When it comes to outdoor furniture, there is no shortage of options available to you, the buyer. Among the many styles, materials, and types of furniture available, you can easily create your ideal patio setup. But when it comes to the dining table, you want one that works best with your space and needs, as it will hopefully be a very useful item for you. A picnic table set and a patio table set are similar but different enough to notice, each with certain advantages and disadvantages.
What are they made of?
Picnic Table Set – This is a category where there really is no difference between a picnic table and a patio table, and it’s more about choosing which material you like better than the type of table. Traditionally, patio furniture and picnic tables are made from strong, weather-resistant woods such as cedar, teak, shoreline, and cypress. However, you can also find many more models made of iron, aluminum, concrete, stone and polyresin.
Patio Table Set: See above
seating
Picnic Table Set – Seating is perhaps the main drawback of picnic tables because it focuses more on function than form or comfort. With almost every picnic table you come across, seating consists of two backless benches that run the length of the table along each side. Some of these benches are already attached to the table, making it one big unit. The problem with attached pews is that they can be more difficult to get in and out of. At the same time, many people don’t like the idea of communal bench seats, preferring their own personal seat that they can move around at will.
Patio Table Set: Patio table seats are more comfortable and you have more styles to choose from. Patio table chairs are often modeled after regular wooden chairs with armrests and backs, but there are many other styles, including bar stools and bucket seats that are common as well. In general, having a back is better for lumbar support, and the individual shape of the chair cradles the body and relieves some muscle pressure.
Where can you put them?
Picnic Table Set – The classic place you can find a picnic table is at the park or some other grassy area. Its design allows for a greater variety of places to place it, and if space is available, it can work just as well on your deck or patio.
Patio Table Set: Due to how they are grounded and designed, patio tables work best on hard, even surfaces. Wooden decks, stone patios, and concrete areas work well, but grass can make the unit unstable.
How are they grounded?
Picnic Table Set – The sturdier and less prone to tipping of the two types are definitely picnic tables. The base of a picnic table almost always consists of two A-frame legs at each end with a joist or runners adding additional support. This is one reason picnic tables can handle rougher terrain, but it’s also a must for tables that are longer.
Patio Table Set: Patio tables have bases that resemble those of any indoor table; the usual shapes are some variation of four straight legs at each corner. Also common is a thick center column with a weighted base that is typical of round tables.