Outdoor seating options for restaurants are popping up across Southern California, with restaurants converting much of their available outdoor space to accommodate guests. Without spending a massive amount of time – or budget – for a major remodel, there are lots of great ways to incorporate outdoor dining areas using materials found at the lumber yard.
Here are a few of our favorite outdoor seating ideas, many of which can be set up quickly and without a large investment.
Picnic Tables
Redwood picnic tables are sturdy, attractive, and perfect for outdoor restaurant seating. At our San Diego and Inland Empire lumber yard locations, we sell picnic tables in lengths of 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet, and 8 feet. Our tables are offered in a variety of different sizes and can be mixed and matched to fit any outdoor space. J&W Lumber picnic tables feature attached seating which keeps your diners a fixed distance apart, enabling waitstaff staff to move between tables easily.
Our picnic tables also offer a wide range of style flexibility, so you can stain or paint your table to match your restaurant décor and create a fresh, complimentary, look. If you need to add shade for your diners, it’s easy to drill a hole in the middle of the table to add an umbrella for a more comfortable dining experience.
Garden Boxes
Creating an inviting outdoor dining environment means breaking up the space to provide privacy and promote social distancing between guests. Garden boxes are an environmentally-friendly way to establish a perimeter or separate areas using greenery. J&W Lumber GroGreen garden box kits are simple to set up then fill with tall plants such as bamboo, shrubs, or lattice and climbing vines.
We offer leg kits you can affix to the underside of our garden boxes to raise it 30” off the ground, enabling you to use plants with a lower profile while achieving the same effect. You can also add wheels to the corners of the garden box, so you can easily rearrange your space to accommodate groups of different sizes, or roll planters to another location for easy storage.
Modular Panel Privacy Screens
Create instant visual appeal in your dining area by using a single panel or connecting two or more decorative screen panels to make a divider. We sell dramatic, laser-cut panels available in an assortment of designs and sizes, which permit breeze and light while simultaneously providing privacy. Outdoor panels can be painted to create a pop of color complementing existing décor or you can leave them in their original finish for a natural finish. Modular panels have a space-saving, flat design, and can be stored horizontally or vertically in compact spaces.
Lattice
Similar to modular panel privacy screens, installing traditional lattice divides space quickly – but for a more economical price. J&W Lumber’s redwood lattice comes in a traditional, diamond-shaped crisscross pattern, while our cedar lattice creates a clean tartan look. You can attach lattice to planter boxes or mount on a rectangular rolling or stationary frame for easy portability. If you’d like to further customize the look of your lattice, you can attach decorative signage, hanging flower boxes, or paint to match your restaurant’s color scheme.
Horizontal Fences
We carry a variety of horizontal fencing options at all six of our locations, in stock every day. Horizontal fences perform double duty for outdoor dining areas by creating a divider as well as enhancing the ambience of the space. You can affix a horizontal fence to an existing metal railing and create the impression of an additional structural element without a costly, time-consuming build-out. If you’d like to add more natural elements, hang succulents or flower boxes along fence planks to mimic a garden setting, even if your dining area is in a parking lot or on a sidewalk.
More Ideas at Our Lumber Yard
Southern California restaurant owners will likely continue brainstorming creative seating ideas for the foreseeable future, and we’re here to help. Visit your local J&W Lumber with measurements of your outdoor space and our teams will assist you in determining the best DIY outdoor seating solution to wow your guests and fit your needs.
Our experienced teams are here to help you get started on your next outdoor project. We offer curbside pick-up and location delivery to make your trip to the lumber yard even easier.