The outdoor dining area is the social heart of any backyard — where meals are shared, conversations happen, and memories are made. VistaScapes Design & Build incorporates intentional outdoor dining zones into every outdoor kitchen and patio project we build throughout Broken Arrow, Bixby, Jenks, and the greater Tulsa metro. Here are the design approaches our clients love most.
Covered Dining Under a Pergola or Pavilion
The most popular outdoor dining configuration in Oklahoma is a defined dining area under a pergola or pavilion, adjacent to or integrated with the outdoor kitchen. Coverage is essential — Oklahoma’s afternoon rains and intense summer sun make fully exposed dining areas uncomfortable for half the year. A covered dining space with ceiling fans, pendant or string lighting, and proper screening from the grill area creates a true outdoor dining room experience.
Design Tips for Covered Dining Areas
- Size the covered area for the table plus 3 feet of clearance on all sides — a standard 6-person table needs at least a 14×14-foot coverage zone
- Position ceiling fans for air movement at dining height, not overhead
- Use pendant lighting hung 30–36 inches above the table surface for dining illumination
- Consider a half-wall or privacy screen on the wind-prevailing side to reduce debris and noise from the street
Al Fresco Open-Air Dining
For homeowners who specifically want the open-sky dining experience, VistaScapes designs open-air dining zones using strategic landscaping for wind buffering, shade sails for sun protection during daytime meals, and proper patio surface orientation to minimize afternoon western sun. These work best on properties with mature tree canopy or where the dining area naturally falls in an east-facing position that receives afternoon shade.
Dining Zones Defined by Materials and Levels
Even on a single-level patio, you can define distinct dining and lounge zones through material changes. A dining area in natural travertine bordered by a concrete band, or a raised dining platform 4–6 inches above the surrounding patio, creates a clear zone definition without walls or partitions. VistaScapes uses material transitions, level changes, and lighting to create intuitively separate zones on a single patio footprint.
Bar-Height Dining at the Outdoor Kitchen
One of the most social dining configurations: bar stools on the guest side of the outdoor kitchen island, so guests sit at bar height (36–42 inches) directly at the cooking counter. This puts the chef in conversation with guests throughout the cooking process. VistaScapes designs outdoor kitchen islands with overhangs of 12–14 inches for knee clearance when choosing this configuration.
Dining + Fire Feature Combination
Some VistaScapes clients opt for a dining table that doubles as a fire feature — a large rectangular fire table at dining height that provides warmth and ambient light for evening meals without requiring a separate fire pit. This works particularly well in open-air or partially covered dining zones where a traditional fire pit would be too low or too separate from the dining surface.
Dining Area Furniture and Material Pairing
VistaScapes advises clients on outdoor furniture selection as part of the design process. The dining surface material, seating style, and patio materials should feel cohesive. Natural travertine pairs well with teak or synthetic wicker; porcelain pairs well with modern powder-coated aluminum; flagstone pairs beautifully with wrought iron or weathered teak.
Call VistaScapes Design & Build at (918) 779-1317 to design an outdoor dining area for your Broken Arrow, Bixby, Jenks, or Tulsa-area home. Free design consultations, no obligation.
