subject: A Table For All Seasons [print this page] Have you ever been to a party or gathering in somebody elses garden where they havent really thought through the table and chair arrangements for the number of people they were expecting? Usually when having this sort of event, food and drink is normally involved, and second to needing somewhere to sit down is having somewhere to put down your drink or food, the logical choice being a garden table. Not long ago I went to a food and drink festival where the emphasis, not surprisingly, was on food and drink. However, not only did they get the number of toilet facilities very wrong, there was barely a table in sight!
I decided there and then to put a lot more thought into my own outdoor seating arrangements at home. So here are my tips for choosing your garden table. If you are lucky enough to have a large garden you may want to think about having a few different seating areas in which you can put your garden tables and chairs. Small tables are great for creating little intimate areas as they only seat two or three people. Larger ones are ideal if youre planning a get-together or dinner party as they will seat much larger numbers.
Just like the chairs that go with them, tables come in all shapes and sizes and are made from a variety of materials such as metal, wood and plastic.
Picnic table or bench can be rigid or collapsible. The rigid kind is normally made of wood and has a bench attached along each long edge. You see them at picnic spots but are equally useful in the garden as they are just instantly ready without the need for rummaging in the shed for the chairs and table you put away last year. You can get them in child sizes some of which have an integral sandpit in the centre of the table. The collapsible kind are usually used when going on a picnic or camping, some are just tables but others also have seats built in. Both kinds fold for ease of transport and indeed storage.
Small round or rectangular these are great for sitting at whilst having lunch, dinner or even breakfast, if you get a nice enough morning and the neighbours dont mind seeing you in your PJs! Because they are small they are often made so they will fold up making them even more versatile as again you can take them on picnics or even on camping trips.
Larger tables are not always made to fold, therefore they make a permanent feature to your garden. Usually made for four or six people to sit around whilst having an al-fresco meal, this size of table is probably the commonest size and normally matching chairs would also be available.
Extending tables these are a very versatile form of garden table as they can be made bigger if you need to accommodate extra guests. Just like an ordinary dining table they can extend by means of sliding out the leaves to reveal a central panel that then folds into place. These will easily seat six, eight or even ten people.
In the end, as I dont have a very big garden, I opted for a small collapsible wooden table just big enough for two. I also got a nice round table and four chairs that fits perfectly into a particularly sunny spot in the garden. Hope the sun comes out soon then we can try it out!
