Originally Published on December 23, 2017. Last Updated on April 23, 2024.

Dining alfresco is one of life’s greatest joys. And when it’s from the comfort of your own backyard? Even better. Forget those hard-to-get reservations and exorbitant cocktail prices—with the right furniture, you can transform your patio, balcony, or deck into a dream dining destination. Read on to discover the best tables, chairs, and accent furniture for your space and hosting style.

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Step 1: Is a Dining Set Right for You?
Step 2: Determine Usable Space
Step 3: Choose the Right Size Set
Step 4: Find Your Styles
Step 5: Pick the Perfect Hue
Step 6: Opt for the Best Materials
Step 7: Accessorize
BONUS: Do you need a rug?

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Step 1: Is a Dining Set Right for You?

Dining furniture typically comes in three height options: standard, counter, and bar. Standard dining tables are lowest to the ground, typically between 28- and 32-inches tall. The seat height of standard dining chairs is between 16 and 20 inches. Counter furniture is slightly taller; bar furniture is the tallest option.

Standard-height dining furniture is versatile enough to dress up or down, easily transitioning from a casual weeknight meal to a formal dinner party. It’s also a practical option for young families and multigenerational gatherings, as the chairs are easiest to get in and out of. That said, counter and bar furniture is a better option for taller folks.

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Step 2: Determine Usable Space

Now that you’ve determined the right height for your dining set,  it’s time to see how much usable square footage you’re working with. (This is crucial before getting to the next step.) Use painter’s tape to mark out how much floor space you can comfortably allocate to your dining set and jot down those measurements. 

We recommend leaving three feet of clearance on all sides of dining sets so there’s enough room to pull out chairs and walk around without bumping into walls or surrounding furniture. Here’s a quick formula to follow to ensure you pick furniture that fits your space.

[Usable square footage] – [6 feet width] – [6 feet depth] = [Ideal dining set dimensions]

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Step 3: Choose the Right Size Set

Now that you know how much room you have for a dining set, consider how many people you want to accommodate—as well as the events you plan to host. Even if you have room for an eight-person set, it may not be the best option if you don’t host large groups frequently. 

And if you’re short on space but enjoy having everyone over for game nights or dinner parties, you can opt for a leaf table and folding chairs that store when not in use. 

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Step 4: Find Your Styles

Seating

When it comes to your dining chairs, comfort is key. Whether lingering over another round or playing an hours-long card game, you want seats that feel supportive, ideally with 24–30 inches between guests to allow plenty of elbow room.

Arm chairs: Armrests enhance comfort and personal space but restrict the ability to add extra seats to the table. 

Side chairs: Armless design optimizes room around the table and is easy to get in and out of when space is tight; less comfortable for extended sitting.  

Swivel chairs: Provides a 360-degree view without moving your chair but the heavy bases make them harder to move when needed.

Benches: Great for little ones or squeezing more guests in but doesn’t offer lumbar support. 

Folding chairs: Easy to store when not in use but may not feel as sturdy; available style options are often limited. 

Tables

In terms of both form and function, a table’s shape and leg style are both important considerations when shopping for outdoor dining furniture.

Square tables: Thanks to their balanced width and depth, square tables encourage conversation among all diners. They fit in well with small and large layouts but may pose a spatial challenge in narrower spaces. 

Round tables: Inviting and inclusive, round tables are great for intimate gatherings and game nights as everyone can see one another. While it has a smaller footprint than its square counterpart, its lack of corners results in less surface for serving. 

Rectangle table: This is the most common shape and the easiest to accommodate more people, but conversations will not flow as well with the whole group. The long, linear design works best for narrow floor plans. 

Trestle legs: This leg style features centerline trestle supports that are connected by one or more stretchers, offering generous legroom for all guests and more seating flexibility around the table’s perimeter.

Pedestal legs: A classic design, this leg style features one or more central column(s), which frees up the entire length of the table for seating guests. End seats have the most legroom.

 

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Step 5: Pick the Perfect Hue

Your guests will want to relax in comfortable chairs as they’re enjoying their food and conversations. You can choose chairs designed to match your dining table or mix it up with eclectic designs. For simplicity and ease, you can also buy a complete dining set that comes with a table and two, four, or six matching chairs.

Furniture Color Considerations

What’s your main color scheme?

Before picking your new dining set’s hue, take a big-picture look at your space. Note the color of your home’s exterior and walkways, any current furniture, and the surrounding landscape. 

Do you want matching, complementary, or contrasting colors?

With those colors in mind, decide if you want to match this set with your current furniture or existing architectural features, play into nature’s palette, or add contrast with a bold new hue. 

What’s your local climate?

Environmental conditions also play a role here. Light colors absorb less heat and may be better suited to hot, sunny places. Mid-tone neutrals like beige and grey camouflage dust and pollen best. 

Popular Outdoor Furniture Colors

Sandy beige: Light and bright, this classic neutral works well with most aesthetics. 

Grey and black: Sleek, chic, and confident, grey and black are versatile hues that are easy to design around.

Browns: These natural, elemental hues blend beautifully with natural surroundings.

Deep Green: A more playful earth tone, this lush shade echoes the color of pine trees.

Turquoise: This tropics-inspired hue is a breath of fresh air for coastal homes and poolside paradises.  

Citrus: Orange, lemony yellow, and lime green are bright happy hues that add energy anywhere. 

Navy and White: Classic and preppy, this color combination stuns in nautical settings. 

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Step 6: Opt for the Best Materials

Outdoor dining sets are available in many materials. When it comes to choosing the best one, you want to strike the right balance of durability, aesthetics, minimal maintenance, and price. Here’s a snapshot of the most common materials and how they compare:

Softwoods

Teak and Other Hardwoods

Wicker

(Note: Wicker refers to the weaving technique of both natural and synthetic materials.)

Aluminum

HDPE

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Step 7: Accessorize

You’ve chosen the best dining set for your outdoor space, but for maximum comfort, you need some essential accessories. And you want ones made with durable all-weather materials that can live outside any time of year and dry quickly after a passing rainstorm. 

Our adjustable patio umbrellas (available in standard or bar heights and several color combinations) offer the final design touch while giving you the flexibility to dine under the sun or in the shade.

Our pillows and seat cushions add support and keep you comfortable through the last course. Each one is tailored to fit a POLYWOOD dining chair perfectly, but you can customize your look with several performance fabric options. 

You can even create more serving space with coordinating side tables and other accent furniture. 

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Should You Add a Rug?

You may choose to lay a rug underneath your dining set to protect the surface of a deck or patio and visually unify the space. An outdoor rug is also a good opportunity to add a little splash of color or personality to your open-air eatery.

Rugs aren’t required, especially if your dining furniture is situated on grassy lawn—or if you simply like the look, feel, and cost savings of not including one. And if you have an uncovered balcony, patio, or deck that experiences heavy rainfall, keep in mind you may have to expend more energy maintaining your rug. 

Even if your space is covered, we recommend opting for an outdoor rug that can weather the elements. Additionally, you should make sure it is large enough to completely cover the square footage beneath your seating area (plus some) to ensure chair legs don’t get caught and tripping hazards are minimized.