Patio furniture with comfortable seating can transform any backyard into an outstanding outdoor living space. But furnishing your patio or deck can be almost as complicated and expensive as decorating indoors. Avoid these common patio furniture pitfalls and spend your best summer outdoors yet!
Uncomfortable outdoor seating
Everyone wants to kick back in style, but hard or scratchy surfaces can’t trump comfort, no matter how attractive they are. What’s the fix? Test furniture before you buy — leg room and table height are important at mealtimes and loungers should invite guests to stay a while.
“Utilizing the very same design principles that you use inside your home is the key to discovering the beauty of outdoor living,” says Marcia Blake, president and creative director of California-based Outdoor Interiors, Inc., which specializes in outdoor spaces.
Poorly scaled outdoor ‘rooms’
Sure, it’s the great outdoors, but your space isn’t unlimited. As when furnishing your house, consider the size of the space you are filling, as well as how you’ll be using it. Designing a big backyard? Break the area into “rooms” using groups of furniture, Blake suggests. If space is limited, consider a bar set or bistro table rather than a traditional table and chairs. Ottomans and storage chests can add flexible seating and comfort.
If you live in a climate with harsh winters, make sure you have the ability and space to store furniture.
Flimsy furniture
Your perfect seating set looked great — for one season. Don’t make that mistake again. Look for these signs of quality at all price points:
UV-resistant cushions
Rust-resistant metal frames
Tempered glass tabletops
Reputably manufactured outdoor fabric
“Quality, craftsmanship, materials, and relationships are all very important when looking at casual furniture and accessories,” Blake says. “One goes hand-in-hand with the other.”
A warranty will give you some idea of how long the furniture and its fabric will last, but materials will play a big part in how well your furniture weathers the seasons. For example, plastic is almost indestructible and is easy to clean but it can fade in the summer sun.
‘Bargains’ that aren’t
An inexpensive outdoor set might seem like a bargain at first, but won’t be a deal for long if it doesn’t hold up to your use or the environment. “If the price of a product seems high, then take the time to examine the craftsmanship that went into [it],” Blake says.
Quality pieces come in metal, synthetics such as woven wicker, and woods like teak, cedar, and pine, Blake adds. If you’ll be moving furniture around, you might also find value in extra features that add convenience, such as casters. Deals happen year-round, so Blake says your best bet for a good deal is building relationships with retailers you like and watching closely for sales.
Avoid these patio furniture pitfalls
By Anne Marie Apollo-Noel
Patio furniture with comfortable seating can transform any backyard into an outstanding outdoor living space. But furnishing your patio or deck can be almost as complicated and expensive as decorating indoors. Avoid these common patio furniture pitfalls and spend your best summer outdoors yet!
Uncomfortable outdoor seating
Everyone wants to kick back in style, but hard or scratchy surfaces can’t trump comfort, no matter how attractive they are. What’s the fix? Test furniture before you buy — leg room and table height are important at mealtimes and loungers should invite guests to stay a while.
“Utilizing the very same design principles that you use inside your home is the key to discovering the beauty of outdoor living,” says Marcia Blake, president and creative director of California-based Outdoor Interiors, Inc., which specializes in outdoor spaces.
Poorly scaled outdoor ‘rooms’
Sure, it’s the great outdoors, but your space isn’t unlimited. As when furnishing your house, consider the size of the space you are filling, as well as how you’ll be using it. Designing a big backyard? Break the area into “rooms” using groups of furniture, Blake suggests. If space is limited, consider a bar set or bistro table rather than a traditional table and chairs. Ottomans and storage chests can add flexible seating and comfort.
If you live in a climate with harsh winters, make sure you have the ability and space to store furniture.
Flimsy furniture
Your perfect seating set looked great — for one season. Don’t make that mistake again. Look for these signs of quality at all price points:
“Quality, craftsmanship, materials, and relationships are all very important when looking at casual furniture and accessories,” Blake says. “One goes hand-in-hand with the other.”
A warranty will give you some idea of how long the furniture and its fabric will last, but materials will play a big part in how well your furniture weathers the seasons. For example, plastic is almost indestructible and is easy to clean but it can fade in the summer sun.
‘Bargains’ that aren’t
An inexpensive outdoor set might seem like a bargain at first, but won’t be a deal for long if it doesn’t hold up to your use or the environment. “If the price of a product seems high, then take the time to examine the craftsmanship that went into [it],” Blake says.
Quality pieces come in metal, synthetics such as woven wicker, and woods like teak, cedar, and pine, Blake adds. If you’ll be moving furniture around, you might also find value in extra features that add convenience, such as casters. Deals happen year-round, so Blake says your best bet for a good deal is building relationships with retailers you like and watching closely for sales.