The Complete Guide
Custom Made Bar Setting Covers — The Australian Owner's Complete Guide
Outdoor bar settings are one of the most used pieces of furniture in an Australian alfresco or entertaining area. They work for breakfast, afternoon drinks, casual dinners, and everything in between. They also tend to stay outdoors year-round, which means a decent cover is not optional if you want the setting to look good for more than a season or two.
The problem with standard covers for bar settings
Bar tables sit at a different height to a regular dining table. A standard dining table is around 72 to 75 cm high. A bar or counter height table is typically 90 to 110 cm. That extra height means most off-the-shelf covers are too short. They sit on the tabletop and drape down the sides, but they do not reach the ground — which is exactly where rain and wind-blown debris tend to get in.
The second issue is width. A bar setting cover needs to span the table plus whatever spread the stools create when pushed in. Standard covers are sized for tables alone. Once you factor in stools tucked in on two or three sides, the setting is often 20 to 40 cm wider than a cover expects, and you end up with the sides flapping open.
A made-to-measure cover solves both problems. The height is built to reach the ground from the top of your table, and the width accounts for the full footprint of your setting with stools in place.
The three measurements you need
Getting the measurements right takes about five minutes. Push your stools into their normal stored position before you measure.
Width
Width is the widest point of the setting, measured side to side with stools pushed in. Start at the outermost point on one side — whether that is the table edge, a stool seat, or a footrest — and measure across to the outermost point on the other side. If your stools push fully under the table, the table edge is likely your widest point. If the stool seats or footrests protrude, measure to those instead.
Depth
Depth is the front-to-back measurement of the setting with stools in their stored position. Measure from the back edge of the setting to the front edge, including any stool footrests or seats that extend out from the table. On most bar settings, depth is shorter than width, but check carefully if you have stools on three or four sides.
Height
Height is from the floor to the top of the bar table surface. This determines how far the cover drops on all sides. Measure straight up from the ground to the tabletop edge. Bar stool seats sit lower than the tabletop, so the table height is always the one that matters. Do not add extra for stool backs.
Do not add extra centimetres to any measurement. The production pattern includes the correct ease.
Bar settings need a different drop than dining covers
Because bar tables are taller than dining tables, the cover has more vertical fabric. That means more weight, more surface area for wind to catch, and more material at the base to hold in place. The complexity factor in our pricing reflects this. The cover is built with reinforced seams along the vertical panels to handle the added stress, and the hem weight at the base is calibrated to keep the cover in position in light to moderate winds.
If your setting is in a particularly exposed spot — a rooftop, a coastal deck, or a yard that funnels wind — a set of cover clips or furniture weights on the base hem will help keep things in place on gusty days.
Material and construction
All covers are made from 200gsm solution-dyed polyester with a polyurethane waterproof coating on the underside. Solution-dyed polyester holds its colour far longer than conventionally dyed fabrics because the pigment goes into the fibre during production rather than onto the surface. In the Australian climate, where UV levels are high, this matters a great deal. A solution-dyed cover will still look presentable after four or five years of regular exposure. A conventionally dyed cover can start fading badly within twelve to eighteen months.
The PU waterproof coating keeps the cover flexible in cold weather and does not crack along fold lines, which is common with PVC-based coatings. Seams are reinforced throughout, and the base hem has enough structure to hold its shape without being rigid.
Caring for your cover
Rinse with a garden hose regularly to remove dust, pollen, and salt. Spot-clean with mild soapy water. Do not machine wash — the agitation removes the waterproof coating in a single cycle. Store the cover folded loosely rather than compressed tightly, as sustained pressure on the same fold line can eventually wear the coating.