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Choosing the Perfect Outdoor Furniture: Comfort, Durability, and Style

To feel relaxed in your outdoor space, you need comfortable, durable, and stylish outdoor furniture to make your stay a haven. Outdoors are ideal places to relax, read a book, meditate, share jovial jokes, or enjoy cool drinks with a close person. 

Spending time outdoors is spectacular. You can view the beautiful garden scenery with a cool, fresh breeze from the green vegetation in your garden. With the perfect choice of outdoor furniture, you can have lots of fun and maximally enjoy quality time with your family and friends. 

In this article, you will explore a range of outdoor furniture to make your outdoor moments memorable. 

Choosing Outdoor Furniture for Your Outdoor Space

There is perfect outdoor furniture for every outdoor space, regardless of size. Whether it’s a balcony, small, medium, or large garden, there is a variety of outdoor furniture to enhance its appearance.

·        Balconies

Installing furniture on a balcony can enhance it, making it more cosy, elegant, and lively. This gives you the energy to spend more time outdoors. Use a bistro set on your balcony to make it suitable for lunches, tea time, or romantic meals. 

In addition, a small wall-hanging pod or a small lounge set can complement the balcony for good book moments. A fresh plant will be crucial to complementing the whole balcony area. 

·        Small Gardens

The limitation of space should not mean the limitation of style. Use furniture and tuck away when you are not using it or the number of guests is reduced—a cube set will be the best fit for your small garden. 

Alternatively, a two-seat sofa set can be ideal for relaxing outdoors. Position your sofa sets closely together or in the garden, and use exteriors to create space to place other garden furniture to improve your outdoor space. 

·        Medium Gardens

The bigger your outdoor space, the more comprehensive your choice of outdoor furniture can be.  A six-seat dining table in a medium garden is ideal since it can accommodate a large family or transform into an entertainment area. 

A modular corner sofa can also enhance your space. You can combine all the pieces to create a perfect corner suite for your mid-sized space or place the furniture in different outdoor areas to fit your style. 

Adjusting the pieces to achieve a new layout can give your furniture a new look. You can also use some accessories according to your style for the perfect outdoor look. 

·        Large Gardens

For a large outdoor space, utilize the ample space with more furniture without worrying about space limitations.

Use a large casual dining set—an eight-seat dining set will look amazing in an ample outdoor space. You can also use corner suites with a dining table to ensure more people can relax or even dine freely. 

In addition, consider a daybed in the ample outdoor space for you and your entire family to relax under the warm sunshine and sunbathe with your loved ones. 

What to Look for When Choosing the Perfect Outdoor Furniture

When choosing the finest furniture for your outdoor space, consider that garden furniture is left outside throughout the year. The outdoor furniture of your choice needs to be made of a material that can withstand rainy autumns and harsh winters. 

When choosing the best outdoor furniture, ensure it is:

  • Comfortable
  • Durable
  • Fit your Style
  • Material choice

Check out the best garden furniture we have reviewed that will help you make informed decisions on the choice of your outdoor furniture

1. Rattan

Rattan furniture comes in different forms, including:

Normal Rattan

The cheap rattan furniture has steel frames that rust when exposed to wet conditions. Other parts are made from PVC plastic or PU, which sometimes becomes brittle or snaps. These types of rattan are flat-packed, requiring a complete assembly and a one-year warranty. 

These rattan pieces of furniture can be used for outdoor services only during warm seasons. Due to their rusting nature, avoid using them in the cold months and store them indoors to be utilized when the warm weather returns. 

Coated Rattan

Rattan furniture exists, but its quality is enhanced by coating it with aluminium frames to prevent rust and corrosion. The coated rattan version can withstand hot or wet seasons. The material is light in weight, making it moveable.

In addition, the coated rattan uses high-density polyethene that is fully waterproof, protecting your furniture from heat rays that cause fading. It also insulates the furniture from cold and frosty weather to avoid any snapping or brattling that causes rust and dampness. 

Its maintenance procedure is simple: wipe it with clean, warm, and soapy water. To further protect your furniture, get winter covers to prevent dirt and dust from accessing the rattan, making it clean and ready for use. These qualities make it okay to be left alone in all seasons of the year.

2. Plastic/Resin

You can go for plastic garden furniture with a limitation on its durability, as it is minimal.  Resin furniture is a cost-effective outdoor furniture that has been used for several decades. They come in different colours, though they fade when exposed to sunshine.

 The white-coloured plastic outdoor furniture turns dirty and mouldy when it stays outdoors. 

In strong winds, plastic furniture is prone to browning and breaking easily. The durability of resin furniture makes it a poor fit for outdoor spaces to be left outside throughout the year. 

3. Cast Iron

Iron outdoor furniture is strong, though it rusts when exposed to damp weather. It is heavy, making moving from one place to another difficult, so it stays outside even in wet seasons.

To protect your iron outdoor furniture, coat it with paint regularly, which insulates it from rust and corrosion to a greater extent. In hot seasons, the cast iron becomes heated, making sitting on it unbearable. 

4. Wood

Wood can make a good choice for outdoor furniture as it comes in different varieties, including hardwoods and softwoods (pine, cedar, and eucalyptus). Even though wood fades when exposed to direct sunlight, it doesn’t adjust its temperature, unlike cast iron, which heats up, making it comfortable to sit on in all weather conditions. 

To achieve longer-lasting wood quality, wood needs to be treated to prevent cracking, snapping, or rotting, which can be brought about by extreme weather conditions. Oils and sealants can also protect wood against dampness and rot. 

When outdoor wood furniture is stored in a dry place away from dampness and the proper treatment is applied regularly, it can last 25–50 years.

5. Steel/Metal

Metal or steel outdoor furniture is strong, can be moulded to various shapes, and fits numerous styles. Steel is hard and doesn’t heat up quickly, though it can rust in the dump and wet weather conditions.

When left outside during the cold seasons, it gets orange rust, making it unsuitable for wet seasons. Metal outdoor furniture is cheaper and has a single-year warranty, making it easily replaceable. 

 6. Cast Aluminum

Cast aluminium is a wise choice for outdoor furniture because it is powder-coated and doesn’t fade or rust. Compared to other varieties of metal furniture, aluminium cast outdoor furniture requires little maintenance. 

Cast aluminium furniture is light in weight and, hence, easily moveable. The aluminium remains cool in extreme heat situations, making it favourable for use during the summer season. The cast is resistant to rust and corrosion, so it can stay outside during the cold season, although it is costly compared to other metals. 

 7. Fabric

Outdoor furniture made from fabrics draws inspiration from the boat-making industry’s waterproof outdoor seats. The frames are made from aluminium, which doesn’t rust; dry foam helps water run out of the fabric. The fabric furniture is easily moveable and weather-resistant.

The fabric doesn’t fade, gets mould, is UV-sensitive or mildew-resistant, and is easy to clean; hence, it can be left outdoors all year round. The furniture is insulated against liquid spillage and stubborn stains, which can be removed immediately using a solution.  

Most fabric outdoor furniture is quite expensive, but its durability and efficiency are worth the cost, as it can last up to 10 years.

An outdoor space requires perfect furniture to make it comfy and stylish. Choose the outdoor furniture of your choice, ensuring style, comfort, and longevity. Let your outdoor furniture enhance your style and transform your outdoor space into a place of memories.

Regardless of the size of your outdoor space, whether it is a balcony or a small, medium, or large garden, there are numerous pieces of furniture you can use to enhance your space. Go for the furniture that serves your purpose, is durable, comfortable, and, most importantly, meets your style. Make your outdoor space a haven to enjoy.

Emily Sulei

Emily Suleiman is a stay-at-home mom and avid gardener who shares expertise in transforming spaces into vibrant havens through practical tips and creative insights.

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