Picnic tables are a staple of the summer and just because the next season is approaching doesn't mean we necessarily have to say goodbye to them. If you crave that rustic elegance that picnic tables provide — why not move one inside?
Picnic tables provide ample seating for a larger family or for a couple that entertains. Put the picnic table in your dining room and dress it up with your good china and fresh flowers — the combination of rustic and glam will be showstopping.
If you're more of a casual diner, paint the table a funky color and add a chair to each end. If you aren't a huge fan of the bench seating, simple — scrap it! Pair your favorite dining chairs with the remaining table for a modern farmhouse look. There's no way to mess up a picnic table, so you might as well have fun with it.
Images: 1. Apartment Therapy, 2. Home Stories A2Z, 3. AlltiHemmet, 4. Pale and Interesting, 5. Metropolitan Home






Howard Butcher Bloc...
Really cool idea, thanks!
Yikes on the fifth one. Not even on patio. It belongs in a park.
Not sure about picnic tables inside, but I love the bench seating concept. I'm having trouble finding a bench long enough for my table - any ideas? Currently looking at the 84' Basque bench from C&B.
I have lovely old fold out picnic table with grayed wood that I use for a dining table when I have company over ( small apartment..). I love it.
Not a fan of this trend...
My parents used a picnic table and benches in their first apartment in the 1950s to fit their budget. I'll have to tell my mother that she's a vangard of home decor!
I love this look. The kind with detached benches is also utilitarian to seat larger numbers withoutntaking up too much space. Just push the benches underneath.
No, no, no...a thousand times no. We had a picnic table in our kitchen for a couple years and there was nothing ickier, more splintery, cracks catching crumbs, or more difficult to clean and wipe down.
I've had an outdoor table as my dining table since I moved into my current space. I've changed the background decor since then, but the umbrella really makes the room --
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8032/508/1600/Lit%20table.jpg