Best Patio Sets

Patio Sets Introduction

Patio Sets can bring a ton of pleasure with a whole new outdoor dining room or just a cozy eating nook. There is a wide variety of patio sets and the material that they are made from. We’ll cover the basics of patio sets with this article.

Patio Sets - the various types

• Patio dining sets: Round, oval, square, rectangle or octagon tables with sets of four to six patio chairs. Patio dining sets may also come with a patio umbrella that slides through the center of the patio table.
• Patio bar sets: A table and two or more chairs at bar height (42”).


Patio Dining Set

• Conversation sets: Conversations sets contain a pair of patio chairs, a love seat, patio cushions and a coffee table. Some sets also come with a side table.
• Folding patio sets: A patio dining set or conversation set where the furniture pieces are designed to fold flat for easy portability and storage.
• Patio chair sets: Sets of two to four patio chairs by themselves.
• Bistro sets: Smaller patio table and a pair of patio chairs. May also come with a smaller patio umbrella.

Patio Set Materials

• Aluminum patio sets: Aluminum sets can be either high end pieces made of cast aluminum or cheaper thin walled aluminum tubing. Cast aluminum is sturdy and strong and comes in a variety of finishes like pewter and bronze.
• Plastic patio sets: Recycled plastic patio furniture has a bad reputation as cheap and flimsy but you can find better quality pieces that are strong, sturdy and almost elegant. Plastic has the great qualities of being less expensive than other materials, weather resistance, light weight, easy to clean, and comes is a variety of color choices.
• Wicker patio sets: Wicker patio sets bring a lot of charm and character to your patio area. Wicker is a woven fiber (organic and plastic) that is formed into a ridged piece of furniture. Wicker is light and sturdy which makes it easy to move.
• Teak patio sets: Teak patio sets are very common, they look great and the stand up to the weather very well. Cedar is another wood that has great weather resistant qualities but it is less common than teak.
• Wrought iron patio sets and Cast iron patio sets: Iron furniture sets are very durable and have a classic look to them. They are often pair with glass table tops that make a great contrasting look between the materials. Iron furniture pieces are either painted or powder coated for an even more durable finish.
• Glass: Glass table tops for dining tables, coffee tables and side tables are a common feature for patio sets. The glass top make for easy cleanup along with its weather resistance. Tempered glass is a must for safety.

Have an overall plan for how you want your outdoor patio set to evolve and then grow it one piece at a time until you have reached your visions. Once you have chosen your patio set there are many ways to accessorize you new outdoor furniture. One of the first things to add on are patio set covers to keep your new furniture clean and inviting. We will cover patio set accessories in a future article.

Patio Furniture Sets

Patio Furniture Sets are more specific than Patio Sets and don’t include things like planter sets and outdoor lighting sets or accessories like place mat sets. Patio Furniture Sets include items like dining sets, bistro sets, conversation sets, patio chair sets, lounge chair sets, and bar sets. Basically, the table and chairs that we use.

Dining sets are the most common patio furniture sets. We have an entire article on outdoor patio dining sets so we aren’t going to go into too much detail here. The basics are that the dining set is an outdoor version of your indoor kitchen table or dining table sets. A Bistro set is an interesting option if you have a small patio. It seats 2 and some are made to sit against an exterior wall or fence to take up even less space in the middle of your patio area.

A conversation set is an other great choice to start your outdoor patio area. A conversation set is a group of chairs and a love seat that are at a lower height than a dining table. They create a more relaxed setting and are often arranged around an outdoor coffee table. In addition to a coffee table, your set may also come with a side table or two. Conversation sets can be found made of the same materials as patio dining sets but very often come with patio cushions. The patio cushions add a lot of style and comfort to the seating of a conversation set. There are a large number of options when it comes to patio cushions so you should be able to find some that match your sense of patio style.

Bar sets are a fun addition to any patio. They usually have the bar and a pair of matching bar stools. Bars usually take up significant space unless they are designed to be placed against a wall or gate with all access designed to take place from the front side.

When it comes to buying patio furniture sets, just be sure to buy quality. Storing your patio furniture in the garage during the off season is a good idea. If you don;t have the room to do this, you may want to look into getting patio furniture covers. These are usually inexpensive and they can save a lot of seasonal wear and tear from your patio furniture.