August 16, 2016
Those who want to maximize the time they spend outdoors – in their garden, patio, deck, or pool – whether with family or friends, need to have outdoor patio furniture that will complement their outdoor space and meet their needs.
There are many outdoor patio furniture items that you can obtain – such as hammocks, chairs, tables, fire pits, umbrellas, awnings, lights, and so on – that all add to the comfort and beauty of the outdoor space while providing functional seating, storage, or shade.
Selecting outdoor patio furniture depends on factors such as your needs, proclivities, space availability, budget, time available for maintenance, and so on.
Types of Outdoor Patio Furniture
Depending on your aesthetic choice, budget, and other considerations you can choose outdoor patio furniture made of natural wood, wrought iron, plastic, or vinyl. While natural wood and wrought iron are better looking, they can be expensive and require plenty of maintenance. Natural wood furniture left outdoors needs to be stained or painted while wrought iron furniture needs to be painted frequently.Stackable Outdoor Patio Furniture
You could also consider using movable, stackable outdoor patio furniture such as plastic chairs or tables or foldable wooden deck chairs that can be stored inside during winters and other extreme weather conditions. This is a poignant idea especially if you live in an area where winters are very cold and any furniture left outdoors is likely to be covered by snow.
Sun Umbrellas and Awnings
If you have a patio or deck that is not shaded and you want to use it during the hotter parts of the day as well, you need to consider using an awning or sun umbrella. While a bench in the garden can be placed under the shade of a tree or under an arbor or gazebo, this is not possible when you want seating on a deck or patio. By adding an umbrella or retractable canopy you can continue to use the deck or patio during the day. For instance, if you have chairs and a table, the deck can be used for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as craft activities or playing board games during the day.Outdoor Cushions
While simple benches and chairs provide adequate seating facilities outdoors, if you are looking for greater comfort, you can also pick up outdoor cushions that are more durable even when exposed to the sun.Hammock
Another sterling addition to the garden or deck is a hammock. Whether you have a couple of trees between which you can string the hammock or you need to place poles to put up a hammock, it will provide a salient place for you or your family to enjoy the outdoors in a relaxed manner. You can unwind after a hard day at work, by spending time on the hammock, listening to the birds or watching the clouds float by.Swing
If you have young children and the space, you can also consider adding a garden swing that will provide hours of fun and additional seating.Fire Pit
While most people think spring and summer are the best times to spend outdoors, you can extend outdoor time in your house by installing a fire pit and barbecue in your garden or patio. A paved patio with a fire pit will mean that you can spend parts of winter evenings also outdoors without having to worry about the cold.Lights
Whether you have a small garden or a large outdoor space, you can maximize its use by installing adequate lights over all the places you will use even after sunset. Deck and patio lights that add to the ambience as well as garden lights that ensure that pathways can be identified are of awesome help in ensuring that you can spend time outdoors in a pleasant and comfortable manner.Poolside Chairs and Loungers
If you have a swimming pool, you should consider purchasing some poolside chairs and loungers. They should ideally be water proof and easy to move around. This will enable you to enjoy time not only in your pool but also by it. A pool side party is more fun if there are plenty of chairs and seating facilities for guests to use between swims.
Planning the outdoor space in your home requires care as you need to take into consideration the amount of space you have, your budget, and your requirements. If you love to entertain, you need more chairs and seating facilities, while if you love quiet times in your garden, you should flip the switch for a hammock and lights that can be dimmed if necessary.
To make the most of the outdoor patio furniture you are purchasing consider buying multipurpose, movable, stackable furniture that are easy to maintain.
