Top Tips For Buying Outdoor Cafe Furniture

With summer in full swing here in Melbourne outdoor terraces and spaces beckon so if you don’t have one then you’re really missing a trick. Setting up an outdoor dining space for your cafe doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg and the rise in sales should soon offset this initial cost.

People love to dine al fresco or even just sit with a drink watching the world go by, and provided it’s a clean and comfortable space it doesn’t matter when it’s just a pavement area, a small courtyard, or an expansive terrace. Buying outdoor cafe furniture is pretty much the same as when buying for the interior but there are a few different points to consider. We’ve put together some of our top tips to help you set up your outdoor dining area.

Consider your weather

Melbourne weather is known to be fickle and it’s not uncommon to experience all of its seasons in one day meaning it can be pouring with rain one moment and warm and sunny the next. When buying furniture for outdoors your choice of material is important. For example wood can splinter and crack in hot dry conditions and high winds can send aluminium chairs flying. High moisture can also play havoc with wicker. One of the best choices in our opinion for Melbourne weather has to be polypropylene which can withstand practically anything the weather throws at it. Nowadays this type of plastic furniture comes in all sorts of fun and stylish designs and in all colours of the rainbow, so you’re sure to find something that takes your fancy. It’s weatherproof, stackable, and easy to wipe clean so perfect for outdoor dining.

Measure your space

The size and shape of your space is likely to determine the size of your furniture and deciding how much you need can be worked out pretty much the same way as for indoors. Be sure to allow sufficient room for people to move their chairs out without bumping into another customer and for any staff to be able to move freely in between tables. Bar tables work well in spaces which are small and narrow and bar stools also take up less space than chairs. Alternatively you may want to consider small 600mm tables which can be squeezed into tight corners and small spaces without cramping your customers.

Provide shade

If your outdoor dining space is in an uncovered area then be sure to have parasols in place or erect an overhead canopy or awning to keep the sun off your customers when the sun is beaming down on them.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Finally ensure your customers are sitting comfortably as this will encourage them to stay longer and order more drinks (hopefully). In any event it goes a long way to making their experience a good one and could turn them into repeat customers. Nothing is worse than sitting on a hard uncomfortable chair so make use of seat cushions which can be easily tied on and removed for washing when necessary.

At Cafe Furniture Melbourne we have an extensive range of affordably priced outdoor chairs and tables for your cafe dining space. Some are suitable for indoor/outdoor use which makes for an even more cost effective solution. Why not browse our online store or drop by our showroom in Campbellfield to try it out for yourself.

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