How To Choose Perfect Patio Furniture
If you're looking for patio furniture, there are certainly a lot of options out there. You have the choice of:
- materials
- styles
- how many pieces to buy
Let's break these 3 choices down for you.
Materials
I think that the best materials for outdoor furniture are either wood (oak, cedar or teak) or wrought iron. Wood is a classic outdoor look (particularly in the Adirondack style, which is discussed below) and will never go out of fashion.
Wrought iron is a slightly more elegant look than wood and is more durable if you can keep the rust at bay. So wood (in oak, cedar or teak) or wrought iron are my two personal favorites.
Of course, you can also buy outdoor furniture in aluminum or wicker as well. I personally would not buy outdoor furniture in aluminum because I think it looks a little cheap. Remember that if you purchase quality outdoor furniture and maintain it with care, it could last you a lifetime.
Wicker outdoor patio furniture is another material I would shy away from because I think it looks old-fashioned. However, that is just my personal taste, and if you love wicker or cane, you should go for it.
Styles
The style of outdoor patio furniture you purchase will often be dictated by the material you purchase it in. For example, outdoor furniture in oak often comes in the Adirondack style, which I personally think looks fantastic. You can get stacking armchairs in oak that look just great in the garden or on the patio.
Teak outdoor furniture, on the other hand, will come in the more Asian or Oriental style, using the rib method of construction. The rib method of construction is simply to have slats of wood with gaps in between (so it looks a little like a rib cage or a wooden cage of some sort).
Wrought iron outdoor furniture, as discussed previously, has a more elegant style. By its very nature, wrought iron has curvy, almost floral-looking extensions to its basic framework. I think wrought iron outdoor furniture looks excellent.
How Many Items Should You Buy?
This really depends on personal choice. If you have a large family (or you have large gatherings of some sort) you may want to buy a 10- or 12-seater dining table and bench outdoor patio set.
If you're the sort of family who likes to barbecue outside and then take the food inside to eat (away from the flies and that sort of thing), you may want to purchase two recliners and a couple of armchairs.
You Can Start Small And Add Items Later
Whichever items you choose, you can start small and build your collection later. I would make sure to purchase from a range with some stability (ie; it has been around for a long time and/or is from a large manufacturer) so that matching pieces can be obtained at a later date.