An outdoor area is a great place to relax and entertain in the summer. Enjoy some cocktails in the afternoon breeze, host a party, sunbake, and so much more, all with a worthy outdoor setup suited to your needs and style.
If you’ve been looking for some good quality furniture to transform your outdoor space but aren’t sure where to start, then you’ve come to the right place. This nine-step guide outlines everything you need to know to find the right outdoor furniture for your home. With our simple tips, you’ll be basking in the sun and relaxing in style with your new outdoor furniture in no time.
1. Figure Out What Outdoor Furniture You Need
Before you begin looking at possible outdoor furniture options, you first need to work out what type of setup you’re on the market for. An outdoor space can serve multiple functions, including as a lounge, dining space or a place to relax. So, before you buy, ask yourself what are you looking for? A dining set up to entertain in style? A lounge suite to relax and read a book? Or bar furniture to enjoy some delicious cocktails? Asking yourself how you plan to use the area will help concise the massive variety of options available and make it easier to find the right outdoor furniture for you.
2. The Different Types of Outdoor Set-Ups
Outdoor Dining Settings
If you want to enjoy a meal outdoors with your family or friends, you’ll need a quality outdoor dining set with a table and chairs. Before you buy though, you should first consider:
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– How many people are in your household, or how regularly you entertain to ensure you have the right sized table and number of chairs to fit everybody.
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– Your available space. If your outdoor area is small, you might want to opt for a round outdoor dining table that’s easy to move around. You might also want to elect for stackable chairs to conserve space when you’re not using them.
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– The chair’s leg – to ensure it doesn’t get trapped in between the spaces of your deck, it’s essential to consider the thickness of your chosen chair’s leg.
Outdoor Lounge Settings
Outdoor lounge settings are multifunctional furniture pieces that provide tons of space to read, write, relax, and entertain. Whether you’d prefer a timber lounge setup or one in white, it should be both plush for comfort and highly sturdy for a stained life. Consider the following before you buy.
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– Like your dining setting, you need to consider the size of your household and how often you entertain to make sure you have sufficient room for everyone.
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– Consider a modular lounge setting. Unlike regular sofas, modular sofas can be detached and moved to suit the style of your space.
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– The cushion of the couch. All lounges have a cushion for comfort, but it’s essential to ensure it’s not only plush but durable and waterproof for easy maintenance.
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– Consider buying a cover to protect the lounge against the harsh conditions of the outdoors.
Outdoor Day Beds & Sun Lounges
If you are looking for a furniture piece you can relax in while soaking up the sun, you might like a day bed or sun lounge. They’re highly comfortable and cosy to sit upon. However, for practicality, you should consider the following before you buy:
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– A lightweight option that you can store away if you’re tight on space.
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– A bed or lounge on wheels so you can move it around to get the best angle of the sun.
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– A recliner designed sun lounge for the best level of comfort suited to your needs.
Outdoor Bar Furniture
If you want a place to relax and drink after a long day, then you might like to add a new outdoor bar to your space. Unlike dining sets, bar setups take up less room and have a compact design to fit in all spaces. They come in various sitting options, so remember to work out how much space you have available and how many people are in your family.
3. Measure First & Foremost
Once you’ve worked out what outdoor furniture you’re actually looking for, it’s time to get your tape measure out and jot down the dimensions of your outdoor space. This will ensure the furniture fits in your area correctly for easy moveability.
Tip: Remember to always measure twice for an accurate reading every time.
To visualise how much area your new furniture will take up, you might also like to mark out it’s layout in your space and ensure you can walk around it. This will save you time in the long run.
4. Work Out Your Budget
Outdoor furniture varies in price depending on what you buy and where you buy it from. That’s why it’s important to work out what budget you’re working with before you look at buying. The good news is you can find quality outdoor furniture pieces no matter your price range.
5. Finding The Right Outdoor Furniture Material
The moisture, rain and UV rays in the outside weather can affect your furniture. This is why it’s vital you buy a durable outdoor furniture material. Especially if you’re looking for furniture for an exposed area. The best outdoor furniture materials you can are:
Metal Outdoor Furniture
Metal is a highly durable material that’s capable of withstanding the harsh conditions of the outdoors, whether that be undercover or not. However, if you are looking for metal outdoor furniture make sure it’s stainless steel or aluminium to prevent rusting.
Stainless steel is the heavier option that can get hot in the sun however it requires low to no maintenance for long-lasting durability.
Aluminium outdoor furniture also prevents rust and is a highly durable material but unlike stainless steel, it’s lightweight and will require some cleaning to keep in prime condition. It’s also important to ensure your aluminium furniture is powder-coated for the proper protection.
Wooden Outdoor Furniture
If you’re on the market for furniture beneath a patio or undercover space, then wood is an option for you. As a natural material wood is highly durable and long-lasting. It’s also very stylish and available in a range of alternate designs, sizes, and colours. However, without regular coating for protection, it can crack with ongoing exposure to the sun and rain which is why it’s generally only recommended for undercover spaces.
Wicker Or Rattan Outdoor Furniture
If you want the most low-maintenance outdoor furniture for your home, then wicker or rattan is the way to go. Wicker and rattan are hardwearing and waterproof materials capable of withstanding the harshest weather conditions. They require minimal care and are both stylish and comfortable to sit in.
Tip: Some wicker or rattan outdoor furniture can come with a metal frame, so be sure to check it’s made with the right metal (aluminium or stainless steel) for durability.
If you want your outdoor furniture to last, you should avoid plastic or iron-based pieces. These can rust, disintegrate over time, and become brittle.
Tip: If you really want to get the most out of your outdoor furniture, you should always make sure you maintain it correctly.
6. Keep to a Theme
With all the logistics out of the way, you can now move on to the details of your furniture starting with the theme. To reduce a clash of colours and create an even flow between your outdoors and indoors, it’s important to ensure you keep with your current theme and style whether that be rustic, modern, or traditional.
7. Don’t Forget About the Colour of Your Outdoor Furniture
These days, outdoor furniture comes in more colour options than just elegant natural hues. You can choose whatever colour you desire however, it’s essential to remember alternate colours interact with spaces differently. Darker hues can make big areas feel less expansive whereas lighter colours can brighten a space and help small rooms feel bigger.
8. Essential Outdoor Furniture Accessories
Once you’ve decided on a theme and colour palette for your main furniture, you can move on to adding some accessories to help take your outdoor set up to the next level.
An Outdoor Umbrella
Whether you’re relaxing or entertaining, during the day it’s really important you have an outdoor umbrella for protection.
A Cooking Set Up
No outdoor space is complete without a proper cooking setup. With either a BBQ or Pizza Oven you can cook delicious food great for gathering, for the whole family or just a relaxing dinner for two. Don’t know what pizza oven to choose for your space? Check out our helpful guide.
A Rug
It’s important not to forget the floor of your outdoor area. This is a great place to add some extra style and a pop of colour with an outdoor rug. Unlike regular rugs, these are specifically designed with durable natural materials suitable for undercover outdoor areas. If you’re not sure what type of rug to select for your outdoor space, be sure to check out our helpful rug guide.
Some Lights
What’s an outdoor space without some lights to brighten the area and help you see at night? There are so many options to suit any room including downlights, spotlights or wall lights.
Cushions
Add an extra level of comfort to your space and style with some outdoor cushions. Natural material made cushions are durable options that are not only comfortable but can work perfectly in the outdoors.
9. Don’t Forget About Storage
Finally, it’s time to think about storage options. If you want to protect your cushions, spare blankets, and decorations from the natural outdoors, you might want to invest in some outdoor storage boxes. These waterproof and durable boxes will protect your accessories and prolong their life.
If you’re tight on space in your outdoor area, you might also want to consider if you have enough storage room to store your outdoor furniture when not in use, for example, in your garage. You might also want to consider opting for foldable or stackable chairs that are lightweight to make it easier to store your outdoor furniture pieces.
