5 Creative Ways to Use Your Heavy-Duty Picnic Table (It's Not Just for Dining!)

You bought a heavy-duty timber picnic table because you wanted quality and durability.

You got the best treated pine and a table built right here in Melbourne. Now what?

While your table is perfect for a big backyard BBQ, its robust construction and spacious design make it a versatile piece of outdoor furniture that can handle almost anything you throw at it.

Stop thinking of it as just a dining table. Here are 5 creative ways to use your outdoor picnic table to maximize your backyard fun and function!

1. The Ultimate Grazing Hub and Beverage Station

Let’s face it: the modern picnic involves grazing, not plating. Your table is purpose-built for sprawling charcuterie, dips, and desserts.

The Advantage: Our tables boast a generous 700mm wide surface. That’s wide enough to hold a massive grazing board down the centre and leave plenty of room on both sides for plates, cutlery, and wine glasses.

Pro Tip: For parties, designate one end of the table as the drink station. The weight and stability of the timber mean you can safely stack coolers and heavy jugs without any wobbling or fear of tipping.

2. The Al Fresco Office or Hobby Studio

Working from home or spending an afternoon on a craft project doesn’t mean you have to be stuck indoors. Take advantage of a sunny day!

The Advantage: Unlike lighter metal or plastic tables, our heavy-duty tables provide a solid, stable surface that won’t shake when you type or wobble when you saw. The 700mm width gives you ample room for a laptop, a notebook, and a big mug of coffee.

Styling Idea: Set up a temporary shade sail over the table during peak hours to keep the glare off your screen and extend your use well into the afternoon.

3. The Easy-Clean Kids’ Activity Centre

If you have kids, you know how messy projects can get. Why ruin the indoor dining room when you have the perfect outdoor battle station?

The Advantage: Our timber tables are designed to be tough and easily maintainable. Paint spills, playdough remnants, or science project goo can be quickly wiped down and hosed off.

Usage Tip: Keep a few colourful, shallow plastic tubs handy. They sit perfectly on the wide tabletop and are great for containing water play, sand, or messy craft supplies.

4. Rustic Retail Display (for Market Lovers)

If you're a local maker or regularly sell goods at weekend markets, a sturdy picnic table is often better than a folding trestle table.

The Advantage: The thick, solid timber instantly gives your goods a warm, rustic, high-quality backdrop that elevates your brand beyond a standard vinyl cloth display. Plus, it's weighty enough that you won't lose your stand in a sudden gust of wind.

Styling Idea: Use different heights—small wooden crates or boxes—to create visual interest and layers for your products across the expansive surface.

5. The Ultimate Potting and Gardening Bench

Your timber table is built to be outside, so don't be afraid to put it to work! It makes a fantastic temporary or permanent gardening bench.

The Advantage: The height is perfect for potting without having to bend over, saving your back. The treated pine construction means that soil, water, and spilled fertilizer won't damage the integrity of the wood.

Simple Setup: Use one end of the bench for sitting and the other end as a working space to pot herbs, transplant seedlings, or mix your specialty soil blends.

Your Table is Waiting for Its Next Job!

An investment in our heavy-duty, fully assembled timber tables is an investment in the versatility of your outdoor space. They are built tough enough to handle anything Melbourne life throws at them—from dining to decorating, working to potting.

Ready to find the perfect heavy-duty table for your next backyard project?

Shop Our Full Range & Start Creating Memories!