Types of Patio Furniture Tables Perfect for Outdoors

Entertaining outdoors often means selecting a patio furniture table that is just right for your family's needs, the climate where you live, your entertaining style and other considerations. Due to the popularity of outdoor living in America, the types and styles of patio furniture and tables has proliferated in recent years to encompass every taste and lifestyle. Here are some points to consider when choosing the right patio furniture table for your home's outdoors.

Assess Your Needs

Since patio furniture tables come in numerous configurations, shapes and sizes, before you can decide which one is right for you it’s important to first take stock. What are your wants and needs? Do you have a large or extended family that frequently gets together outside? Are there just two of you? Maybe you have only a couple of children? Do you like to entertain friends and would rather do that at home? Once you have identified the number of people that will normally use your patio furniture, you’ll be better able to choose a table or tables that fit your needs.

Decide on Materials for Patio Furniture Tables

Patio furniture, being out in the elements, is subjected to all kinds of abuse. Beyond children and pets, the biggest culprit is the changing weather. You may be fortunate enough to live in a near constant climate of sunshine – but sunshine can be very destructive to materials. Moisture and humidity, extremes of heat or cold, dry rot, mildew – all these can ruin patio tables in less time than you think. If you’re going to invest the money in a patio furniture table, you want it to last. Consider carefully the material and durability of the following types of patio furniture tables:

• Wood – Wood offers timeless beauty, but needs upkeep and maintenance. There are cedar picnic tables, and sephora wood (a type of teak), along with oak and other hardwood tables.
• Teak – A traditional favorite, teak patio furniture tables also require maintenance.
• Stone – Extremely durable and nearly impervious to damage, they will need periodic cleaning.
• Steel – Available in commercial picnic and end tables, steel is a very durable material.
• Wrought Iron – From mesh tables with extensions to rounds set in Italianate tiles or mosaics, wrought iron patio tables offer practicality with durable finish.
• Aluminum – Usually more casual, aluminum patio furniture tables have durable, heavy-duty extruded aluminum and often have tempered glass tops.
• Resin Wicker – An alternative to traditional wicker, resin wicker provides some protection from the elements, but nothing is forever.
• Recycled Plastic – The least expensive of the materials, easily replaced, is recycled plastic, made from polywood.  

Choose Size and Shape of Patio Furniture Tables

Armed with your list of needs, you know whether you’re looking for a small round that seats 2 to 3 persons, or a rectangular patio table that can accommodate 10 or more friends and family. Patio furniture tables are available in rounds, ovals, squares and rectangles.

Size-wise, tables range from 30 to 36 inches, all the way up to 72 inches and beyond.

Set a Price Range for Patio Furniture Tables

Go with your budget when it comes to selecting the patio furniture table to meet your needs. If you only have $500 to spend, perhaps you’re looking at a more inexpensive aluminum or recycled plastic table. Or, if it’s only a small size table for you and your spouse, you may be able to find what you want in a more expensive material. Figure on between $500 to upwards of $1,500 as a basic range in patio furniture table prices.

Decide on a Design

You may need to look through catalogs, or you may just find exactly what you want at your patio furniture store display. The beginning of summer (right after Memorial Day) is when there’s a big push to get this merchandise out to consumers – just in time for summer entertaining season. But the fall is when you’ll likely get a better deal on the design you want – especially if what you want is in the higher price range or a designer brand.

Other Things to Consider

Finally, before you make your purchase, consider a few other things.

• Will you be able to transport your patio furniture tables to you home yourself in your truck, van or U-Haul, or will you require the store or manufacturer to truck it in for you? This is usually an additional expense, although you may be able to negotiate that down or eliminate it altogether, depending on how much you’re buying and how eager the store owner is to part with the merchandise.
• You’ll also want to think about whether the patio furniture table will stay outside all year-round or whether you’ll need to store it indoors or in the garage in the winter. Is it portable enough for you to easily move?
• Are there other items you may wish to purchase at the same time that complement your patio furniture tables? Perhaps end tables, coffee tables, bar tables or other accessories. If at all possible, try to negotiate a better price.
• Make sure you obtain the manufacturer’s written warranty on all patio furniture that you buy. Keep it handy with your store receipt in case you need it later.