Our top tips for choosing the perfect patio table and chairs for your garden

August 15, 2023

Choosing the perfect patio table and chairs involves considering several factors such as size, shape, material, style, and functionality.

Our recently published ultimate guide to transforming your outdoor space with our patio furniture gave a great overview of each of these factors.

However, in this article, we want to dig a little deeper and share our top tips on how you can decide which patio table and chairs in our collection are right for you and your garden.

Buying patio furniture is a big investment, so taking a little time to conduct some online research will help you make an informed purchase decision.

Ultimately, it is about ensuring you end up with a patio set that’s fit for purpose, comfortable to use and makes your want to spend quality time outside.

How to buy the right patio table and chairs

1. Shop around

Of course, we want you to buy from us but you should always shop around and compare prices from different retailers before you buy a new Patio Table and Chairs set.

By shopping around you can ensure you get a better deal, a better product, and a better level of customer service. It's a small investment of time that can pay off big in the long run.

You should compare prices from different retailers and that way you can potentially save some money.

Just remember that not all patio tables and chairs are created equal, so you also need to compare features and quality to find the best product for your garden.

At Lazy Susan we also have our Price Promise, whereby we will match any furniture price that is exactly the same as ours.

2. Read reviews

As part of your shopping around, we would also advise you to take the time to read company/product reviews.

When you shop around, especially online, you need to find a retailer that you feel comfortable with and that will be there to help you if you have any problems with your purchase.

At Lazy Susan our Trustpilot score is an “Excellent” 4.7. We don’t hide away from the negative too, there are a few on there. Mistakes happen, usually with delivery, but you will see our team take the time to respond and resolve.

And even though we are an online company, you can pick up the phone and speak to Ron and the rest of our Customer Service team. We are open 7 days a week, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday, and 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekends and Bank Holidays.

In the absence of a showroom, we also offer Free Sample Swatches so you can see and feel the finish on our metal furniture and cushion material fabric.

Combined with our Customer Reviews and Customer Photo Gallery we can help to provide you with a good idea of the quality of our patio furniture and whether it is right for your outdoor space.

3. Ask questions

Don’t be afraid to ask questions too. Any concerns raise them. If nothing else it gives you peace of mind that there are real people on the other end of the phone.

Choosing the perfect patio table and chairs for your garden comes down to getting a set that is the right fit and functions correctly in terms of comfort and weather resistance.

If you have any questions about our Patio Table and Chairs, get in touch with our Customer Service team. You can call us on 01243 68 41 98 or send an email to them at sales@lazysusanfurniture.co.uk.

4. Compare prices

Shopping around to compare prices from different retailers is important but you have to bear in mind that not all patio furniture is created equal.

However, we all want value for money so shop around for the best deals and any promotions or discount codes that might save you some money. Just make sure that the item you’re buying is worth the sale price.

Just because a Patio Table and Chairs are marked down doesn't mean it's a good deal. Do your research. Is it a fair price? Are you still getting a quality set that is fit for outdoor use and will stand up to the elements with minimal maintenance?

Often with many of the end-of-season sales, the item has been discontinued or is outdated. Nothing wrong with buying them. We have our own Clearance page.

However, just make sure you’re still buying a quality product and it is the exact style, size, seating options, etc that you want, otherwise, you could end up replacing it in a few years because it is not the perfect patio table and chairs for your garden.

Before you buy anything on sale, do some research to see if the sale price is actually a good deal. You can use online price comparison tools or check with other retailers to see what they're charging for the same item.

Also, make sure you are aware of the retailer's Returns Policy. If you're not sure if an item is a good deal, buy it with a return policy so you can return it if you're not happy with it.

Sometimes it can pay to be patient too. Wait for the right sale. At Lazy Susan we are always running different promotions.

Wait for a sale or discount code that gets you the set or pieces of patio furniture you really need and want by signing up for our newsletter (in the orange box at the bottom of this page) and following us on Instagram or Facebook.

5. Warranty and returns policy

As we have mentioned already it is vital you check the warranty and returns policy of the furniture before you click buy.

Our Guarantee is our commitment to quality ensures that all our Patio Tables and Chairs are designed and manufactured using the highest quality materials and production techniques.

To underline our confidence in our products we offer a 3-year guarantee on our tables and chairs for:

Structural
During your Guarantee products will be repaired or have parts replaced at the discretion of the Company free of charge, this covers faults in materials and workmanship. Parts only will be replaced provided that the common terms listed below have been adhered to.
Paint Finish/Powder Coating
Our paint and powder coating is especially applied to be long-lasting and durable. Should an issue arise with your coating during your guarantee period parts can be replaced at the discretion of the Company free of charge. Items only will be replaced provided that the common terms listed below have been adhered to.

If you are not happy with your patio furniture, then please make contact with our Customer Service team within 14 days of your original purchase.

Faulty Goods
We do our best to ensure that all our products are delivered in immaculate condition and free of any faults. However, we do offer a 14-day money-back guarantee for faulty products.
Non-Faulty Goods
If you are not satisfied with your purchase and would like to return some or all of the items from your order, please make contact with our friendly team within 14 days of your original purchase.

You’ll find full details of our Returns policy here.

6. Measure your patio carefully

Essential when looking for the perfect patio table and chairs for your garden is to get a set that fits and functions in the space you want it to go.

You will find the dimensions of our patio tables and chairs in our shop and these are shown above for our best-selling June Oval Patio Table and Chairs.

Carefully measure how much available space you have for the patio table and chairs.

As shown in the diagram below, the June Patio Table requires 150 cm x 95 cm. On top of that, we add an additional 75 cm for the Patio Chairs.

As a general rule of thumb, we then advise that you add on an additional 50 cm to 75 cm of space around the Table and Chairs so that people can still move around safely and comfortably when the set is in situ.

7. Select the right material

Patio Table and Chair sets are available in various different outdoor materials such as wood, iron, steel wicker, plastic, and the cast aluminium we use for our collection.

Each material has pros and cons, none of them are 100% perfect.

Wicker Rattan Patio Furniture
Pros: Natural, Attractive, Durable, Long-lasting, Weather-resistant, Lightweight
Cons: Susceptible to fading, Difficult to clean & maintain, Not as comfortable as other materials
Metal Patio Furniture
Pros: Durable, Long-Lasting, Low-Maintenance, Highly Weather Resistant, Robust
Cons: Can be hot to the touch in direct sunlight, Can be noisy when moved, Susceptible to rust if protective finish compromised
Wood Patio Furniture
Pros: Natural, Attractive, Durable, Long-Lasting, Easy to repair or re-finish
Cons: Hardwoods are expensive, Requires regular maintenance, such as staining or sealing, Susceptible to splitting, rotting, mildew, and insect damage, Can be heavy and difficult to move
Plastic Resin Patio Furniture
Pros: Low-maintenance, Weather-Resistant, Lightweight, Inexpensive
Cons: Easily scratched or broken, Can look cheap, Not as durable as other materials

Much like we did when we made the decision to use cast aluminium, weigh them up and select the one you think will fit in your garden and with your lifestyle.

Consider the climate in your area and whether the table will be exposed to rain, sun, or wind. You want to pick a material that is durable, weather-resistant, and easy to maintain.

We liked cast aluminium as it is a great all-rounder that we feel is best suited to the UK climate.

8. Choose the style

Of course, style is subjective, and the perfect Patio Table and Chairs is whatever you think looks good in your garden and the pieces or set you will get the most use and enjoyment from.

If you’re unsure of which style will work best in your outdoor space then look to choose furniture that matches the overall style and décor of your home, patio and the wider garden.

This could include factors like the period of your property, colours in your garden, patterns on the patio, or a specific design theme or aesthetic you’re looking to create.

From our point of view, our collection is classically styled. We focused on forms and patterns that will never go out of style, so they can sit on your patio for many years without looking out of fashion.

Coco Channel put it best when she said; “fashion changes but style endures”!

9. Think about functionality

In our opinion, whilst style is important, we would never put form over function. Ideally, you want both but first and foremost good patio furniture should be both comfortable and functional.

Think about how you plan to use your outdoor space and purchase pieces or sets that fit your lifestyle.

For example, if you frequently entertain friends and family, then maybe you need to look for a patio table with a built-in parasol hole and an extension mechanism that can transform from a 6-Seater to a 10-Seater like our Vanessa Patio Set in Slate (above).

10. Think about comfort

Comfort is essential when choosing the perfect patio table and chairs for your garden. Without it, you really can’t enjoy your outdoor space.

Our furniture is ergonomically designed from the curved lines of our Patio Chairs to the chamfered edges of our Patio Tables but metal can become hot in direct sunlight.

The solution is a simple one. Take advantage of our bundle deals and create your perfect set.

You can save up to 30% on our Cushions and over 50% on your Parasols when you add them to one of our patio sets.

11. Set a budget

As Thomas Jefferson put it; “never spend your money before you’ve earned it”.

Setting a budget will stop you from overspending and help to narrow down your options in terms of size and material, etc.

12. Care and maintenance

Before you buy, ask yourself how much maintenance are you willing to do.

Some materials, such as wood, will require significantly more maintenance than others.

Be realistic about how much time and effort you are willing to put into maintaining your garden furniture.

If you don't have a lot of time to maintain your furniture, you might want to choose a material that is low-maintenance such as cast aluminium.

Reduce the need to regularly clean it by applying a little car wax and using covers when not in use to keep it free from dirt and debris, dry and ready to sit.