Whether you’re entertaining or just enjoying a cup of coffee and snack solo, there’s nothing quite like alfresco dining. An outdoor dining set lets you enjoy meals with family and friends while also taking in the view and fresh air. It’s perfect for Sunday afternoon cookouts with family, hosting dinner and drinks with close friends and many other forms of summertime entertainment that center around food and the outdoors! However, proper setup is key to making sure your outdoor dining set fits in your space while still accommodating your day-to-day needs, as well as your entertaining needs. In this guide, you’ll learn how to choose the right dining set based on your available outdoor space and seating requirements.

What to Consider for Your Outdoor Space

Furnishing an outdoor dining space can be as easy or as challenging as creating functional indoor dining spaces. The first step is simple enough. Measure the space you have allocated for outdoor dining. However, that’s not where it ends. Several other factors should be considered when choosing a dining set to meet your needs. Here are some basic questions to review when shopping for outdoor dining sets or building outdoor spaces:

• Consider space requirements for exterior door swings or the movable side of a patio sliding door.
• Determine grill space requirements. Does there need to be room for the grill with clearance from an exterior wall or furniture? Make sure to plan room for your grill chef to move around freely while flipping burgers and cooking the perfect steaks.
• Identify clearance space for walkways. Is there a pathway or stairway involved in planning the layout of the deck or other outdoor space?
• Consider height requirements. Balcony railing heights are typically 36 inches high on most decks. How does the railing affect the furniture (and the view)?

The Basic Layout

Patio sets come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and it’s important to measure your patio before selecting a set. When laying out spacing for outdoor dining furniture, you can start by following a simple rule. This general rule is to add 3 feet (36 inches) to each side of a table for general functionality with chairs and walkways. When working with smaller outdoor spaces, you may be able to select smaller chairs and plan on 30 to 34 inches for sufficient spacing.

Here's a simple formula for your outdoor dining space:

• Width of the table (in inches) plus 72 inches for chairs on either side of table = minimum space width
• Length of the table (in inches) plus 72 inches for chairs on each end = minimum space length

Example: A 48-inch round table with four chairs requires: 36 inches for chair + 48 inches for table + 36 inches for chair = 120 inches or 10 feet.

Standard Dining Set Sizes

Standard patio sets may range from three- to nine-piece sets, including a table and two to eight patio chairs. A three-piece bistro set is perfect for two people to drink and dine in a small space. A five-piece patio set or seven-piece patio dining set can meet the needs of many families and fit on a variety of outdoor dining spaces, from medium-size decks to poolside areas. For those with a large family or hosts who love to entertain on a regular basis, a nine-piece patio set may fit the bill.

In addition to the number of pieces of furniture in your set, you should determine the ideal shape of your patio table. Common options include round, oval, square and rectangular patio dining tables. Round tables are one of the most common shapes for outdoor dining, although standard oval, square and rectangular shapes are available to meet your style and space needs.

Here are some outdoor table sizes with related space requirements to help plan an outdoor furniture purchase. You may also want to use these examples as a guide if you’re planning to add a new deck, porch or patio to your home.

Minimum Deck or Patio Space

Beyond Standard Patio Sets

Can’t make the numbers work for your space? If space becomes an issue, you may want to choose a specialty or custom set. Specialty retailers typically offer a variety of table sizes and shapes for outdoor use, including round, square, hexagonal and rectangular dining set options.

Are you someone who loves to entertain, but you don’t have the space or simply don’t wish to have an extra-large outdoor dining set up for everyday use? New to the outdoor industry is the addition of extension tables. Just like indoor extension tables, these versatile dining solutions can be easily expanded to accommodate extra guests. Go ahead and invite your neighbor who’s been not-so-subtle about leaning over the fence to sniff your freshly grilled goods! Need extra seats? Another new addition to outdoor dining in recent years is outdoor benches. By pairing a set or two of chairs with an outdoor dining bench, you’ll have versatile seating for your family and extra guests while still saving valuable space on your porch or patio.

Another solution for getting the most out of your space is to position round tables with the chairs to the corners of a deck or patio. This uses wasted space verses when chairs are set square to the floor plan.

Dining Chairs

There are a wide variety of outdoor dining chairs available to complete your set. Swivel or swivel rocking dining chairs are the most popular patio furniture for many outdoor dining sets, and it’s easy to see why. Swivel chairs can take up less space when furnishing outdoor spaces, as they do not need to move as far back for guest to get out of. (Swivels need just a small push back from the table, then a slight turn to get up from the table.) Swivel chairs and swivel rocking dining chair also make great seating for conversion and after dining relaxation in outdoor spaces.

Another reason for choosing swivel dining chairs has to do with the outdoor dining space itself. When purchasing porch or patio furniture, it’s important to note the outdoor space surface and the types of legs on porch/patio furniture. Will dining chairs with four legs work on the outdoor surface of your living space? Check the spacing of deck top boards or the evenness of brick pavers of a patio. Swivel/swivel rocking dining chairs typically have a round or square base that works well on almost all surfaces since it remains level rather than getting stuck in gaps in surface underneath.

Many outdoor furniture owners have both standard dining and swivel/swivel rocking dining chairs with a patio set, offering a chair style for everyone to be comfortable. You can also combine some traditional chairs with the modern bench style seating mentioned above.

Dining Height

Another consideration in choosing the ideal patio dining set is the height of your table and chairs. Standard or dining height tables are 30 inches tall and are a very popular option for outdoor dining spaces. They are available with a broad selection of styles and chair options. Other popular options for today’s outdoor dining include tables at balcony, gathering or counter height with a 36-inch table height or 42-inch bar height for use with stools or tall chairs. Higher dining allows a view over the deck railings and is perfect for entertaining groups.

And don’t think you will be limited by choosing a balcony or counter height set. Most higher dining sets work best with swivel stools and now come with a variety of table size options. Plus, you can use bar-height tables without chairs to encourage guests to mix and mingle before bringing stools in when it’s time to eat.

After determining the size of the space you have available and taking into consideration these other factors, you are ready to choose a dining set that’s ideal for summer relaxation and entertainment alike. Don’t forget protective furniture covers to defend your outdoor furniture investment against the elements when it’s not in use.

Important Outdoor Furniture Set Tips

• Swivel or swivel rocking dining chairs are the most popular for many outdoor dining sets. Swivel chairs can take up less space when furnishing outdoor spaces as they do not need to be pushed back as far from the table when a guest wants to get up. This can also reduce scratches on the surface underneath your patio set since chairs will not be dragged back and forth as often.
• Swivel chairs and swivel rocking dining chair also make great seating for conversion and after dining relaxing in outdoor spaces. Many outdoor furniture owners have both standard outdoor dining chairs and swivel rocking dining chair with a patio set in order to provide a chair style for everyone to be comfortable. At HOM Seasonal Concepts, we display showroom floor models for outdoor dining sets with mixed chair styles to test drive.
• When purchasing porch or patio furniture, note the outdoor space surface and the types of legs on porch/patio furniture. Will dining chairs with four legs work on the outdoor surface of your living space? Check the spacing of deck top boards or the evenness of brick pavers of a patio. This about whether a chair with a round base like a swivel chair would be the best option.
• Consider table and chair height when selection your patio set. Your table height should be convenient for guests while also providing the best view of your outdoor space.
• Furniture covers are a must-have for pieces that you aren’t able to store inside in between uses. Make sure you choose protective covers made from durable, moisture-resistant material.