Your garden, backyard or patio is a place where you can take a fresh breath and loosen up in the outdoors for a bit in the comfort of your home. Your garden or patio as your relaxing place should be able to provide you with the feeling of comfort and coziness that you are longing for. This can be achieved when the right outdoor furniture is placed with the perfect outdoor cushions.
Picking the ideal furniture is not only about choosing the one that blends with the surroundings and compliments your patio well but also that provides you with the best comfort and lets you have a relaxing time.
Types of Outdoor Furniture
Outdoor pieces of furniture are a great way to elevate the ambience of your Outdoor Living space and make it livelier. A great ambience of a place will automatically lift your mood and will help you to relax. A person’s style and preferences can be seen through the way their house and décor are designed and the same goes for outdoor furnishing.
If you are looking forward to furnishing your patio, courtyard or your poolside with some interesting furniture that gives your outdoor space a better look then goes through the various types of materials used in outdoor furniture and types that might go well with your personality and suit your preferences.
I Types of Materials
- Resin Outdoor Furniture
Synthetic resin furniture for outdoor furnishing is one of the best choices and it is commonly known and used for its toughness and excellent durability. Synthetic wickers like high-density polyethylene or HDPE for short is famous for their exceptional toughness and unparalleled quality.
With HDPE wicker your furniture will last longer as it can withstand all weather conditions without much maintenance. Just cover the furniture with outdoor furniture covers when not in need and that will be all.
- Synthetic Rattan Outdoor Furniture
Just like resin furniture, rattan furniture is woven in aluminium frames, the only difference is resin furniture is woven with synthetic wickers while rattan furniture is made with synthetic rattan, and this is the reason why rattan furniture does not last for a long time.
Synthetic Rattan furniture is mostly suited in all kinds of weather but also does pose a need to be protected and maintained regularly.
- Wooden Outdoor Furniture
Wooden outdoor furniture gives a very beautiful touch to the outdoor area and blends well with the outer surroundings. Furniture is made from different types of wood including teak, iroko, meranti and many other kinds of hardwood suited of the outdoors.
Although the quality of furniture that is made out of wood is quite high and durable, they still have to be maintained regularly to prevent any damage from the weather and to make it last longer, however outdoor furniture covers can protect it to an extent from harsh weather conditions.
- Aluminium Outdoor Furniture
Outdoor furniture made out of aluminium is something you should consider adding to your outer area as it lasts longer, is light in weight which makes it easier to move around, no need for maintenance just use it with Outdoor cushions for sitting and voila! It is a perfect piece of furniture to enjoy your day out.
When not in need cover the aluminium furniture with outdoor furniture covers and it will be fine.
- Cushions for outdoor furniture
Cushions are a crucial element in outdoor furniture. The softness of Outdoor Cushions provides the true comfort that we look for. Buying a good quality cushion is very important as it can wear off easily. It also needs to be taken care of as the weather and UV rays can affect its quality and the colour might fade eventually.
It is advised to keep the cushions indoors when it is not needed outside to prevent it from getting dirty or growing mould from the moisture.
II Furniture Types
- Outdoor tables & Chairs
There are several variants of outdoor tables and chairs available, some of which include dining tables and chairs, coffee tables and chairs, bar tables and stools and many other such tables and chairs that are used for multiple purposes. A dining set in the outdoor area makes the look complete.
Fig. 2: Outdoor Tables - A Complete Guide to Outdoor Furniture and Outdoor Cushions Blog
While looking for one, make sure that the quality is high and can resist the wrath of harsh weather conditions including hot summers and cold winters.
- Patio sofas
Patio sofas are designed for outdoor use which means that these patio sofas are supposed to be tough against the rain, summer, winter and other harmful factors that affect the outdoor furnishings.
Patio sofas not only provides a very home-like comfort but also gives an exquisite look to the patio and makes it very pleasing to look at.
- Gazebo and Pergola Furniture
Gazebos and pergolas are outdoor structures that are used for outdoor dining and to provide shade. These structures are best suited for those who have bigger spaces in their backyards. The furniture used in gazebo and pergola are usually sets of dining tables or coffee tables.
As these kinds of structures are built in a garden or backyard it is best to choose furniture that has a rustic look to them as it would go well with the aesthetics.
- Ottoman
An ottoman is commonly used as a footstool to rest your feet that is placed in front of a sofa or a chair. However, these little items of furniture are also used as seats but as it does not have a back to support you, it might be uncomfortable to sit for a longer interval of time.
The interesting thing about an ottoman is that some of them have space in it for storing certain items.
- Outdoor chaise lounge
If you are looking to relax and chill then you need this chair in your outer premises. These chairs are designed to relax and rest in them. Even though these kinds of chairs can be used in any appropriate place but it is commonly seen and used in places that have pools. Just get a book and a drink for yourself to chill in a chaise lounge and relax.
How to choose furniture for outdoor?
- List the furniture you need
While buying a piece of furniture you will find endless rows and floors of furnishing items that will get you confused and make you want to buy everything. It would be a waste of money if you bought outdoor cushions instead of outdoor furniture covers.
Planning what you need before buying is important as it will save a lot of your time and will give you a clear idea of what you need and what you don’t.
- Take your outdoor space into consideration
It will be a disaster if you bought an item of furniture or a set of furniture that is too big for your backyard, leaving you with no space in your backyard. No one wants that to happen. Before you buy, measure the space you have for furnishing and according to the measurements interpret choose the right furniture for your backyard.
- Pick the one that blends well with the surroundings
To make your outdoor space look exquisite, the furniture has to go well with the surroundings. Remember the furniture you choose should elevate the ambience of the outer area. It would not make sense to add a patio sofa in your poolside or choose a colour that does not compliment the surrounding.
Fig. 3: Furniture that blends - A Complete Guide to Outdoor Furniture and Outdoor Cushions Blog
If you are confused about the right furniture, ask for some advice from an expert or contact our experts and they will guide you with it.
- Look at various options
While you are looking for the perfect piece of furniture, don’t just end up buying from the first place you go. Look around at various outlets, online stores and other places. Compare the designs and prices according to your preferences. Maybe the designs of the outdoor cushions were more beautiful than other stores.
You might be surprised that you got your hands on something much better than from the previous stores you visited.
- Check the quality and price
Buying furniture can cost you a fortune, putting a dent in your wallet. So, when you are spending a good amount of money it is important to get furniture that is high in quality and lasts longer.
Your furniture is supposed to last for at least 6 to 7 years and that will be possible if it can withstand the wrath of the changing climatic conditions, the sun and other such factors. So, make sure that the furniture you are taking home won’t start wearing out soon.
How to prevent outdoor cushions and furniture from deterioration?
Fig. 4: Prevention of Outdoor Cushions and Furniture from Deterioration - A Complete Guide to Outdoor Furniture and Outdoor Cushions Blog
- Gently dust away the dirt
After spending a few days out on the patio, your outdoor furniture will start to collect some dust which will make your furniture look dirty and unable to use. Dusting the dirt away gently with a cloth or a soft-bristled brush will be enough to make your furniture dust free. Along with the regular dusting it is also advised to use outdoor furniture covers to shield the furniture from dust and dirt.
- Use furniture cleaners
As outdoor furniture is constantly under the sun, dust, moisture and other things, it is important to clean your furniture now and then. For thorough cleaning, using furniture cleaners for a more appealing look is advised. Furniture cleaners have cleaning agents in them that cleanse the surface leaving nothing but clean furniture.
- Avoid harsh cleaning agents
As mentioned above, using furniture cleaners in your cleaning routine are a great way to keep your outdoor furniture as fresh as new, however, choosing the right cleaner is just as important. Cleaners often have contents in them that can be harsh on the furniture. Chemicals like bleach, ammonia etc. will harm the furniture.
These chemicals not only cause harm to the furniture but also to us humans too. So before purchasing these products, be aware of the contents in them.
Outdoor furniture covers are a great investment for protecting your outdoor furniture. It is true that can be a little expensive but it extends the life of the furniture and saves you the money of replacing it again. Outdoor furniture covers protect the furniture from varying weather patterns like heavy rains, harsh UV rays, cold winters etc. It also prevents the formation of certain funguses like mildew which will protect your furniture from being destroyed.
- Protect the furniture from mould and mildew
To fight against mould and mildew the most important thing to do is to get rid of moisture from your furniture as moisture is the breeding ground for both mould and mildew.
Clean and maintain the furniture regularly to stop the funguses to grow and spread as mould and mildew will not only reduce the life of the furniture but also affect your health. It causes respiratory issues, migraines and other health problems.
Some furniture needs special maintenance, like-
Fig. 5: Outdoor Cushions Maintenance - A Complete Guide to Outdoor Furniture and Outdoor Cushions Blog
- Wooden Outdoor Furniture
Wooden furniture is very great to give an earthy look to your garden but if left without maintenance it will soon become a victim of the harsh atmosphere and will begin to perish, gradually. Dust the furniture regularly and use cleaning liquids like water and dishwasher for scraping away the dirt. It is also recommended to use teak oil once in 6 months on your teak furniture to give it a new look as well as extend its life even further.
For getting rid of the mould and mildew use a mixture of water and white vinegar and clear them out. It is better if the furniture is covered with outdoor furniture covers to protect them from environmental attacks.
- Metal Outdoor Furniture
Metal furniture can last a lifetime if you know how to maintain it properly. The first thing to do is buy metal furniture that is durable and resistant to water and weather and aluminium being a rust-free metal it becomes the best choice for your furniture. To maintain its quality varnish or paint so it can prevent rusting of the metal.
While cleaning the metal make sure to wipe it gently with a cloth to prevent it from scratching the surface. And just like other furniture make sure to cover the metal furniture with outdoor furniture covers when not in need.
Even though the fabric of the Outdoor Cushions is resistant to the outer conditions but maintaining them regularly will make them last longer. Washing them to clean the dirt and get rid of the stains will make them look fresh. To keep your cushions from damaging during unpleasant weather conditions, keep them inside.
Outdoor furniture is a great way to elevate the ambience of your outer surroundings and with the right type of furniture and a little effort in maintaining them and your furniture will be the perfect accessory for your backyard.