Most of us, I am sure, would like to purchase garden furniture for outdoor living. Our decks, gardens and patios are a wonderful space for an extension of our indoor rooms. Our outdoor living spaces will probably be used on a daily basis during the spring, summer, and fall season and we want the garden furniture for outdoor living spaces to last for quite a number of years.
There are so many different styles and construction materials used that it makes the decision very difficult. If you don’t want to choose just one particular construction material you can choose several, one for each separate area of your yard. The range can go anywhere from plastic to wood and it all depends on what type of statement you want make for a particular area.
Aluminum. Aluminum is a fine material used for garden furniture. A chair seat and the back can be designed in a sling, strap or lace pattern. The dining table can be glass, tempered glass, or plastic. The deck dining area, or a vegetable garden might be a favorite spot for this furniture.
Cast Iron. Cast iron furniture looks very beautiful as a bistro set and would look warm and cozy in a rose garden. The main problem is that cast iron garden furniture is not easy to move around. If you have a location in your garden perfectly suited for a bench that you probably won’t move, then cast iron is an acceptable choice. Cast iron garden furniture is not comfortable for sitting, so most benches are made with wooden slats for the seats.
Cast Aluminum. Cast aluminum furniture is a far better choice for the garden as it is weatherproof, lightweight, has many different styles and the detail is outstanding. Cast aluminum garden furniture will last a very long time and the care and maintenance is very easy. Cast aluminum garden furniture has become even more popular than wood these days.
Wicker or Rattan. Garden furniture that is constructed of wicker or rattan is much better than it was many decades ago. This furniture is very sturdy and lasts for quite some time. You can design an outdoor living room with all the different pieces of wicker or rattan garden furniture.
Plastic. Plastic garden furniture has been in general use a long time and it is long lasting with the proper care. Adirondack style chairs are also available in plastic along with tables and chairs for dining. For simple and easy storage, some plastic chairs are stackable.
Wood. Garden furniture made of wood has always been popular but it can be expensive these days. The types of wood are: alder, Brazilian cherry, cedar, cypress, mahogany and of course teak. Pine is sometimes used for garden furniture but be careful as it is a soft wood. If these woods are properly mainteined they can last 30 years or more.
Steel. I also found something that looks as though it came right out of the 1940’s. It is a powder-coated steel chair that has a shell-shaped back. The seat also has drainage holes to prevent the pooling of water and was also described as having a “spring” to it when you sit on it. This material gets very hot sitting out in the sun so it would be a good idea to have cushions for the seats.
Have fun designing your outdoor living spaces. Making an extension of your indoor living gives you more ideas for your gardens, decks and patio areas.
