apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

FIRST ROW

• 1 Toast UK carries a line of French-made enamel picnicware in the traditional style—white inside, color outside, black rim—that makes us think of summer camp. We're always admiring old French enamel tinware at the flea market, but this is a more affordable option. The plate is £12.50 and the cup £6.50.

• 2 Vivaterra's version of enamel tinware has a cheerful flower pattern with a kind of Mexican feel. Set of four cups for $55 and the matching pitcher for $45.

• 3 Thomas Paul's melamine plates from the Curiosity Shoppe have a design inspired by woodcuts, perfect to bring on a forest hike. Set of four for $36.

• 4 For a picnic with kids, try this adorable plasticware from Mini Moderns, trimmed with their Moo! farmland wallpaper design. All items, including set of utensils, are £8 apiece.

• 5 Etsy seller Little Korboose makes these wonderful melamine bicycle plates with a hand-drawn design in several colors. $15 each. We think a whole set, to bring on a picnic/bike ride, would be lovely.

SECOND ROW

• 6 Crate and Barrel's melamine plates come in four fun colors with a graphic floral design. At $6.95 apiece, they're some of the cheapest picnic plates we found. And they've got matching cocktail napkins too!

• 7 All of Fishs Eddy's melamine platters and plates are 20% off right now for their spring sale. For an urban picnic, we love these plates with the city skyline border.

• 8 Sprout Home carries both a melamine collection and a line of enameled tin dishes with a wave-patterned glaze. The waves plates are $15, with $12.50 for the matching cup; their melamine dinner plates are $6.25. These would be fun to have on hand for a garden party at home.

Picnicking on real plates is so much more elegant—not to mention greener!—than using paper. Do you keep a grab-and-go picnic kit at the ready?