If you want to get technical, the reason a classic picnic table looks the way it does—with splayed legs and cross braces— is because the original was designed to support the weight of attached benches.
We like the splayed look but prefer to have the freedom to pull up benches or chairs as needed. (In the case of a true picnic, we will be sitting on the grass anyway.)
Here are 10 of our favorite picnic-style tables.
Above: A Blok Outdoor Dining Table is $1,495 to $2,395, depending on size, at Teak Warehouse. Above: From Skagarek, a teak Ballare Dining Table comes with two extension leaves and can expand from 77 inches to 117 inches; $3,699 from Curran. Above: Available in two sizes, a Colonial Dining Table by Sika Design is $1,995 to $2,233 from Danish Design Store. Above: OK, we’ll bow to tradition. A Cedar Picnic Table with built-in bench-style seating is $201.28 via Amazon. Above: A Jardine Expandable Dining Table made of FSC-certified hardwood is $1,199 at West Elm. Above: A George Outdoor Table made of recycled teak is 16,995 SEK from Artilleriet. Above: A 74-inch-long Benchwright Extending Dining Table is made of solid acacia wood and has adjustable levelers to keep it steady on uneven ground; on sale for $1,499 from Pottery Barn. Above: With a tabletop made of recycled plastic and an aluminum frame, a charcoal-colored Noosa Dining Table is $699.30 AU from the Furniture Shack.
Are you designing an outdoor dining or cooking area? For tips and inspiration, see our curated guides to Decks & Patios 101 and Outdoor Kitchens 101. For more of our furnishings, see:
