8 Tips for Choosing Outdoor Furniture That You Will Love

Your outdoor space is an extension of your living space and can be done so many different ways. It is important when choosing between wooden outdoor furniture, wrought iron furniture, Environmentally Friendly Poly Furniture or any of the many alternatives for your outdoor space that you take time with your decision.

I found out what should be considered when choosing lawn and garden furniture. Read through these tips, you will be glad you did.

1)Set a budget

• Purchasing a dining set for example can range from a couple of hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. So you need to decide ahead of time the amount of money you can spend and then stick to that number.
• Consider waiting till after July 4th to buy because there will be sales on outdoor furniture.
• You can also save alot of money by replacing your cushions, umbrella and other outdoor accessories rather than replacing the entire furniture set

2)Think about where your furniture will be placed.

• Does the space get a ton of sun? Will the furniture be sitting on grass or on a hard surface? Your answers will help determine if you need an umbrella or if you need a lighter weight furniture for grassy spots.
• What are the views you want to enjoy? Will your outdoor furniture be close to the house or off in the distance? Outdoor furniture that is close to the house needs to stay consistant with you house’s architecture. While outdoor furniture further away, leaves more possibilities for varied styles

3)Measure the space that you're planning to fill.

• Keep in mind that the chairs around a table take up an additional 24 inches of space. And then you'll need an extra 24 to 36 inches from the back of the chairs to be able to walk around.
• Before you buy, go home with the furniture measurements and use chalk to draw the dimensions or cutouts of your furnitures dimensions.
• When working with a small space, consider a bar table set rather than a full-sized table. Bar stools rather than bar chairs will also conserve space. If you must go with a traditional dining table, consider armless chairs.

4)Determine the type of function you want.

• Do you want seating for quiet reflection? How many people do you usually entertain and what type of entertaining do you enjoy doing? Do you need a large table and chairs or just a simple set of comfy chairs with an end table between them?
• What are your storage needs and where will you store your furniture if you need to get it out of the elements?
• If you’d like to be able to move your seating from place to place, then something lightweight would be in order.

5)Determine the pieces you want to buy.

• Dining tables
• Loveseats Benches
• Coffee tables
• End tables
• Cushions,Pillows
• Patio umbrella
• Dining chairs
• Gliders
• Lounge chairs
• Rockers
• Ottomans
• Serving tables
• Patio swing
• Hammocks

6)Choose the right material for you.

You want your lawn and garden furniture to be durable while you want it to look nice and require minimal maintenance. Garden furniture resides in a harsh outdoor environment so much must be considered.

Wrought iron furniture is indestructible and can be found in many styles ranging from elaborate Victorian detailing to rustic branch and leaf designs to sleek contemporary forms.

• This material will heat up during the summer and be very cold in the winter.
• It's heavy, so it's best for a patio or deck rather than grass.
• Maintenance includes cleaning your pieces with mild soap and rinse with a soft spray from the garden hose at the beginning and end of season. Cracks in the finish should be touched up with paint. If taken care of, it will last for decades.

Aluminum is lighter than wrought iron and doesn't rust. But it certainly doesn't last as long as wrought iron.

• If unpainted, protect it with car wax or mineral oil, depending on what the manufacturer’s tag recommends.
• Clean this furniture with soapy water and hose down to rinse it off.

Wicker is lightweight and can easily be moved . It also comes in many colors for coordinating with your color schemes.

• Should get an all season wicker that will hold up against the elements of the outdoors. Or a resin wicker, which is wrapped around a steel or aluminum frame, making it more durable and easier to clean.
• Is very comfortable seating.
• Brings the look and feel of upholstered furniture to the outdoors. Be sure to use all-weather fabrics on your seat cushions.
• Cleaning includes vacuuming it over. Then washing with a mild detergent in water, rinse it off with a hose and let it air dry

Wooden outdoor furniture makes for a nice earthy look and goes well with a variety of garden styles including Natural, Contemporary, English, French, Rustic, Adirondack and Asian.

• This furniture when exposed to outdoor elements will change from warm hues of new wood to the natural tones of the outdoors. Honey turns fawn grey. If you want to keep it the original hue you will need to apply a sealant.
• Wooden outdoor furniture is made from two categories of wood.
  Tropical woods: teak, eucalyptus, mahogany, ipe, iroko, jarrah, balau, keruing
  North American grown wood: cedar, redwood, cypress, pressure-treated pine
• Built solid and sturdy and will not blow over easily during storms
• Tropical woods last 50 to 80 years and North American woods for 10 to 25 years.
• This is a purchase is an investment that will last for many years to come. Tropical wood sets will cost more than North American wood. Quality of teak woods do vary so if you find a great price that indicates lesser quality
• Some of your North American woods will require regular application of a preservative. But cleaning for all woods will be easy with mild soap and water

Plastic furniture is very affordable and a great choice if you have a tight budget.

• Often this furniture is stackable.
• You can get this in in a variety of styles. Contemporary styles really look great in this material.
• The color range is practically unending.
• There are also Environmentally Friendly Poly Furniture which is made of recycled plastic bottles -- good for the environment but will be more expensive.
• Cleaning involves spray it down with the same mildew busting product you use in your shower and hosing it off.

7)Choose the right cushions & pillows.

• Make sure you have a place to store them when you're not outside.
• Look for pillows that have some kind of color stay protection, as well as polyester fibers to allow air to filter through.
• Get cushions with patterns on both sides.

8)Go with an umbrella that's a lighter, neutral color. Otherwise a bright colored umbrella will look faded and dull by the end of the summer.

9)Make sure you have a place to put the furniture during the winter months. If not, consider investing in heavy duty covers to protect each of the pieces


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