In our collection, we have a range of 4-seater garden table shapes - Oval, Round & Square.
While often subtle, each shape has its pros and cons in terms of how they function, and while all provide a flat surface, the shape can influence arrangement, utilisation, and ambience.
Ultimately, the best table shape for your patio depends on your personal preference, the size of the free space on your patio, the number of bums you want to put on seats, and how you intend or like to use the table.
How do different table shapes function?
As a general rule of thumb, the different table shapes can impact seating arrangement, how you best utilise the free space, and the overall ambience of your outdoor area as follows:
1. Oval Garden Tables
Pros: Flexible Seating, Enhanced Conversation, Space-Efficient
Cons: Difficulty Serving
Oval outdoor tables tend to allow for a more fluid seating arrangement, making it easier to accommodate additional guests above the 4. The curved shape encourages conversation and interaction among all seated guests, providing a good middle ground between the pros and cons of round and square.
Oval tables can fit comfortably on various shapes and sizes of patio, making them versatile for different spaces. If there’s one downside, it’s that serving food and drinks can be slightly more challenging on an oval table due to its shape and if you need to reach over from one end to the other.
2. Round Garden Tables
Pros: Inclusive, Enhanced Conversation, Space-Efficient
Cons: Limited Seating, Difficulty Serving
Round outdoor tables are perfect for promoting a sense of equality and inclusivity, as no one guest is positioned at the head. Similar to oval, round tables are great for fostering conversation and interaction among all guests.
You can place in various patio configurations without taking up excessive space, however, they can be more tricky to pull up additional seats, making them a tad less flexible for accommodating varying guest numbers.
3. Square Garden Tables
Pros: Efficient Seating, Easy Serving, Versatility
Cons: Limited Conversation, Less Flexibility
Square outdoor tables offer a more formal, clear, and defined seating arrangement, making it easier to assign seats. Serving food and drinks is often a little more straightforward on square tables and they can be dropped to a 2 or 3 and pushed against a wall or into a corner to save space when not in use.
On the flip side, the corners of square tables can sometimes create a sense of discomfort for guests seated there when you have more than 4 people, and they’re not as flexible as oval or round patio dining tables in terms of accommodating different seating arrangements.
What is the size of an average patio in the UK?
Putting a number on the average size of a patio in the UK is a tricky one. They vary dramatically depending on the type of home, the era it was built, its location, and how the homeowners like to spend time in it.
Here at Lazy Susan, when we refer to an average-sized patio, they will fall into a range of between 20 to 30 square metres (approximately 215 to 323 square feet).
For example, that would give you a patio that’s around 4 meters by 5 meters (about 13 feet by 16 feet) to 5 meters by 6 meters (about 16 feet by 19.7 feet).
In urban areas patios will be much smaller so the courtyard area might be around 10 to 15 square metres (107 to 161 square feet), while in suburban homes and out into rural areas, homes will generally have a bigger garden, so average size patios could extend up to 40 square metres (430 square feet) or more.
Intended use plays a big part. This is again a sweeping generalisation, but those who love gardening may have a smaller patio with more room allocated to landscaping than hardscaping. Those who like to entertain might do the opposite.
Budget is also a big factor too. The cost of materials and labour can influence the size of a patio. It is much cheaper to put down turf than it is to level and lay a porcelain-tiled patio, for example.
What are the common shapes of patios in the UK?
In the UK, patios come in various shapes depending on the size of the garden, style preferences, and functionality. Some of the most common patio shapes include:
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Square Patios
The most common patio shapes we see in the UK are square and rectangular patios. Simple, easy to design, and functional, the shape fits with most styles of home. They provide a clean, modern look, and are easy to arrange furniture around. The straight lines also make installation straightforward and therefore less expensive than most other shapes. -
Circular Patios
Circular patios are favoured for their classic style, often creating a softer, more organic look compared to the more formal rectangular patios. They are often connected to homes by curved pathways to create a seating or dining area focal point and work well with curved garden designs. Circles or semi-circles are also a great option for small to average-size gardens, where space is limited but style is essential. -
L-Shaped Patios
L-shaped and U-shaped patios are commonly used to make the best use of corner areas or to wrap around the house or a garden feature. These shapes are perfect for creating distinct zones for different functions, such as a cooking and dining area and a sun-facing lounging area. They extend your indoor/outdoor living space cohesively, making them an ideal design solution for average to larger-sized gardens. -
Irregular Patios
Irregular or freeform-shaped patios are ideal for those looking to create a more naturally flowing space. They give an organic look and have gained popularity in recent years. Designed to blend seamlessly with the landscape, they mimic the natural lines of the garden, allowing for more creativity and uniqueness in design, and often incorporating features like ponds, rock gardens, or surrounding greenery. Their rustic appeal makes them the perfect solution for country farmhouses or cottage-style gardens. -
Multi-Level Patios
If you have a sloped garden then a multi-level patio with varying elevations and steps is the solution. Different levels can be used to separate areas for dining, lounging, etc, adding dimension and depth to the outdoor space. This type of patio design is more complex but provides a dramatic, modern look. -
Geometric Patios
Geometric patios such as octagonal or hexagonal shapes add a unique, artistic flair to outdoor spaces and are often used as a focal point for seating areas. These patio shapes are less common but can be very striking, often enhancing a contemporary garden design. -
Semi-Circular Patios
Fan-shaped or semi-circular patios are typically used to lead off pathways or connect different parts of a garden. Elegant and decorative, they are a good choice for gardens where creating a feature patio area is the main goal, but they often appear as a more non-functional landscaping feature.
The popular patio shapes in the UK are often chosen based on the size and style of the garden, as well as the personal taste of the homeowner.
Your choice of shape will also depend on the layout and the intended use of the space, such as dining area, lounging, or purely decorative feature, for example.
How much space do you need on your patio for our 4-seater garden furniture sets?
It's important to note that the figures we are using in terms of patio size are all just general estimates, and the actual size and shape of patios in the UK ranges widely.
It just helps us look at which of the 4-seat tables from our garden furniture collection are ideally suited in terms of the size and shape of your outdoor space.
When planning space for one of our 4-seater sets (or from any of our competitors for that matter), it's important to consider both the table's dimensions and the free space needed.
You need enough room for the table, 4 x patio dining chairs and then free space for comfortable/safe movement around the set when all is in place, We refer to this as working space and it is shown in the illustration below for our popular Alice set pictured above.
Here's how to determine if you have the necessary space and decide on the best table shape from our 4-seater garden furniture range:
1. Patio Space
Typically, for a 4-seater patio dining table set, you will need a minimum area of approximately 2.3 metres x 2.3 metres (7.5 feet x 7.5 feet) for our Anna (pictured above) up to approximately 2.7 metres x 2.7 metres (8.9 feet x 8.9 feet) for our larger sets such as Alice.
Here's how that is broken down to accommodate our Alice set comfortably on your patio Alice set:
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Table Size
Our Alice has a tabletop diameter of 1.2 metres and legs are recessed so not an issue in the equation. -
Chair Space
Each chair typically requires about 60 cm up to our recommended 75 cm (shown in the illustration above) of space. Our garden chairs range in depth from 48 cm to 60 cm, so you can adjust accordingly but 75 cm leaves a little breathing space between the table edge and the arms of each chair. -
Working Space
On top of that, we recommend that you also leave an additional 75 cm between the backs of the chair and any patio edges, walls or structures for easy, safe, and comfortable movement. Again, this figure is a guide only and could be reduced if you think the set will still function when in place.
2. Table Shape
In terms of table shape, if unsure, then the best solution is to opt for a set that will best complement your patio's dimensions and layout.
Here's a general guide based on the different outdoor table shapes in our 4-seater collection:
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Round Table
We tend to find that round outdoor tables such as the Alice we used as an example above work best if the free space on your patio is on the smaller side. The curved edge helps to maximise seating in a compact area and enables a good flow of conversation as everyone is equally spaced. It's great for curved patios and can help soften in a space with sharp corners. -
Square Table
Our square outdoor tables such as Lucy are best for symmetrical spaces, square patios where you want uniformity or for pushing against walls. They balance well in square or symmetrical outdoor areas, creating a more formal dining feel, and giving an equal distance between all guests, but we still think they work great in both a casual and intimate setting. -
Oval Table
We offer 2 types of oval - elliptical and straight edge. The flat-edge oval outdoor tables such as our best-selling June work great if you have a narrow patio where you need one side pushed up to a wall or patio edge. They combine the soft, curved edges of a round table with the more dining-like experience of a square. The elliptical table such as our Emily also combines the benefits of both. The fully curved edges fit well on narrow patios, are great if you need to squeeze in additional seating, and they can help soften the space and reduce bumping into sharp corners.
Our final thoughts…
A 4-seater Lazy Susan garden furniture - be it the smaller 2.3 m x 2.3 m (just under 5.3 m2) or the larger 2.7 m x 2.7 m Alice (just under 7.3 m2) - will comfortably fit on an average-sized-patio of between 20 to 30 m2.
Of course, the shape of the patio and any other fixed features such as walls, steps, pillars, etc will have an impact on the amount of free space.
However, as long as your patio falls within the average range, our 4-seater sets will fit well, leaving enough room to move chairs in and out, and plenty of other patio items and planting, etc.
Before selecting one of our outdoor tables, measure your patio area carefully. Leave enough room for not only the table and chairs but also for the working space, and any walkways, other pieces of furniture, accessories such as BBQs, etc.
A quick way you can visualise how a patio dining table set will look on your patio is by marking it up to scale on your patio with some chalk (if it can be easily washed off the patio surface).
Alternatively, you could use one of the free online layout tools to get a better feel for how a specific table size and shape will fit on your patio.
Don’t forget traffic flow, think about how you will move around the space, and ensure there's enough space around the table to move freely without obstruction.
Scale is also important. You want balance. If a set is too small it can look lost, so maybe our 6-seater dining tables would fit better.
If it all feels a little cramped, then drop down to one of our compact 2-seater bistro-style coffee tables. They have a much smaller footprint but still plenty of table space to enjoy an intimate meal.
By factoring in these dimensions and layout considerations, you'll be able to choose a 4-seater table that fits your patio while offering enough room for movement and comfortable use.
If you have one of our 4-seater patio tables, then we’d love to see a few photos for our Do Some Good charity campaign. You can tag us @LazySusanFurniture on Instagram or Facebook or Upload Here.
