By Todd Arend

Throughout history, the many styles of furniture design have been modified, revived and repurposed. The outdoor patio dining set has seen many of these styles, some more ornate than others. When you go to buy your own outdoor furniture, it might be useful to know if you are buying a Queen Anne or a Rietveld, if, for nothing else, your own personal edification. Here are just some of the many options available.

The Adirondack style dates to the early 1900s in upstate New York and the surrounding areas. The rustic motif is characterized by simple, clean lines. The chairs are distinct, with high, angled backs and wide armrests.

The Queen Anne style is one of the specialties of Amish craftsmen and refers back to Queen Anne of England. This early 18th century style features cabriole legs, claw feet, and fiddle-shaped backs.

The Art Deco style also dates back to the early twentieth century. This school of design focused on bold, geometric forms, often in bright colors.

The Baroque style covered a wide array of things, including art of the time. Back in the late 17th to early 18th century, Western Europe was awash with the style that originated in Italy and the Roman Catholic Church. A Baroque style patio dining set has heavy moldings, and the base of the table may be composed of a large, twisted column.

The Chinese style is one of the most ancient, dating back to the 1300s and lasting for about 300 years. It is known for simple, unornamented finished hardwoods and metal hardware in pewter, brass and copper. The lacquered pieces often contained mother of pearl, ivory and stone inlays.

The Arts and Crafts style flourished from the 1860s through 1939 and came about as a direct response to the ornate Victorian style. The rustic forms were simple, but skillfully made. The Mission and Shaker styles are very similar in design and are often compared to this movement.

The Colonial style simply refers to a patio dining set that was constructed in the style of the original American colonies until the 1800s. Designs have a distinct patriotic feel and use locally sourced materials and woods. Jacobean style fell into this time frame, wherein oak was popular and many pieces were painted.

The Finnish style was unique in that it was the first to use tubular steel as part of the furniture design. Often made from bent wood laminate, these pieces were lightweight, organic and airy.

The Rietveld was a style in the early 1900s that was heavily influenced by both the Dutch Arts Movement and Frank Llyod Wright. It tried to bridge the gap between old-fashioned arts and crafts and the modern style through machined forms and synthetic materials.

Gothic is one of the more ornate styles of design, evidenced in such magnificent structures as cathedrals, like Notre Dame of Paris for example. Prevalent between the 12th and 16th centuries, gothic style derived from Roman roots and was most popular during France. The decorative panels that characterize it were revived first in England during the 1700s, and later once again in the U.S.

About The Author

Todd Arend is a freelance writing professional whose expertise covers a variety of areas, including patio and backyard furniture, landscaping and design. He regularly writes for such sites as http://www.cedarwoodfurniture.com