Design garden tables – how to find the right model for your home
- Use: dining tables, side tables, coffee tables and bar tables for outdoors
- Adaptable garden tables – from small to large
- Materials and care
- Summary
1. Use: dining tables, side tables, coffee tables and bar tables for outdoors
Like an indoor table, a garden table can serve many different purposes. How you mainly want to use it determines the dimensions.
Side tables are small and light, so you can use them flexibly. They are usually up to 70 centimetres high.
Coffee tables are the lowest type of table and are often only around 30 centimetres high. Because they are larger, they are usually moved only occasionally.
Dining tables are usually around 75 centimetres high. Combined with chairs or benches, which typically have a seat height of around 45 centimetres, this makes for comfortable seating while you eat. To find the right table size, allow an area of 40 x 60 centimetres on the garden table for each seat – so the size of the table depends on how many people you want to seat.
When arranging chairs around a designer garden table, pay attention to where the legs are positioned and what type of base the table has. If the legs are at the corners of the tabletop, you can place chairs along the entire length of the table. Outdoor dining tables with inset legs, positioned further under the tabletop, on the other hand, call for chairs to be placed at the ends. Also check that the chairs on the long sides actually fit between the table legs.
A round outdoor dining table feels more sociable and, through its shape alone, gives the dining area a striking presence. However, it needs considerably more space than a rectangular dining table with the same number of seats.
Gardens and balconies often have small seating areas for breakfast or a short break. In this case, smaller bistro tables work best – whether round or square.
Standing tables – also known as bar tables – have a height of 90–110 centimetres. This height lets you stand comfortably beside them while you enjoy a snack or a drink. Paired with an outdoor bar stool, a bar table also invites you to sit and linger.
2. Adaptable garden tables – from small to large
How large a garden table should be depends on the space and what you plan to use it for:
For small outdoor areas, balconies or just a few people, flexible solutions such as folding tables or mounted tables are ideal. Some folding tables fold away completely (1 and 2), so you can use the space for something else entirely. Others fold away partially (4), adapting flexibly to the number of people.
Models where the table and seat are directly connected are also practical (3). They need fewer bases and create a tidy, clean look.
For varying numbers of guests and outdoor parties, practical extendable dining tables are a good choice.
“Do you have several outdoor areas, such as more than one balcony, or a front garden as well as a back garden? If so, furnish each area with pieces from the same series. Then, when more people come over, you can bring everything together and enjoy a harmonious look.” – Viktoria, interior expert
3. Materials and care for outdoor tables
To enjoy your outdoor table for a long time, always choose weather-resistant materials. When you're not using your garden tables in the cold and wet seasons, it's best to cover them for extra protection.
The following materials are ideal for outdoor use:
The classic choice is a garden table made of wood (1). Teak is particularly popular, but eucalyptus, acacia and bamboo also bring a warm, cosy atmosphere to any outdoor area. With the right care, wood is durable and extremely robust outdoors. As a golden rule, oil your garden table at least once a season. Avoid direct sunlight and high temperatures when you do this, so that the oil can soak in slowly. Beforehand, brush the wood thoroughly and remove any coarse dirt. You'll also find special care tips for teak in our article "Teak – care tips for your garden furniture".
Garden tables made of metal (2) come in stainless steel and aluminium, and powder coating or galvanising increases their weather resistance even further. So you don't need to worry about rust. As well as being hard-wearing and durable, metal tables are easy to care for and come in a wide variety of colours and shapes. They also look considerably more high-end than plastic.
The big advantages of plastic outdoor tables (3) are their low weight and good value for money. Because the material is so light, moving them around is easy. However, make sure the plastic is suitable for outdoor use so that it doesn't become brittle or fade in the sun.
Garden tables made of stone (4), such as marble, concrete or a stone composite, are long-lasting, robust, hard-wearing and often heavy – a big advantage in wind and weather. Stone tables are also usually solid, or at least look it, which makes them the centrepiece in most cases. Their surface textures, grain and feel reinforce this impression and create a distinctive sense of individuality and minimalism.
4. Summary – what to look for when buying a garden table
- Outdoor dining tables are usually 75 centimetres high. When choosing the table size, allow 40 x 60 centimetres per person.
- In a garden lounge area, there is room for both coffee tables around 30 centimetres high and side tables up to 70 centimetres high.
- Combined with matching outdoor bar stools, outdoor bar tables with a height of 90–110 centimetres create an inviting small dining area.
- When buying a garden table with chairs, the shape of the table base largely determines how many chairs you can fit and where they go.
- There are various flexible garden tables for different uses. Fully or partially folding models are particularly suitable for smaller spaces and fewer people. For larger parties, extendable garden tables are a good option, or you can put several small tables together – ideally square ones.
- Even with weather-resistant materials, the right care and protection in cold or wet weather are important if you want to enjoy your garden table for a long time.
Buy design garden tables online at Connox – your benefits at a glance
- high-quality design garden tables – originals from top design brands
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- fair delivery costs
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Shopping advice at Connox
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