Outdoor Dining Area Ideas for New Orleans Backyards

An outdoor dining area in the New Orleans area gets used more when it can handle strong sun, sudden rain, warm evenings and mosquitoes. The ideas below focus on the dining space itself: where the table goes, how to shade and cover it, how much room seating needs, fans and lighting for evenings, and how to connect the table to your outdoor kitchen. For cooking-station ideas, see our guide to outdoor kitchen ideas for New Orleans heat.

Put the Table Where People Will Use It

We suggest placing the table close to the back door or the outdoor kitchen, so food and dishes only travel a short distance. A few other things to weigh when choosing the spot:

• Afternoon sun: Notice where shade falls at the times you usually eat. A spot that is pleasant at noon can sit in full sun at dinner time.
• Drainage: Avoid low areas where water collects after a storm.
• Surface: A level patio or deck keeps chairs from wobbling. If you are planning a new surface, see our custom patios.
• Privacy: Fencing, plantings or screens can make the table feel more like a room.

Choose Shade and Cover for Sun and Rain

Shade can make a table more comfortable on summer afternoons, and overhead cover may let a meal continue through a light shower. Each option balances airflow and rain protection differently:

• Patio covers put a solid roof over the table. Compare styles in our guide to patio cover options for New Orleans homes or see our patio covers.
• Pergolas provide filtered shade, and bioclimatic pergola systems add adjustable louvers for more control. See our pergolas.
• Awnings can extend for shade and retract when you want sun. See our awning systems.
• Gazebos and pavilions create a freestanding covered room away from the house. See our gazebos and pavilions.
• Umbrellas can be a straightforward shade option for a small table. Close and secure them when the wind picks up.

Give Every Seat Enough Room

A crowded table is uncomfortable no matter how good the food is. The National Kitchen and Bath Association’s Kitchen Planning Guidelines, which do not specifically address outdoor dining, offer useful numbers to start from:

• At a 30-inch-high table, allow a knee space 24 inches wide and 18 inches deep for each seated person.
• Allow 32 inches from the table edge to a wall or other obstruction behind seated guests when no one needs to pass.
• Allow 36 inches if people need to edge past, and 44 inches if they need to walk past.

Measure to railings, planters, posts and the edge of the patio as well as walls. Outdoors, we suggest leaving extra room on the side where food is served from a grill or bar.

Pick Furniture You Can Maintain

Outdoor furniture takes sun, rain and humid air, so choose pieces made for outdoor use and follow the manufacturer’s care instructions. We suggest cushions with removable covers and a dry place to store them before storms and during long wet spells. Chairs with arms can be more comfortable for long dinners, while armless chairs tuck closer to a crowded table.

Browse our outdoor patio furniture to compare options.

Add Fans and Lighting for Evening Meals

A ceiling fan over the table keeps air moving on warm nights, and its outdoor rating matters. Ceiling fan maker Hunter Fan explains that damp-rated fans are made for covered outdoor spaces where they stay protected from direct rain, while wet-rated fans can handle direct rain in spots such as open pergolas or uncovered patios. Hunter also notes that a fan near the edge of a covered patio might still get wet during a windy storm, and it says an indoor ceiling fan should not be used on a covered patio.

For light, string lights give a soft glow over the table, and task lighting near the grill or bar helps the cook. Have a licensed electrician confirm that fixtures, fans and outlets are rated for their location. On cooler winter evenings, patio heaters can extend the season.

Keep Mosquitoes Away From the Table

The New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board asks residents to take a few simple actions: remove standing water from the yard, use insect repellent when outdoors, and keep window and door screens in good condition. Around a dining area, we suggest emptying planter saucers, buckets and anything else that holds rainwater.

If you want a more enclosed space, a screen room can surround the table, and motorized blinds and shades are another way to add shade to a covered patio. Our post on why New Orleans homeowners are adding screen rooms covers that option in more detail.

Connect the Table to the Outdoor Kitchen

If you have or are planning an outdoor kitchen, map the path from the grill to the table so the cook is not carrying hot platters through a crowd. A bar ledge on the kitchen island can serve as a buffet on busy nights. Our guide to adding a bar or island to an outdoor kitchen covers counter heights and grill landing space, and our outdoor kitchen care guide covers upkeep and storm-season prep.

Plan Your Outdoor Dining Area With TurnKey Patio

TurnKey Patio designs and installs outdoor kitchens, patio covers, pergolas and screen rooms for homeowners in New Orleans and our surrounding service areas. We benefit if you hire us, and the ideas above are useful no matter who builds your space. To talk through a dining area plan, call (504) 285-2824, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, or request a free estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to shade an outdoor dining table in New Orleans?

It depends on how you use the space. A patio cover gives a solid roof for rain, a pergola gives filtered shade and airflow, a bioclimatic pergola adds adjustable louvers, and a retractable awning lets you choose sun or shade. We suggest watching where the sun falls at the times you usually eat before you decide.

What kind of ceiling fan should go over an outdoor dining table?

Use a fan rated for the conditions. Hunter Fan explains that damp-rated fans are for covered spaces protected from direct rain and wet-rated fans can handle direct rain in places such as open pergolas. If the fan sits near the edge of a covered area where wind-driven rain could reach it, Hunter says a wet-rated model is a better choice.

How much space do I need around an outdoor dining table?

The National Kitchen and Bath Association’s guidelines recommend 32 inches from the table edge to a wall or obstruction behind seated guests when no one passes, 36 inches for people to edge past and 44 inches for people to walk past. At a 30-inch-high table, they recommend a knee space 24 inches wide and 18 inches deep for each person.

How can I reduce mosquitoes around my patio table?

The New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board asks residents to remove standing water from the yard, use insect repellent outdoors and keep window and door screens in good condition. A screen room around the table is another option.

Should an outdoor dining area be next to the outdoor kitchen?

We suggest keeping them close, so food travels a short distance and the cook can stay part of the conversation. Leave a clear path between the grill and the table, and keep seating out of the way of the cooking area.