How to Choose Patio Furniture

Besides the style and material, size is the most important aspect of choosing your patio table. Outdoor tables come in all sizes, as well as expandable options to accommodate surprise dinner guests. Allowing 18 to 24 inches per guest means greater ease (and fewer spills from clumsy elbows) when dining. Ideally, there should be between 6 and 12 inches between place settings. Because dining tables are generally 28 to 30 inches tall, the ideal height of your dining chairs should be between 18 and 20 inches from the ground to the top of your seat. For more patio furniture advice, read our Patio Tables Buying Guide.

If you live in an area that receives a lot of rain or snow, you’ll want to choose outdoor furniture that won’t warp, crack, or become discolored. Some wood can wear when it’s exposed to excessive moisture; however, you can apply a waterproof coating and move the patio furniture out of the weather as much as possible to protect it. If you live in an area that gets considerable amounts of wind, choose heavier wrought iron patio furniture over plastic. For patio furniture tips to find the material with the most life, read our Outdoor Furniture Materials List.

Wicker outdoor furniture complements a vintage home, and you can dress up wicker chairs and benches with colorful floral pillows for a relaxed look. On the other hand, teak outdoor furniture adds tropical glamour to a modern decor style. If you’re unsure which outdoor furniture material suits your home best, consider the versatility of wooden styles. Depending on the cushions you add, wooden patio furniture can look old-fashioned or starkly contemporary, and you can blend it with your existing outdoor decor by selecting other accessories you like too. Need some style inspiration? Check out our 10 Designer Patio Ideas to Copy Right Now, or see our patio furniture buying guide on Patio Styles.