Guide  /  Outdoor Settings

Outdoor Dining or Lounge Furniture: Which to Choose?

A dining set, a lounge setting, or both? How to decide based on your space, how you entertain, and what you will actually use.

Outdoor Furniture Ideas  ·  8 min read

The right choice comes down to how you actually use the space, not which looks better in a photo.

Outdoor living is central to how Australians use their homes, and the setting you choose shapes how the space works. A dining set turns the area into a place to eat and host. A lounge setting makes it a place to relax. Most people can only fit one, so the decision matters. This guide explains what each setting is, how they differ, and how to pick the right one for your space and the way you entertain. If you already know the direction, jump straight to outdoor dining or outdoor lounges.

No. 01

What Is an Outdoor Setting?

An outdoor setting is a matched group of outdoor furniture chosen to create one unified, functional area outside your home. Most settings are built around tables and chairs, but they can also include coffee tables, bar stools, modular sofas and lounges, depending on the job you want the space to do.

An outdoor lounge setting is a curated collection of pieces, sofas, lounge chairs, coffee tables and accessories, designed specifically for relaxing and socialising rather than dining. The distinction is really about purpose: a dining setting is for eating around a table, a lounge setting is for sitting back and staying a while.

No. 02

Dining vs Lounge: What Each One Is For

The clearest way to decide is to look at the seating itself. Dining and lounge pieces are built for different jobs.

• Lounge seating is low-slung and generously cushioned, with deeper seats and angled backs made for sitting back, stretching out and relaxing for hours. Choose it if your outdoor space is mostly for downtime: a wine after work, a book on the weekend, a spot to unwind.
• Dining seating is firmer and higher off the ground, with upright support and a seat height matched to a table. Choose it if you host meals, feed a family or entertain groups where posture and table access matter.

If you have the room, the strongest option is often both, in distinct zones: a dining setting for meals and a separate lounge area for relaxing. Where space is tight, lounge-style dining pieces bridge the gap with comfortable seating that still works at a table.

No. 03

Start With Your Space

Measure the area before you fall for a setting. Size and layout decide what will actually fit and still leave room to move.

• Small balconies and compact patios. A bistro or two-seater setting, or a space-efficient range like the Nardi Trill, gives you function without crowding.
• Large decks and backyards. You have room to create zones: a six to eight-seater dining set in one area and a separate lounge in another.
• Leave clearance. Allow space to pull chairs out and walk around the setting, not just for the footprint itself.

No. 04

Match It to How You Entertain

Picture how you will really use the space over a year, then let that lead the decision.

• If you host meals often, prioritise a dining table with enough seating. An extendable table like the Nardi Rio grows for larger groups and stays compact the rest of the time, and stackable chairs store away easily.
• If you mostly relax, a modular lounge such as the Nardi Komodo reconfigures to suit the occasion, and a couple of side tables cover drinks and snacks.
• If you do both, pair a dining set with a compact lounge, or choose lounge-style dining that serves double duty in a smaller footprint.

A modular lounge adapts from quiet evenings to a full gathering without buying more furniture.

Explore Outdoor Lounges

No. 05

Choose Materials That Last

Whichever setting you choose, it has to handle Australian conditions. The materials worth buying share one thing: they survive UV, rain and salt air with little upkeep.

• Powder-coated aluminium. Lightweight, rust-resistant and easy to clean, ideal for coastal and urban settings alike.
• Polypropylene resin. UV-stabilised, low-maintenance and stackable, the Nardi ranges are the benchmark for both dining and lounge use.
• Teak and rope. Naturally weather-resistant timber and quick-dry rope add warmth and texture without sacrificing durability.
• Sunbrella cushions. Solution-dyed outdoor fabric resists fading and mould, so lounge comfort survives the weather.

“If space allows, choose both. If it does not, let how you actually entertain make the call.”

No. 06

Think About the Seasons

How you use the space shifts through the year, and a good setting flexes with it.

• Summer (December to February). Peak entertaining. An extendable dining table plus an umbrella for shade handles long lunches and bigger groups.
• Autumn. Cooler evenings suit a cushioned lounge with Sunbrella fabric, and a fire pit or heater extends the season.
• Winter. Use breathable covers, bring cushions inside during wet spells, and lean on low-maintenance resin and aluminium that shrug off the weather.
• Spring. A clean-down and a refresh of cushions gets everything ready for the warmer months again.