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.


Teak Patio Sets


Teak Patio Sets to some people represent the pinnacle of outdoor patio furniture. This is in big part due to the exotic nature of teak wood. Teak is native to the south part of Asia and it has been used as a marine material for many years due to its superior durability and weather and insect resistant properties. Teak is now grown on plantations and receives a certification if it is grown and harvested in a sustainable manner.

Teak furniture patio sets come in different types of sets. The core patio furniture sets are covered in detail in another article. The basics of furniture sets include patio dining sets, bistro sets, bar sets and conversation sets.

Garden benches are another very popular teak furniture item. There are many design styles and they can be found in matching styles to most of your other patio furniture.

Teak patio sets also include sets that are complimentary to your core furniture. These accessory sets include planter box sets, patio lights and lanterns, teak dining table place mats and more. Other teak patio accessory items include wall decor, patio umbrellas and storage containers.

Because teak is a very easy to work with wood, you can also have custom teak patio furniture and accessories made to you specifications. It is especially straight forward for an accomplished woodworker to duplicate a piece of furniture made with another material into teak.

Maintaining teak furniture is straight forward. First off, teak is heavy with natural oils so it self-maintains better than most woods. All it really needs is a good hand washing with soap and water about once a year to remove dirt and moss. The teak will weather to a natural light gray color if left untreated. If you want to keep the original fresh wood color and shine, then you have a couple of options including applying oil, sealers or varnish. Make sure the product you chose matches your intended use (indoor or outdoor, lots of sunlight, etc).

Teak is a great choice for outdoor furniture. Its warms and beauty should last many years with just a little bit of regular maintenance. Buying teak patio sets usually saves you a little bit of money which is nice because teak furniture costs significantly more than many otehr materials. It is still a super choice if the price doesn’t get you down.