| Garden and patio furniture can really add a lot of | | | | This means that outdoor furniture made from the |
| appeal to your patio but it is important to choose | | | | less durable varieties will need regular attention like |
| your outdoor furniture carefully to ensure you get | | | | painting, staining or oiling. With some woods, e.g. pine, |
| the best looking and longest lasting furniture. This | | | | this maintenance may be as regular as every year. |
| applies to furnishing a new patio or redecorating an | | | | The more durable timbers are jarrah and teak and |
| established one. | | | | usually a quick oil or stain every 2 to 3 years is ample. |
| When choosing your patio furniture you should | | | | Sometimes, wicker furniture is painted. However, it |
| consider several important points. These are: | | | | does not need a great deal of attention. |
| - 1. Durability | | | | The color of your patio furniture is very important as |
| - 2. What the furniture is made of | | | | it needs to harmonize with your patio. Most wooden |
| - 3. Color | | | | patio furniture is stained or oiled and so retains the |
| - 4. Size | | | | natural grains of the timber and, because of its |
| - 5. Does it complement your patio and home? | | | | natural look, often blends in to most patio styles. |
| Outdoor furniture can be made from many different | | | | Metal or iron furniture will only come painted for |
| materials such as plastic, wood, wicker and metal and | | | | durability reasons. However, the right metal furniture |
| comes in many different styles. Before you choose | | | | can look good in many styles of patio. For that |
| your patio furniture decide what sort of look you | | | | tropical feel, wicker garden furniture can look great. |
| want your patio to have and how much room there | | | | Wicker furniture is usually left in its natural state and |
| is for furniture. This last point, how much room, is | | | | can add an earthy relaxed feel to you patio. |
| very important as you do not want all of the room | | | | The size you choose is very important. When |
| on your patio to be taken up by furniture nor do you | | | | deciding on size, you need to leave room on the |
| want a tiny setting in a huge space. | | | | patio for people to move around. This is most |
| The most economical way of buying furniture for | | | | important if you entertain regularly. Your guests |
| your deck is to buy outdoor patio furniture sets. | | | | should be able to freely mingle. A good idea is to |
| That way the pieces of furniture match each other | | | | make a diagram of your deck to scale and then cut |
| and, because you are buying the furniture as a set | | | | out some pieces of paper to represent your |
| then quite often the price is cheaper than if the | | | | furniture. By placing these cut-outs in various positions |
| components were bought separately. | | | | on the patio drawing you will be able to see if you |
| Durability is very important. The furniture is most | | | | have sufficient room. Choose furniture that will not |
| likely going to stay outdoors. That means it will be | | | | clutter the area. If room is limited then choices like |
| subject to a variety of weather conditions like rain, | | | | extendable tables and fold up chairs can be the |
| dust, wind, sun etc. Even if your patio is covered the | | | | answer. Excess chairs can be folded and stored until |
| furniture will still be subject to weather conditions. If | | | | needed. Tables can be extended when necessary. |
| you buy cheap plastic or PVC patio furniture you will | | | | Your final choice in patio furniture should look good in |
| most likely have to replace it within a short space of | | | | its final place and complement your patio. For |
| time, maybe in 2 - 3 years. This type of furniture can | | | | example, wood outdoor furniture looks great in |
| deteriorate rapidly if left out in the weather. | | | | natural settings with lots of plants. Wicker garden |
| Metal patio furniture is very durable but may need | | | | furniture looks great in those lush tropical areas. It is |
| some periodic attention such as painting and rust | | | | a good idea to note the style of your house and |
| removal but can look great in the right setting. | | | | then find patio furniture that will suit that style. There |
| Wooden patio furniture is the most popular. Many | | | | are so many styles and varieties in garden and patio |
| varieties of wood are used for making outdoor | | | | furniture now available, that anyone's taste can be |
| furniture and some are more durable than others. | | | | satisfied. |