things About Everyday Life. It’s the small, everyday joys that make life so much of what it is.