Buying New Patio Furniture? Things To Think About

Posted on: 2 September 2021

If your patio space has been beckoning you to create a relaxing, inviting refuge, you may be looking for some outdoor patio furniture that fits your personality and the space. For homeowners who haven't purchased patio furniture before, the selection process can be difficult. Before you buy patio furniture that leaves you uncomfortable or unhappy, it's important that you think the process through. Here's a look at some of the things you should consider when you're choosing new patio furniture.

Choose The Material

When you start looking for patio furniture, you'll find furniture made from a variety of different materials. Many commercially-produced options are made from different types of plastics or metal, while many homemade patio furniture options will be crafted from bamboo or different types of wood. Think about which material best suits your preferences when you're making your choice.

One of the reasons why many homeowners opt for handmade wood patio furniture instead of more inexpensive plastic or metal furniture is durability. Plastic patio furniture won't hold up to a lot of use, and it may become brittle and crack in colder temperatures. Additionally, it can suffer from sun fading. Metal furniture may last longer than plastic, but it's vulnerable to corrosion from environmental hazards and can become hot and uncomfortable in the sun.

When you choose handmade wood patio furniture, you can choose a wood material that's naturally resistant to weather damage and pest infestations, such as teak, and then you can have that wood furniture sealed to create a greater barrier against both. Reapplying the sealant every year or two will help ensure that your wood furniture lasts as long as possible.

Opt For Multi-Purpose

Since most patio areas have limited space, you'll want to make the most of your patio furniture investment so that you get multiple uses from as many pieces as possible. For example, if you have seating benches crafted, ask about incorporating storage compartments in those benches so that you can keep cushions and other outdoor supplies stored safely in the benches.

Ottomans and coffee tables can also be built to serve as additional seating when needed, or they can incorporate other features for storage and organization. Even better, you can have a coffee table created that is large enough to double as a food-service space for larger barbecues and events.

Consider Placement And Design

One of the things that many people don't think about when they choose patio furniture is the way that furniture will sit on the patio surface. Depending on the type of patio surface you have, there are some furniture designs that will just not work well.

For example, in rocky patio areas, you'll want furniture with larger, wider legs and bases so that the furniture is more stable on the surface. Thin, intricate leg designs are best for flat, even surfaces such as pavers, tile, or concrete. These smaller legs may become wobbly or unstable in rocky areas or on decks where there's a gap between the wood planks. Talk with your furniture design specialist about what the options are and where your furniture will be placed so that the design can best suit the platform.

Prioritize Comfort Over Form

When you're envisioning your patio space, it's tempting to want to create an environment that looks like it came out of a home decor magazine. However, you should be careful of choosing patio furniture designs just because of how they look. If you do this, you may end up with furniture that's not nearly as comfortable as you may have hoped. This can leave you not wanting to use the furniture that you invested in. 

You can avoid this by prioritizing comfort in your design selections. Make sure that the furniture you choose is comfortable for you to sit in first, then adapt your designs as best you can with input from the designer.

These are some of the most important things to think about when you're looking for patio furniture. Talk with a patio furniture creator, like Davis Porch and Patio, near you today for more information.

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