6 of the top outdoor dining table materials to choose from;
With all tables and chairs sold separately the ability to customise an outdoor dining setting is easier than ever. With the table being the dominant visual element of a setting, we find that most people like to start there.
There are four key considerations to weigh up; • Material – choosing something to perform in the environment • Colour and texture – something that will suit your space • Size – a setting that can fit and provide a comfortable experience • Style – as with any outdoor furniture, choose something that suits your taste A set of chairs in a variety of materials and styles can then matched with the table. Style, colour and the size will all be unique to your needs. So for now let’s discuss the all important material selection. The location of your setting is crucial here, particularly if it will be exposed to the elements. Our strongest suggestion will be to always avoid any outdoor furniture with a steel frame. Whilst this is cheaper than aluminium it can rust, especially in coastal areas. Not only can this degrade the furniture but can also stain any surface it is resting on. We then come to selecting the table top. There are a variety of different materials and even mixtures of materials to select from. Here are some of the most popular on the market today; 1. Natural stone
These tables are absolutely stunning. Marble and Travetine tiles are expertly hand laid on a reinforced resin base and sealed to create a beautiful solid table top. They can be paired equally well with a huge range of synthetic wicker chairs or cast aluminium chairs for a classic European look. These tables have helped bring indoor styling outdoors, redefining what we know as outdoor furniture.
2. Recycled Teak
Teak is renowned as one of the world’s great natural building materials and will last for centuries. Teak is now being repurposed from old building materials and fashioned into attractive pieces of outdoor furniture. This teak finished with a whitewash makes for a lovely vintage look. Performance wise it is extremely strong and needs very little maintenance making it a perfect outdoor option. It looks terrific with wicker chairs in many colours.3. GRC
Glass fibre reinforced cement is a composite material with the look of cast concrete but with just 25% of the weight. It very strong, weatherproof and rust proof. A special coating helps shield the pores making it very easy to clean and resistant to mould. A great option for the outdoors. These look great with a cast aluminium chair.4. Aluminium – We are starting to see more aluminium options coming on to the Australian market. We have cast aluminium which is created from a single unique mould. These are terrific in an all weather environment. For a different look but with the same advantages you’ll find extruded aluminium table tops. These have an appearance similar to timber but with the performance of aluminium and are far lighter. Great if you want to move your table setting around.5. Glass
A tempered glass table can be a very cost effective option when it comes to large settings. These are matched with a textaline sling chair that uses the same frame colour and material. There are some very nice contemporary designs in these styles around today. As the chairs that match these tables are stackable these are often selected by those looking to pack away their setting when not in use.6. Synthetic Wicker
Synthetic wicker is a hugely popular material in outdoor furniture and there are certainly options available in dining tables. A hand-woven wicker is wrapped around a frame and used with a tempered glass table top. They are reasonably lightweight and very easy to care for. Will match perfectly with a chair made from the same wicker.While all of these tables are designed for an outdoor environment we would also recommend using a cover when not in use to cut down on cleaning and maintenance.
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