An outdoor dining setting is the anchor of your alfresco space — it's where birthdays get celebrated, Sunday lunches stretch into the afternoon, and weeknight dinners feel like a small holiday. It's also a piece you'll live with for a decade if you choose well. Here's how to get it right the first time.
Start with the tape measure, not the catalogue
The most common mistake we see is buying the setting first and measuring second. Before you fall for a table, map your space:
- Allow 90cm of clearance around the whole table so chairs can slide out and people can walk behind seated guests.
- Check the traffic paths. If the setting sits between the back door and the BBQ, leave a wider lane on that side.
- Think about the roofline. If part of the table sits outside cover, that end will weather faster — or get abandoned in summer sun. An umbrella can fix that.
Match the setting size to how you actually entertain
Be honest about your real week, not your fantasy Christmas. As a guide:
- 5-piece (4 seats): couples and small families; perfect for balconies and courtyards. See our balcony sets.
- 7-piece (6 seats): the family sweet spot — room for kids, grandparents and a salad bowl arms race.
- 9–11-piece (8–10 seats): the entertainer's choice. If you host the long lunch, size up — nobody ever complained about spare seats.
Extendable tables are the clever middle path: compact most of the year, expansive when the crowd arrives. You'll find them in our dining tables range.
Choose materials for your climate, not the showroom
Australian sun is brutal on furniture. Powder-coated aluminium is the workhorse of modern outdoor dining — it doesn't rust, shrugs off heat, and wipes clean. Timber-look aluminium and polywood give you the warmth of wood without the oiling schedule. Textilene sling seats dry in minutes after rain; cushioned seats are more comfortable for long lunches but appreciate a cover in the off-season.
Chairs deserve a second thought
You'll spend hours in them, so check: arms or armless (arms are comfier, armless tuck under the table); stackable if you need to clear space; and weight — heavy enough to stay put in wind, light enough to shuffle around. Many of our chairs and benches are sold separately, so you can mix a bench down one side for casual seating and extra capacity.
The neat checklist
- Measured with 90cm clearance all round ✔
- Seats match your regular crowd (plus two) ✔
- Materials suit sun, rain and salt if you're coastal ✔
- Chairs tested for comfort, not just looks ✔
- Cover ordered for the off-season ✔
Ready to look? Browse our full range of outdoor dining settings — and if you're stuck between two sizes, ask us. We'll tell you straight which one fits.
