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When you hear the term bistro you instantly think of a café in Paris, perhaps sitting on a terrace drinking a cup of coffee and chatting with friends and loved ones. Many coffee shops in the US have tried to adopt this strategy and it seems to have worked. Furniture manufactures have taken note of this and have made it possible for you to bring the French café into your own home. And perhaps the most popular way is with a 3 piece bistro set!

A 3 piece bistro set consists of two chairs and a bistro table. These sets are popular for both indoor and outdoor use, and you can find them made in styles suitable for both uses. Single people, or couples without children in the home often opt to use their three piece bistro set indoors as their kitchen table. And nothing beats stepping out onto the porch or balcony with a fresh cup of coffee and a Sudoku puzzle which relaxing at your bistro table.

3 Piece Bistro Set Popular Styles

Pub style designs are popular with many people finishing entertainment rooms. What’s better than hanging with friends at the local pub? Having them over to your house of course! That is why 3 piece pub style bistro sets are so popular. By combining bistro style with pub height table and chairs you get the perfect combination for entertaining friends and still leaving that intimate setting when it is just a few of you.

A classic bistro set would be that which is suitable for any room of the house, or outdoors on a porch, terrace, or patio. Many sets are very neutral and have the ability to blend with your current furniture and décor. You can find these sets in wood and in neutral metal finishes. Many times the table and chairs are foldable, which makes moving them out of the way very easy when it is necessary to do so.

A 3 piece Cantina bistro set is very popular for quick and easy set up for times when you have guests over and need a bit more seating. Usually consisting of a smaller table top, these foldable sets make for quick set up and break down. You can find cantina style sets available in a number of building materials and finishes.

These are just a few of the many styles of 3 piece bistro sets you will find as you search online and in stores. You should not have a problem finding the set that matches your home, décor, and personality!

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Imagine a bistro table and chairs. Right away you get an impression of a charming Paris café, or perhaps a little seaside restaurant on the Mediterranean. The ambience is definitely one of Continental culture.

Whether used outdoors on the patio or inside in a sunroom or kitchen nook, a bistro table and chairs evokes a sense of intimate hospitality. Perfect for a tête-à-tête with that special someone, or some coffee and conversation among two or three friends, this furniture setting always brings about the right mood for conviviality.

A bistro table and chairs give a patio or garden a unique style. A furniture set like this is perfect to while away an hour with a pleasant book, or to enjoy a glass of wine as the evening shadows fall on a warm summer night. What’s more, the basic model of a bistro set has been rejuvenated these days with many different styles, colors and materials.

Add Old World Charm With Bistro Table And Chairs

For instance, many people’s first image of a bistro table and chairs is that of ornate wrought iron, resembling vine-covered villas of New Orleans with their beautiful colors, evocative aromas and languid atmosphere. It’s a timeless image of an era when personal interaction and cultural pursuits were more valued than anything else.

However, these days new materials such as cast aluminum and poly resins have made bistro furniture lighter than wrought iron. These lighter materials aren’t light enough to blow away in a strong wind, mind you, but they are easier to move around. In addition, newer materials have enabled manufacturers to create sets in many colors and in designs that can fold up for storage. The latter quality can be important in climates where Old Man Winter brings heavy snowfall and bitter cold.

Another possible addition to a bistro table and chairs can be an umbrella, eliciting visions of the robust cafes of Italy. Considering the frequent use of bistro sets outdoors, as well as concerns about the unhealthy effects of too much sun, the inclusion of an umbrella can be a welcome respite.

What’s more, bistro sets today can be enhanced with comfortable cushions that often tie to the chairs to keep them from blowing about. This makes the opportunity to take one’s ease at a bistro table and chairs an even more enticing prospect.

It’s important when choosing a set such as this to make sure that it complements the rest of the décor. Charming as ornate wrought iron can be, it can look quite odd if the rest of the outdoor set is sturdy Adirondack furniture or rustic country log furniture. Nor would a sleek contemporary cast aluminum set go well with the casual look of hewn-timber furniture.

Once you decide on a preferred style, set a budget for your patio or sunroom improvements so that you don’t go overboard. These sets are so charming that it’s possible to be lured into imprudent spending, and then your lovely bistro table and chairs would seem more of an extravagance than the welcoming gathering spot it’s meant to be.

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The fundamental principle of good design, namely that form should match function, is just as relevant indoors as it is when planning an outdoor oasis. Whether positioned in an enclosed sunroom or an open-air terrace, a bistro patio set must complement its surroundings.

Failing to allow for the sun’s movement is one of the most common errors made in outdoor planning. Place a bistro patio set in total shade or glaring sun, and it will only be useful at certain times. The way to avoid this mistake is to design an outdoor setting that incorporates such elements as trellises, walls or fences, trees and plants, and even outdoor art. Any combination of these can be use block strong wind or filter bright sunlight.

Plan Wisely For Outdoor Setting Using A Bistro Patio Set

Keep in mind the proportions of the outdoor area when setting up furniture and accessories. A small space will look and work better with fewer pieces that can be arranged for several purposes. A larger space can hold bigger furniture or be divided into smaller spaces for specific purposes.

A good bistro patio set will carry forward the design principle of form and function. In fact, a well-design patio grouping effectively adds the equivalent of another room to the house, giving space for entertaining, relaxing or picnics with family and friends.

Table and chairs are the most important features of a patio set. The idea is to match the style of the bistro set to the overall décor of the outdoor area. Will it evoke a New Orleans garden with wrought iron? Or a breezy New York terrace with sleek cast aluminum? How about the rustic relaxation of Adirondack style? Whatever the preference it’s essential that the bistro set complement, not clash, with the décor.

Cushions may be needed to provide comfort, depending on the type of seating chosen. A bistro set typically consists of a small table of varied shaped with two to four chairs around it. The idea is to provide a hospitable gathering place where two or more people can gather to enjoy one another’s company and the beauty of the outdoors. And remember what was said earlier about the sun? One way to deal with this environmental issue is to accessorize the furniture with an umbrella to provide both shade and a windbreak.

Not Your Grandparents Bistro Set

One of the blessings of modern technology is that bistro patio sets now come in a variety of materials. Traditional wrought iron is always a popular choice, but more decorators and homeowners are trying the sleek simplicity of cast aluminum or the charm of resin wicker. Even the old stand-bys of timber Adirondacks and wooden tables and chairs that fold up for storage have their fans.

Probably the most difficult aspect of patio furniture is its maintenance. Those who live in more wintry climates typically protect their patio furniture by storing it away for the winter. If it’s immovable, then patio furniture should be protected with sturdy vinyl coverings. Some of the most durable materials for outdoor furniture are wrought iron, cypress wood or poly resins. Painted wood will fade in sunlight, so protect it with a fresh coat of paint each season, or it let weather into a “shabby chic” look.