Guide to Extendable Garden Furniture

Autumn is the perfect season to enjoy your garden in its full glory. The balance between still having days filled with sunshine, with the addition of a fresher temperature, make it the perfect place to socialise - whether it’s dining alfresco or enjoying a coffee over great conversation.

If your garden space is particularly limited, or you simply prefer the appearance of smaller furniture additions - know that you can have the best of both worlds for when you need to accommodate larger parties. The solution is extendable garden furniture. Read our guide to extendable garden furniture now...

What is extendable garden furniture?

Extendable garden furniture is a popular choice for people who love to enjoy their garden, whether it’s for personal time and/or with others. These additions allow for the option of accommodating a party of guests more than comfortably, whenever the occasion arises.

Extendable garden furniture has a primary shape that can then be extended into a larger (or smaller) addition, making it a versatile and useful addition to any garden or outdoor space.

Fixed garden furniture is still a superb addition to have, however, if you enjoy hosting family and friends alike - having access to extendable garden furniture allows for a more pleasurable and enjoyable experience.

What materials are most commonly used to create extendable furniture?

Extendable furniture can be made using many different materials, however, it’s important that you invest in extendable garden furniture that will last.

Naturally, a piece of extendable garden furniture will be subject to more wear and tear than its fixed counterparts. Along with being able to withstand the elements, extendable tables also need to be equipped to handle being adjusted without losing their integrity or durability.

To get the most out of these additions, we would recommend purchasing those made from hardwood. The most robust and ideal hardwood is, of course, solid teak.

This type of material is the most high-quality timber on the market, making it perfect for furniture that includes special features such as extensions. Not to mention, the appearance of solid teak is unparalleled. Perfect for any garden!

The benefits of having extendable garden furniture

Design and style choice

Just like all outdoor garden furniture additions, extendable garden furniture offers plenty of variety, including many different models, styles, shapes, designs, and sizes to choose from.

Equipped to handle larger parties

We mentioned this earlier, however, it’s important to note that these are highly useful additions that will allow for more options when using your outdoor space.

For example, if you have a suitable size that you’re happy with for day-to-day use, but you also occasionally love to host for the whole family or have friends over, you’ll be able to accommodate for this, unlike opting for a fixed furniture option.

If this sounds like something that would suit your needs, we highly recommend investing in an extendable table option.

Ideal for commercial use

If you own a venue where you hold events or regularly have to cater for more than your seating selection permits, having access to extendable additions will come in handy.

For example, if your venue is often used for hosting functions and/or weddings, investing in high-quality extendable furniture will be an investment, as you’ll be able to cater to the needs of this type of clientele more appropriately, and it’ll last for decades if cared for correctly.

What extension types are there?

When looking at extendable garden table options, there are three main extension types you can choose from, depending on your preference. We’ve covered the three different types below.

Central

Central extensions are the most common type found with extendable furniture additions, and they’re used on most shapes and sizes of extendable tables. To extend these pieces fully, the two tabletops will slide out at both ends, revealing a central bar that can be fixed to create a larger dining space.

This could either include the addition of an extra piece of the table that slots in the centre like a puzzle piece, or the table will simply level out to meet the level of the centre for an even layout.

Drop leaves

Drop leaves usually feature on round extendable furniture, however, it isn’t uncommon for this type of extension to feature on rectangular-shaped tables. Drop leaf extension tables have table sides that can come either as removable additions, folding inwards additions, or they can also simply hang when not extended.

Drop leaf extensions take up considerably less space whilst still maintaining a pleasant appearance, hence the popularity. To extend a drop leaf table, they will usually be accompanied by hinge mechanisms or a joint that can be easily fixed into place.

Radial

Radial extensions are a simplistic feature, usually found on round or oval-shaped extendable tables. Just like other available options, they can be found in a variety of different sizes and are relatively easy to extend. There are no add ons included, simply turn them to one side to allow for the centre to extend fully.

What types of extendable garden furniture are there?

Extendable garden furniture comes in a variety of different types, along with different models and shapes, however, the most popular and useful garden furniture pieces are extendable tables.

At Cotswold Teak, we offer an extensive selection of solid teak extendable garden table additions. We’ve included our most popular types below.

Rectangular extendable dining tables

The perfect option for when you’re hosting dinner parties alfresco. Our rectangular extendable dining tables are traditional-style outdoor tables, which are truly stunning in appearance.

Extending Rectangular Solid Teak 6 Seater Patio Table - Shop now.

As well as having an attractive appearance, our solid teak rectangular extendable tables are also extremely practical, offering a robust and dynamic design. Our selection of extendable rectangular tables are available in multiple sizes, including 6 seaters, 8 seaters, and also 12 seater tables.

Extending Rectangular Solid Teak 6 Seater Patio Table - Shop now.

Our rectangular tables feature two tabletops that fully slide outwards at either end, which then reveal extensions. These extensions are neatly stored away when not in use, and all of our tables come with the option to accommodate a parasol.

Extending Rectangular Solid Teak 12 Seater Patio Table - Shop now.

Oval extendable dining tables

A very popular alternative to a rectangular table, we have our oval extendable dining table range. Too often, extending tables are advertised as a certain seating size, forgetting the importance of being seated comfortably.

Extending Oval Solid Teak 8 Seater Table - Shop now.

At Cotswold Teak, our selection guarantees a spacious and comfortable seating arrangement, no matter if the table is extended or not. Our oval range is available in a variety of sizes, including 6 seaters up to 12 seaters.

Extending Oval Solid Teak 10 Seater Table - Shop now.

Oval shaped dining tables are a truly stylish and contemporary addition to any garden and/or patio, offering the perfect amount of space you need to host larger parties. Oval-shaped extendable tables are also perfect for when you have children visiting, as there are no pointed edges. Better safe than sorry!

Extending Oval Solid Teak 12 Seater Table - Shop now.

Our oval extendable garden table range is made using the same easy-to-use structure as our rectangular selection. This includes a beautiful solid teak top that has attractive rows of teak slats. The tabletops slide out at both ends to reveal two separate extensions that are neatly hidden away when not in use.

Extending Oval Solid Teak 6 Seater Garden Table - Shop now.

Extendable table sets

If you prefer your garden furniture to match, we offer both rectangular and oval extendable garden furniture sets, an essential assortment to perfectly accommodate a larger party of guests, whilst also maintaining the option for a smaller size when not in use.

Extending Oval Solid Teak 8 Seater Table with Malvern Chairs Garden Set - Shop now.

Our stunning solid teak extending table sets are available in a range of size options to ensure the perfect match for everyone’s unique requirements. This includes 2 seater sets all the way up to 12 seater sets.

Extending Rectangular Solid Teak 12 Seater Table with Grisdale Chairs Garden Set - Shop now.

Extendable garden furniture care and maintenance advice

If you care for your solid teak furniture, it’ll last for decades. And the best part is that because solid teak is naturally a more robust timber than most (thanks to its naturally high oil content), it makes for the most perfect material for furniture that has features that could cause additional wear and tear - such as extensions.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to properly care for teak furniture, you can read our extensive maintenance guide here.

If you’re looking for the perfect extendable furniture for your garden, you can find it here at Cotswold Teak

We hope you’ve found our guide to extendable garden furniture useful.

At Cotswold Teak, we offer an extensive range of stunning garden furniture, including a wide range of solid teak extendable garden furniture - with full sets available. So remember, if you’re going to choose teak, choose Cotswold Teak.

If you have any questions or want to know more about any of our collections, feel free to contact our friendly team who will be happy to help with any queries you may have. Call us on 01608 682 191 or email [email protected].

Shop extendable garden furniture at Cotswold Teak today

For more garden furniture information and buying advice, read the Cotswold Teak blog…

Guide to Folding Garden Furniture | Garden Furniture Buying Guide| Understanding the Properties of Teak Wood