Choosing Outdoor Dining Furniture

Meals are often the best time to enjoy each other’s company, whether it is an intimate dinner for two or a large family gathering. Imagine enjoying dinner out on your deck or patio on a warm summer evening, or quiet Sunday morning breakfast on the balcony while reading the paper. What could be better?

Of course, if you are going to eat al fresco, you will need suitable furniture for the purpose. There are a lot of choices, from plastic to wicker to wood to metal, many including cushions, umbrellas, and other features. Here are a few things to consider when looking for outdoor dining furniture.

When you start searching for a new outdoor dining set, think about the space it will be used in.  Will you be eating on an open deck or patio, exposed to the elements?  Wood furniture will likely need to be treated against water damage in this situation, and chair cushions will need to be weatherproof, unless you plan to always be scrambling to get them in out of the rain.  An umbrella or canopy would be a good feature to consider in these instances.

How much room is available?  You may like a set that will seat eight, but only have space on the porch for a smaller round table and four chairs.  Also consider “traffic patterns”.  Sometimes, the door from the house is in a very awkward position, making it difficult to take full advantage of the square footage available without forcing your guests to squeeze and squirm through a patio full of furnishings.

Think about how often you will be using your new dining furniture, what type of events you will host, and who your guests will be. 

If you do not entertain much, you may only need a small set that will seat four.  For bigger groups, you can either opt for a larger table with more chairs, or perhaps two separate sets, depending on the nature of the space.  When your company exceeds more than eight or ten guests, you should think about how easily the table could be used to serve food buffet-style.

If you like to throw big parties or have events that include children, you will want to select outdoor furniture that can take a beating.  Wicker and wood dining sets are very attractive, but are much more susceptible to damage than metal or plastic.

How long do you realistically expect your new dining set to last?  Any furniture that is exposed to the weather will start to show signs of wear.  Most of the time, metal and plastic sets will have longer life spans than wicker or wood, but all require some care to get the most out of them.  Keeping seat cushions, canopies and umbrellas clean, dry and in good working order does not have to be a big job.  Still, you should look closely at what material they are made from and read the care instructions before buying.

Even if you have no plans to entertain on your deck or around the pool, looks do still matter.  If you have put a lot of time and effort into landscaping and décor, do you really want to have that cheap white plastic dining set sitting in the middle of your perfect backyard getaway?  Talk about lack of ambience! 

If you think you cannot afford to buy the outdoor dining set that would look the best, think creatively.  If the space will be mainly just for you and your spouse, a small table and two chairs will be adequate for now, and you can spend a few more dollars to get something nicer.  Try to choose a design that you can buy more pieces in later on, so you can assemble the entire set gradually as finances allow.

In the end, of course, cost will be the final factor in determining which outdoor dining set you choose to buy.  In general, plastic will almost always be the most affordable option, and you can find some choices here that still look quite nice and are very functional.  After that, prices can vary a great deal, although wicker is usually the next least expensive, but often the most fragile option. 

Metal sets can be much more inviting from an appearance standpoint than you might believe.  Many feature a sort of “mock” wicker look that can be very appealing in the right setting.  Of course, metal sets will almost always prove to be the most durable … but watch out for glass tabletops!

It would be easy to fall in love with the warm, beautiful tones of a teak dining set, but be prepared for a hefty price tag if you are considering any top-of-the-line outdoor furniture made of wood.  And, as described before, you will need to factor care and maintenance into your budget as well.

Every person’s situation is different, of course.  However, if you give some thought to where and how you will be utilizing your new outdoor dining furniture, its durability, appearance, and the cost, you should be ready to go out and purchase a set that will be a pleasure to have on your patio or porch.  Good luck!