Dining alfresco is one of life’s greatest pleasures. What could be more enjoyable than sitting outside on a lovely afternoon or evening and sharing a meal with family and friends? Creating the ideal dining experience is a form of art that starts with choosing the right pieces of furniture for your space.
What to Look for When Buying an Outdoor Dining Table
Form & Function
The table is the focal point of your dining area, so it must be just perfect for your space. Consider the type of dining experience you’re looking to create. A larger table with rounded or square edges may be preferable for more formal meals and dinner gatherings. A round dining table may be ideal for a more casual gathering. Increase the number of place settings by two or three. Even if you don’t always fill the table, the extra room will make moving about, sitting, and relaxing simpler.
Also, consider the height of your dining table carefully. Lower tables are ideal for resting and enjoying a casual soiree, whereas higher tables require people to sit up a little more, which is perfect for more formal events. If you have young children, a somewhat lower table may be preferable so they can easily climb in and out of chairs and reach their food.
The overall size of your dining table and how much space it will require when surrounded by seats is yet another important aspect to consider. Make sure your deck has enough space for the table and chairs while allowing people to move around effortlessly. On the other hand, if you wish to add an umbrella, you should look for a dining table with a centre hole.
Materials
The material of your patio dining table is critical and will be heavily influenced by the weather in your area and your intended style. Depending on the climate in your area, each patio furniture material has unique characteristics that are either beneficial or detrimental. Before deciding what will work best for you, evaluate the weather, aesthetics, and care of each sort of outdoor material.
If you’re looking for something that will work well in a wet climate, premium quality outdoor teak dining tables will serve the purpose for many years to come. Teak is a highly sturdy material and will not warp, break, or become brittle like many other types of wood. This is because teak repels most water and doesn’t expand or shrink during drying.
It has high natural oil content, making it highly resistant to rust, decomposition, and insect damage. Teak’s resistance to the environment allows it to live the longest – up to fifty years! Its magnificent honey brown hue can be maintained with minor oiling if left untreated. Most patio furniture manufacturers offer at least a few teak outdoor dining tables.
On the other hand, aluminium outdoor dining sets are lightweight, sturdy, and resistant to temperature changes in cold weather, whereas wrought iron dining sets are robust and withstand wind well.
Nowadays, many patio dining tables are made of softwoods and hardwoods. However, unlike outdoor teak dining tables, softwood patio tables aren’t particularly tough or lasting and can be easily scratched or dented, affecting the beauty of your dining table. Hardwoods are a better choice than softwoods for a well-crafted, long-lasting dining set, but they have drawbacks. They, like softwoods, require regular maintenance to appear their best.
Space
A typical dining set can seat four to eight people comfortably. The best set for you will be determined by your available space and the number of people you need to seat. Consider a bistro set if you don’t have much space. Bistro sets are tiny tables with one to four chairs, ideal for small balconies or patios with limited space. Although it cannot accommodate a large dinner party, it is ideal for solo meals or if you frequently cook for a small group.
However, if you have a large space to deal with, the dining set you choose will be determined by how many people you need to seat at any given time. If you don’t frequently entertain visitors for dinner, you might want to go for an average-sized table that comfortably seats four people. That way, you’ll have extra room on your patio for other pieces of furniture, such as a lounge set or chaise couch for relaxing. If you like organising get-togethers and want to ensure your visitors have enough space to sit and eat, a large patio table that seats six or more is always a good choice.
Style & Colours
Aside from varying levels of strength and durability, the various patio furniture materials also produce a variety of styles. This is an essential factor to consider when purchasing a patio dining table. Do you want to create a cosy and cool outdoor space, or you’re more into a traditional backyard look? Because your outdoor patio should be an extension of your house, don’t scrimp on design just because it’s outside!
If you opt for a pine, oak, teak, or wicker dining table, your colour and finish options are likely to be limited. If you want to use HDPE lumber, you will have a lot of options. Even the metal dining tables come in a variety of finishes. From lovely greys, browns, greens, and other earth tones to brilliant red, yellow, blue, and different hues give some true visual distinctiveness. You can keep things trendy by using black or white or go natural by using brown or green.
Accessories
Now that you’ve chosen the ideal dining table for your patio, you need to consider adding cushions and an umbrella to maximise comfort. Outdoor cushions and umbrellas are weather- and fade-resistant, so they will look fantastic for a long time. They shed water swiftly, allowing them to dry quickly after a passing downpour.
