A Guide To Buying A Garden Table

When the weather starts to improve, we all start thinking about getting outside in the garden a bit more. Regardless of whether you have an hour or two spare or the whole day, there is nothing better than sitting back and relaxing in your own garden.

But to do that, you have to have some garden furniture to help you. And garden tables in particular can be used for all kinds of things. There are plenty of places you can go to online to look for garden tables, but it is definitely worth having a think about what you really want before you start searching.

So let’s get started now by asking some important questions. Once you have the answers to all these, you should have a much better idea of what you ought to be looking for.

How much can you afford to spend?

This is one of the most important considerations of all. Garden tables nowadays can cost anything from around ten pounds to well over a thousand or more!

Obviously you will have some idea of your budget, and it is wise to make sure you know the maximum amount you would be prepared to spend before you get started.

You should also think about whether you just need a table to go with the chairs you already have, or whether you want to buy a completely new set with chairs as well. A complete set will obviously be more expensive, so you will need to increase your budget accordingly.

How much room do you have?

This is something that some people don’t think about until it is too late!

You need to know where the garden table is going to be situated in your garden first of all. You may only have one choice here, or you might have a couple of possibilities. The location you decide on could affect the maximum size of the garden table you opt for.

Another thing you need to think about is the fact that if the table is a large one, you will need to have adequate room all around it to use the chairs. You may be able to tuck the chairs in perfectly easily, but would you be able to stand up and move away from the table? If in doubt, go for a smaller table.

Do you want something that can be stored away?

Not all garden tables can be neatly stored away when not in use. And similarly not all gardens are big enough to warrant having a garden table and chairs up in position all the time.

As such you need to think about this before you buy something that could cause a problem later on. If you would like something that can remain in the garden all year round, then you have much more freedom in what you can select. It doesn’t matter if you choose the biggest, heaviest wooden garden set because it will always stay put once it has been put together.

But if you only want to use it occasionally, or you want to store it away somewhere safe for the winter, look for a garden table that can be easily folded away. You can buy lots of wooden tables nowadays that can be folded, so you shouldn’t have a problem doing this. They don’t tend to be very expensive when compared to ones that stay up all the time either – in fact they can often be cheaper. And of course, you can easily buy foldaway chairs to go with them.

What shape would you prefer?

Another good question! This doesn’t matter so much beforehand, as you can probably fit more than one size into the space you have available. For example, you can fit a square or a round table of the same diameter into the same space.

You can also buy rectangular tables if you need something longer, and octagonal tables are also quite popular. Think about how many people you might want to have sitting round the table too – octagonal doesn’t necessarily seat eight people; it depends on how big the table is as a whole.

What size do you need?

This follows on from the last question in a sense. When you go shopping online, you will usually find that garden tables are categorised according to how many people can comfortably be seated at them. These are always in even numbers, meaning you will find tables that will commonly seat two, four, six or eight people.

You can also usually find other tables that will seat ten, but these are less common. One type of table that is easier to find now is the extending garden table. This is a great solution to have because you can have it set out to its smallest size on a regular basis, and then if you have extra people round for a meal, simply extend it out and use it like that instead.

Be realistic when you are considering size though. How often are you likely to have a dinner party for ten people? If you are much more likely to be seating four people on a regular basis, go for that kind of size instead of trying to squeeze in something bigger.

What type of garden furniture would you prefer?

There are lots of different types of garden furniture you could buy. For example the garden table could be made from plastic, wood, metal, rattan, tubular steel or wrought iron.

When you are thinking about the material you want your garden table to be made from, you need to think about a number of other factors as well. For example, how much did you decide on as a budget? If you only have a very small budget then you are likely to be limited to the cheapest material of all – plastic. If money is no object however, then one of the more expensive wooden tables with matching chairs might be the set for you.

Style is also very important. Some websites are well known for stocking more unusual garden tables that have been designed by well known designers. If you went to a website such as Argos however, then you will of course find a wide range of garden tables that are going to appeal to the masses.

It all depends on what style you want, and what your own tastes are. You have colour to think about as well. If you want a garden table that is bright and funky, then you won’t be able to buy it in a wood finish. Instead, you will probably have to go to a website which sells unusual designer garden tables.

If on the other hand you want something practical that blends in with your garden, then a green plastic or wrought iron garden table – if you have a bigger budget – would fit the bill rather better. Think about the needs of the whole family too; a stylish designer number may not sit too well with accident prone children!

Will you need to be able to move the furniture regularly?

Is there a chance that you might need the area for something else? Do you have a small garden and a table and chairs would take up too much room to have them in place all the time?

If this is the case then you should think about getting a folding table and chairs, or at least a set that is easy to pick up and carry if need be. Another possibility is to get a garden table made from something light such as plastic, which can be moved to one side. If you then buy stacking chairs to go with it, you can clear the area if you should ever need to.

What will you be using it for?

This might sound like a silly question, but there is a reason for asking it. Not all garden tables are designed for the same purpose.

For example, a large garden table that can seat six to eight people comfortably is clearly ideal for big family get togethers and meals. But if you have an idea of sitting in your garden with your partner in the morning, enjoying a leisurely breakfast together, then a small bistro table might be more what you have in mind.

Additionally you can also get small tables which are intended to be used as side tables in the garden. Do you love to set up a sun lounger and lie back and relax all day with a good book for example? If you do, you might be stuck for somewhere to leave your book and a drink when you get up for a while. A small side table would be ideal for this purpose.

And of course you can also buy small garden tables for the children too. If you don’t want them to feel left out at the next family barbecue, why not buy them a small table to use by themselves?

Are you prepared to look after it on a semi-regular basis?

All garden furniture is either weather resistant or is treated to make it this way. Wrought iron is coated to ensure it won’t rust, and wood is often stained or has natural oils in it anyway that will protect it against the elements.

But where wood is concerned you will still need to think about the possibility of staining it each year. Are you prepared to do this? You should read the instructions that come with a wooden garden table of course, because not all of them require anything like this. Most websites should tell you what is needed and how often before you buy.

Most materials need nothing more than a quick wipe over with a soapy cloth once in a while. This will help to remove any built up dust and grime, and will keep your garden table and chairs looking pristine and clean.

In conclusion

Maybe you didn’t think there was too much to think about when buying a garden table? As you can see there might be more than you think. But making sure you have all the answers before you go shopping does mean you will be much more likely to end up buying a garden table that will serve you well for as long as you have it.

We all have our own ideas about what a good garden table is. Some of us want somewhere to spread out the morning paper as we enjoy a nice cup of coffee. Others want a table big enough to accommodate a laptop and some notes as we work in the garden to make the most of the good weather. And still others want somewhere where they can pot out those seedlings, in order to help them grow more before popping them back into the greenhouse.

No matter what you want from your garden table, you can be assured that there is something out there that will fit the bill. Be sure to shop around though and don’t settle on the first thing you see. One thing you will find with garden tables is that most shops have a completely different range to anywhere else you will go. This means you could miss out by not visiting all the main outlets that sell garden tables. Check out our Shop Now section and you will see what we mean!

If you are undecided about certain aspects of the table you want, make sure you at least have the maximum size and the budget you can spend clear in your head. If you can tick those two boxes, you can start shopping and see what you come across.

And of course there comes a point when you have to see what is available. Who knows, you might even come across something you love that you had never even considered before. If this is the case, double check your measurements, stick to your budget and then start buying!