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Outdoor Living Enjoyment
Comfortable and attractive furniture makes a huge difference in how much you enjoy your outdoor living experience. You can use some Outdoor Furniture year-round, while other types are only good seasonally. There are four main types of furniture to consider: wood, metal, wicker, and resin. This guide describes the advantages of each and what to look for.
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Furniture for Small Patios
Enjoy your patio even more with these furniture and design tips.
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Wood Furniture
Wood furniture fits your style if you love all things natural. The best-quality wood furniture is made from center-cut heartwood lumber with a consistent grain. Also, look for furniture built with zinc-plated or stainless-steel screws—that way, you can tighten them if they get loose.
Outdoor Storage Solutions
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Wood Furniture: Natural Cedar
Cedar and pine are light-color softwoods that age to silvery gray unless you paint or seal them. Both cedar and pressure-treated pine last for years outdoors. Cedar is typically more expensive than pressure-treated lumber.
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Wood Furniture: Tropical Teak
Teak, harvested from tropical tree plantations, is one of the most durable and priciest choices for outdoor furniture. Even when exposed to elements year-round, it will last at least 50 years. Like many wood types, untreated teak fades to silvery gray. Apply teak oil once or twice a year to maintain its reddish-brown color.
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Wood Furniture: Natural Wood
Natural wood furniture is constructed using rough-cut tree branches. Furniture like this doesn't stand up very well to the elements, so it's best to place it under a covered porch or in a sunroom.
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Wood Furniture: Australian Jarrah
Jarrah, like teak, is a highly durable tropical hardwood that will last decades. Its deep, reddish tones bring warmth to outdoor furniture year-round. Use a treatment specifically designed for jarrah to preserve its natural color.
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Metal Furniture
Metal, one of the best-selling materials for outdoor furniture, is prized for its durability, comfort, and versatility. The two primary types of metal furniture are wrought iron and aluminum.
How to Clean Outdoor Furniture for a Total Season Refresh
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Metal Furniture: Ornate Iron
Wrought-iron furniture has its roots in the Victorian Era, evident in its elaborate curves. Its heaviness makes it an excellent pick for windy sites, but iron furniture can be challenging to move with ease. You'll need cushions to soften the hard seats and add a splash of color to the finish, usually black, white, or green.
Maximizing a Small Patio
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Metal Furniture: Extruded Aluminum
Extruded aluminum furniture frames are tubular and usually feature strap or sling seats. They're lightweight, so they're easy to move, and their simple designs often make them suitable for stacking. Prices range from inexpensive at mass merchants to moderately expensive at specialty stores.
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Metal Furniture: Cast Aluminum
Cast aluminum offers more intricate design options and heftier weight than extruded aluminum, although it's far lighter than wrought iron. Expect to pay slightly more for cast aluminum than extruded. Both types require little maintenance thanks to powder-coated finishes applied by manufacturers.
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Metal Furniture: Retro Metal
Metal chairs with decorative backs once led the way in moderately priced metal furniture. Give them an update with brightly colored rust-resistant paint. Cushions can help soften the seat and prevent you from burning your legs when you sit on the chairs in full sun.
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Wicker Furniture
The woven look of wicker comes in two forms—regular and all-weather wicker. Both look similar, but their uses and care requirements are pretty different. Traditional wicker is suitable for use only in covered areas outdoors. Use a vacuum, soft brush, or damp cloth to clean it. All-weather wicker can be exposed to rain with no ill effects. Clean it by hosing it off every few weeks.
How to Paint Wicker Furniture for a Colorful Refresh
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Wicker Furniture: Traditional Wicker
Classic wicker is made from rattan vine, cane, or bamboo. Its natural fibers are suitable for use outdoors under a covered area such as a porch. Apply a coat of paint to the weave to refresh aging pieces. It's best not to sit on wet wicker; you might stretch the weave.
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Wicker Furniture: All-Weather Wicker
All-weather or outdoor wicker is made from twisted paper or synthetic fibers woven around a frame and coated with a weather-resistant finish. It stands up to the elements and poolside use. However, most manufacturers recommend the furniture be protected from prolonged exposure to full sun.
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Resin/Plastic Furniture
Resin or plastic furniture has many advantages, including durability, low cost, ease of maintenance, and portability. Besides a tendency to blow across the yard during a storm, resin's major drawback is its cookie-cutter styling—one white molded chair tends to look like another.
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Resin/Plastic Furniture: Designer Looks
Demand for stylish outdoor furniture has sparked a new crop of resin products that sport chic contemporary lines and bold colors. Best of all, resin products offer designer looks at affordably priced backyard furniture for year-round use.
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