How to Choose the Right Outdoor Dining Setting For Your Lifestyle

When it comes to creating the best outdoor dining setting for you and your lifestyle, having the perfect balance between practicality and style is essential.

Dining al fresco in the warmer months, hosting parties for family and friends, or simply enjoying beverages with a select few in the garden will likely become fond and sentimental memories that you’ll look back on in the years to come.

It’s important to understand that when choosing the right outdoor dining setting for your lifestyle, it isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every home will have many unique factors to consider, which will play a huge role in finding the perfect fit.

At Cotswold Teak, we understand that there are many choices available when it comes to outdoor dining furniture. That’s why we’ve created a list of important factors to consider in the hopes of making your decision easier when deciding on the best fit for you and your lifestyle.

Read on to find out more about how to choose the right outdoor dining setting for your lifestyle...

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What’s your personal design preference?

Of course, the perfect fit will result in your outdoor dining furniture being a reflection of your style, preference, and design taste.

If your outdoor space is somewhere you plan on spending a substantial amount of time, we believe that a perfect stylistic match will directly contribute to just how comfortable you find the outdoor dining setting to be.

After all, there’s nothing worse than having a certain vision for your home in mind, to then feel disappointed by how different it turned out in comparison to what you had planned. This may make you feel as though you don’t want to spend time in that outdoor area, and because of that, this consideration shouldn’t ever be overlooked.

Solid teak is always a great option for any design preference, as it can suit most styles. This is because of the premium quality and the elegant touch it can bring to any outdoor space, making it the perfect investment for dining settings.

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How much outdoor space do you have?

It's fantastic to have a larger seating area for your outdoor living space, however, if it's impractical for your day-to-day life, it may be more beneficial to consider other options.

For example, if you were to place a table large enough to accommodate a party of ten - it may look out of place and take up unnecessary space.

The goal is to never over saturate your outdoor space. You want to be left with an area to be able to move around comfortably, as well as having space available for dining activities. Balance is key, which is why paying attention to the layout of your space is an important step.

Nowadays, there are many different shape options available that could fit nicely in a smaller space. Perhaps a round table would be a better choice for a feature in a more central spot of your patio, or a smaller rectangular shape could work nicely in a tighter corner space.

A bench that you can place against a wall will maximise any outdoor space nicely, as well as an extendable table. This way, you accommodate larger parties as and when you need to.

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How many people live at home with you?

The size of your household will be a determining factor when choosing the right outdoor dining setting for your lifestyle.

Whether you live alone, as a couple, or you have a full nest - ensuring that everyone in the household will be comfortable is essential. What this means to you depends on preference.

If you’re looking for something that will never fail to accommodate, a larger dining table with seating is always a safe option, however, if you’re a couple with no dependents - perhaps a smaller seating area such as a bistro set would suffice.

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What are the weather conditions in your area?

Where you live will be a definitive factor when it comes to deciding on choosing the right outdoor dining setting for you and your lifestyle. What elements are you most exposed to? Do you experience a lot of rainy weather? Or do you regularly have sunshine and clear skies? Is it always hot, or do you experience bursts of cold weather?

Factors such as weather patterns are often overlooked, however, furniture materials will require different maintenance requirements depending on this. Our advice would be to invest in sturdy, reliable, and resilient materials. This’ll ensure a longer life span, which will save you time and money in the long run.

For example, solid teak is the most resilient timber option on the market, which can withstand the elements very efficiently. So you won’t have to worry about premature withering like you would with other materials, such as pine or rattan furniture.

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Do you like to be the host of dinner parties?

Do you enjoy hosting for your loved ones? Is it your home that usually ends up being the place to go? Or is it just important to you that you feel prepared to accommodate both smaller and larger parties?

These are all questions worth giving thought to when choosing the right outdoor dining furniture for your lifestyle. Be honest with what you will want and what you will require from your outdoor space.

This will help to prevent the cost of having to purchase additional furniture - because your initial selection wasn’t realistic to your lifestyle and/or suitable for long-term use.

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Storage options and maintenance requirements

Purchasing high-quality dining furniture that’s perfectly suited to your lifestyle will most likely require a substantial financial investment.

That’s why it’s essential to be secure in your decision, as the last thing you want is to spend a generous amount on uncomfortable outdoor furniture and a poor fit for you.

Questions to ask yourself before committing to a purchase could be; do you have enough space to store away seasonal dining furniture? Or do you have the time to maintain your chosen dining setting? Opt for what suits your budget, and also your schedule.

We recommend keeping this consideration in mind before your purchase, as it’ll help you narrow down your selection. You might not want furniture that requires a lot of maintenance, or you might not mind at all.

Always research your chosen outdoor dining furniture and read the maintenance information to ensure long-term suitability.

We hope that you’ve found this article on choosing the right outdoor dining setting for you useful.