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

    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.