Tips For Choosing Your New Outdoor Furniture
Posted on: 25 February 2015
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The right outdoor furniture will transform your patio into additional living space you can use for relaxing and dining all season long. There are so many options available in patio furniture, you may have difficulty making up your mind on what to buy. You'll get to choose from a variety of frames and fabrics too. Here are a few tips to make your decision easier.
Measure The Space
You don't want to overcrowd your patio, because it will look cluttered and be less functional. Measure the space so you'll have a realistic idea of how the furniture will fit when you go shopping. Sometimes it's hard to visualize how well furniture will fill up a space, that's why you need to take measurements of everything. You don't want to fall in love with a particular table or set of lounge chairs to find out they overwhelm the space once you get them home.
Buy A Set
If you plan to buy an outdoor table for dining, be sure to buy a set that comes with chairs. Outdoor chairs are often lower to the ground, so if you try to piece together a dining set on your own, the chairs may be too low to be comfortable for dining. When choosing chairs for outdoor dining, they need to be the right height, and you probably want ones without arms too, so the table won't be so crowded. If your patio is short on space, consider buying a bar set with a counter-height table and stools. A set like this takes up much less room, yet provides a place to eat meals and enjoy morning coffee.
Buy Reversible Cushions
Cushions and pillows make your outdoor furniture look more appealing, and they'll make them more comfortable too. Consider buying ones that have the same color and pattern on both sides so they are reversible. That essentially doubles the lifespan of the fabric. When one side is stained, you can simply flip the cushion over. By flipping the cushions and pillows, they will wear out and fade more slowly too. You can also prolong the life of fabric by storing the cushions and pillows when you're not using the furniture. While you may enjoy bright colors on your patio, keep in mind, these will fade quickly if you leave them in the bright sun all summer. You may want to go with neutral colors that won't become drab as the sun drains the color from the fabric.
Buy The Best You Can Afford
If you want your outdoor furniture to last for several years, be prepared to buy quality pieces. While plastic and aluminum furniture is less expensive, it shows wear more quickly and is not as sturdy. Heavy wood or wrought iron frames will last many years, and you won't have to worry about them collapsing under your weight. However, you also want to consider how often you'll move the furniture around. If it will stay in place most of the season, heavy furniture is ideal. If you plan to store the furniture between uses or move the chairs around the yard, you'll want frames made of lighter material.
Just because your patio furniture will be outdoors doesn't mean you have to skimp on quality or appearance. Using a little creativity with colors, patterns, and frame materials, you can design an outdoor living space that is as appealing as your den or living room indoors.