Bistro furniture could play an unlikely role in strengthening the sense of community in places where cafes and restaurants provide seating outside on the street.
On-street furniture provides people with somewhere to sit and watch the world go by, as well as enjoying the best of the summer weather.
But it seems the right choice of bistro furniture could also help to break down boundaries by creating a harmonious environment that attracts people into the area and fosters positive behaviour.
Dr Ralf Brand at the University of Manchester has looked at four cities - Amsterdam, Beirut, Belfast and Berlin - to determine how public spaces, architecture, barriers and street furniture impact on communities.
His findings may seem surprising to some people - for instance, in Amsterdam, simply installing a giant chessboard led to a positive atmosphere in one public square.
"I'm not saying giant chessboards everywhere are the solution for reducing tensions in communities, but they illustrate the type of initiative we should be thinking about," Dr Brand says.
For private business owners, simply updating outdoor furniture to stylish and durable modern-day designs could be one way to make a valuable contribution to the appearance - and the ultimate prosperity - of an area.