What do you call an outdoor table?

With the summer months on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to create an outdoor living space that’s in sync with your lifestyle and unique design taste. Whether you’ll be hosting family cookouts, catching up with friends, or just lounging around, choosing the right outdoor furniture pieces will set the scene for comfort and versatility.

From deep comfy seating to hammocks, bar stools, and bistro sets, there are many types of outdoor furniture options to ponder. Here are a few of our favorite outdoor furniture trends to help you create the perfect setup.

Outdoor Seating

Outdoor chairs and alternative seating options are at the core of any exterior entertainment area. Not one chair fits all, so luckily there are several designs to sink yourself into!

Outdoor Chairs

• Outdoor Arm Chairs. Nestle two or four chairs together with a couple of side tables to cozy up for coffee break or late afternoon cocktails. Easily move the party around or use these chairs for extra seating at an outdoor dining table.
• Outdoor Chair with Ottoman. Kick up your feet or put an ottoman on double duty as extra seating.
• Outdoor Rocking Chairs. The perfect place to get swept away with a good book or a beautiful sunset.
• Adirondack Chairs. Set a grouping of Adirondack chairs around a fire pit and enjoy making smores with friends. These staple seating options are simple yet versatile.
• Hammocks. Sway yourself into slumber to the sounds of music and chirping birds.
• Chaise Lounge. Add a little “spa” treatment to your outdoor space with fully reclining lounges.
• Patio Stools. Belly-up to the minibar or deck rail with versatile and trendy stool seating.
• Bench Seating. Mix and match chairs and bench seating for maximum capacity around outdoor dining sets. Benches save the day for birthday parties and large get-togethers.

Outdoor Sofas

• Patio Sectionals. Seat a large crowd with a living room-inspired sectional.
• Outdoor Loveseats. Make some room for extra company with a cozy two-seater.

Outdoor Tables

Outdoor tables provide a space for refreshments, meals, hors d’oeuvres, and décor. There are several tables shapes and sizes.

• Outdoor Coffee Tables. These are a perfect place for drinks, snacks, and outdoor décor.
• Outdoor Side Tables. Switch up your patio arrangement with a portable side table.
• Outdoor Dining Tables. Host dinner parties, Sunday brunch, and family mealtimes with a roomy dining table.
• Outdoor Fire Pit Tables. Warm-up with an instant fire and a glass of wine underneath the stars. These make for the ultimate storytime setting!
• Outdoor Patio Console Tables. Add extra surface space for condiments, paper goods, drinks, platters, reading material, or whatever your heart desires. 

Outdoor Patio Sets

One and done! Get the whole package with a complete set for dining, entertaining, and relaxing outdoors. Investing in any type of patio set will be worthwhile.

• Outdoor Dining Sets. Create the ultimate dining experience for family and friends with a matching dining set.
• Outdoor Bar and Bar Stools. Set the mood for a cocktail party with an outdoor bar and bar stools. This trendy setup adds fun and flair to your backyard or patio.
• Outdoor Bistro Sets. Plan an intimate breakfast or an elegant afternoon tea time with a friend. A quaint addition to any outdoor space, bistro sets are a trending must-have.

Contact Porch & Patio for More Versatile Outdoor Patio Furniture Set Up Ideas

Outdoor living space trends extend your home’s entertainment footprint. Whether you’re hosting family, friends, parties, or cookouts, any outdoor deck and patio furniture enhances the experience. Find everything you need at Porch & Patio! For more patio furniture ideas, contact our team or visit Porch & Patio today.

Furniture specifically designed for outdoor use

Garden chairs and table, England

Garden furniture, also called patio furniture or outdoor furniture, is a type of furniture specifically designed for outdoor use. It is typically made of weather-resistant materials such as aluminium which is rust-proof.

History

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Sketch from the St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat, September 27, 1896. Women relax in garden furniture.

The oldest surviving examples of garden furniture were found in the gardens of Pompeii. Around 1840, Janes, Beebe & Co. produced one of the earliest products of mass-produced cast-iron seating manufacture in America.[1]

Types of furniture

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An area of typical patio furniture, including umbrellas, in Taiwan, 2007

• Wooden furniture
• Bamboo furniture
• Wicker or rattan furniture
• Metal furniture
• Plastic furniture
• Glass furniture
• Table
• Rope furniture

Seating

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Garden furniture is often sold as a patio set consisting of a table, four or six chairs, and a parasol. A picnic table is used for the purpose of eating a meal outdoors. Long chairs, referred to as chaise longue, are also common items. Recently seating furniture has been used for conversation areas using items like couches.

Temperature control

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The British 'garden parasol' or American 'garden umbrella' is the term for a specialised type of umbrella designed to provide shade from the sun. Parasols are either secured in a weighted base or a built-in mount in the paving. Some are movable around outdoor tables and seating, others centred through a hole mid-table.

Patio heaters are used to enable people to sit outside at night or in cold weather. They can be permanently mounted on eaves and patio roofs, or portable and self-supporting. They can operate on electricity, propane, bottled butane (small units), or natural gas. The latter can be plumbed into permanent locations or attached to 'quick-connect' outlets.

Modular outdoor fire pits and portable fire bowls have become widely available in many materials to extend outdoor living. The tall clay Chimeneas of North America are an example.

Accessories

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Current garden accessories include items like birdbaths, plant stands, planter boxes and trellises to add detail to an outdoor space.

Materials

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Green plastic garden furniture, Czech Republic, 2009

The most commonly sold types of patio sets are made of plastic, wood, aluminium, wicker, and wrought iron.

Wooden garden furniture can suffer through exposure to the elements and therefore needs to be periodically treated.[2] Teak is a commonly used material for outdoor furniture. It naturally contains silica, which makes it resistant to fungal decay, many of the effects of water (such as rot, swelling and warping), as well as chemicals. It is also resistant to fire, acid and alkalis.[3]

When teak weathers it loses its original look but gains a majestic, almost silver glow. Many owners prefer the aged look of teak and because of its resistance to rotting and infestation, it can be appreciated without upkeep. Aluminium garden furniture is robust and long-lasting. However, if the protective coating is compromised it will corrode. Plastic garden furniture is naturally waterproof, so it can be left out year-round. Waterproof outdoor furniture pieces are usually made of materials such as Mahogany, Teak, Cast Aluminum, PE Wicker, Plastic and PVC Wicker.[citation needed] These materials are durable and can withstand the elements of wind, rain and sun exposure.

Wicker outdoor living furniture was originally made from the stems of any one of 600 species of palms found in tropical regions all over the world. The palm stems were tightly woven into interlocking panels, and formed into the desired structure. Now, most modern wicker furniture is made from synthetic resin, increasing the life expectancy and reducing manufacturing costs. Today's resin furniture is often made of recycled plastic and incredibly durable, usually carrying warranties of 20 years or longer. It can be moulded to resemble real wood or wicker.

See also

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References

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