Spending time outdoors can help you relax and make you feel brighter and more connected to the world around you. However, sometimes it’s hard to set aside time to spend outside. That’s when an outdoor eating area comes in handy. A patio dining set gives you the option of simply shifting a daily activity—one of your meals—out into the open!

Naturally, your space is an important factor, especially when you are choosing the best outdoor furniture for it, but even small spaces can accommodate outdoor dining. You can find two-person dining sets that will fit on a balcony as well as larger ones to accommodate the entire family or your guests at an outdoor BBQ.

When you’re looking for the best patio dining set for you, in addition to space, think about your needs and the outdoor elements. Do you need a patio umbrella for shade? What about a patio heater or a fire pit for chilly evenings? Do you want lightweight furniture, like an aluminum patio dining set, so you can easily move it around? There are plenty of outdoor options for all sorts of scenarios.

An outdoor patio dining set not only provides an inviting and comfortable atmosphere for getting yourself outside, but it also makes your yard, deck or patio a great place for entertaining. Invite the neighbors over to enjoy some freshly smoked food on a pellet grill or a hot slice of pepperoni and cheese straight out of an outdoor pizza oven. Host your next birthday bash in the backyard or even invest in an outdoor TV and some outdoor speakers to have friends over and watch the game outside.

If you decide to look into how to design an outdoor kitchen, you can give yourself even more ways to get out there and enjoy the outdoors. With an outdoor refrigerator, sink and grill, you won’t have to travel in and out of the house when preparing meals to eat outside.

A patio dining set should match your activities and the needs and aesthetics of your space. If your deck or patio gets a lot of sun, for instance, you might want to choose a wood patio dining set instead of a metal patio dining set because of how much metal heats up in the sun. And, of course, you’ll want to determine a budget and shop around until you find the best option within your price range.