What is the best type of garden dining furniture?
This is somewhat of a broad question, so let’s narrow it down by asking ‘what is the best type of garden furniture for me?’ By putting yourself at the centre of the question, you can define ‘best’ by material and price, as your budget will influence that final decision – unless of course money is no object!
When choosing garden furniture we should look at durability, sustainability and cost, as well, of course, as looks.
Durability and Sustainability
In terms of materials, we have to say sayonara to the plastic table and chairs set. They may still exist, but for durability, sustainability and indeed looks, they are not great value.
The most durable of materials for garden dining furniture is hardwood or aluminium.
Teak is the wood most highly prized for its weather resistance and ability to survive winter after Great British winter and still look good. It requires minimal maintenance and doesn’t need to be stored away over the colder months, unlike softwoods such as pine or cedar, which don’t survive so well if left outside, and need a lot more care and attention every spring.
Teak is, however, not a budget option, so it’s a buy-once, lover-forever option for most households.
You can now, however, find acacia or eucalyptus dining furniture, which are both lower cost options and more durable than softwoods. These will need an annual coat of wood preservative each year to retain their weather resistance, but other than that they’re pretty easy tomaintain and will last for several years.
Aluminium is the ultimate sustainable metal, as it’s endlessly recyclable. It’s also wholly weather resistant, so doesn’t need to be packed away in winter, and weighs a lot (lot!) less than teak, so can be moved about to where you want to dine, as the sun travels across your garden.
Again, aluminium furniture is not the most low-cost option, but will last a lot longer than powder coated steel, which although should be wholly rust-resistant, if it gets a chip or a crack, rust will happen.
Looks
The beauty you find in something is so wholly subjective it really isn’t our place to comment! While you might love the idea of an aluminium French bistro-style dining set, your partner may dream of a grand teak table with benches at either side. Consider the setting therefore when deciding on what furniture style to opt for.
In a traditional English country garden style space, wood furniture will always sit well. Teak dining sets tend also to be that little bit larger, so are perfect for family dining or big dinners with friends.
In a more contemporary space, a table or chair set made from aluminium offers a finer profile and may be more in keeping.
Whichever you choose, be sure to finish with colourful seat pads, and yes, invest in a tablecloth – there’s nothing more summery than a checked cloth, a huge jug of Pimms beaded with moisture, and a selection of crisps and dips!
Eddie Friday 16th June 2023 – (Picture used from an Apartment we’re marketing in Green Walk, West Didsbury).
