Your backyard, whether patio, deck or garden is a place where you can sit and relax. It is a place where you can enjoy some leisure time with Mother Nature.
Are you planning to furnish your garden, patio, deck, gazebo or some other location in your yard? You should look at the types of garden furniture below to help you decide what type of furniture you should get and what things you should be mindful of when buying.
Furniture for a garden is a major investment and it shouldn’t be made without putting in any thought. Sit back, relax, and read along.
There are many types of outdoor furniture options, depending upon the material and type. You can choose what you like and what you think would look best in your garden.
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Types of Garden Furniture Based On Material
You wouldn’t want to spend the time you could spend enjoying in cleaning or painting your garden furniture.
The best material for garden furniture is the one that can withstand outdoor weather conditions and requires less maintenance. Garden furniture is available in many types of materials, which have been listed below:
Aluminum Garden Furniture
Aluminum furniture is lightweight, rustproof, easy to clean, and requires no painting or treatment. Since it is lightweight, it can be easily moved. When the weather is too cold to sit outside, you can easily move your aluminum furniture to indoor storage.
This would increase the life of your furniture. One thing to keep in mind before buying aluminum furniture is that it cannot be folded for easy storage.
If you are short on storage space, you should be mindful of the fact that aluminum furniture may wear off too soon if not moved indoors during the winter season. You would also need cushions to make them comfortable to sit on.
Steel or Wrought Iron Garden Furniture
Steel or wrought iron garden furniture is strong and durable. It is heavy and does not need to be stored inside. However, you will need to paint in every now and then.
Their weight is not a concern, as there is no need to move them indoors when the season is unfavorable for outdoor seating.
One thing that you should keep in mind when installing steel or wrought iron furniture in your garden is that it shouldn’t be placed directly on your lawn as you won’t be able to mow under it easily. Like aluminum furniture, this type of garden furniture needs cushions for comfort.
Plastic or Resin Garden Furniture
Plastic or resin garden furniture is light-weight and affordable. It is weather resistant and can last a very long time. It is easy to clean. However, if it is exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, it may fade and lose its shine.
The best thing about plastic garden furniture is that it is comfortable and you don’t need any additional cushions for comfort.
Synthetic Rattan Garden Furniture
Synthetic rattan is made from woven and coated plastic strands. It is light-weight, affordable, easy to clean, weather resistant, and it needs no painting or treatments.
It is resistant to frost, water, and even UV rays of the sun which means it will not fade in color even if it is left outside for a long time. Synthetic rattan furniture is available in many comfortable designs.
Wooden Garden Furniture
Wooden furniture is by far the most complimenting type of garden furniture. It blends perfectly with the garden setting.
However, the thing with wooden garden furniture is that it requires treatment with preservative on a regular basis. The best wood types of garden furniture include teak, cedar, cypress, or redwood.
Natural Wicker Garden Furniture
Natural wicker furniture also blends well in a garden. It looks attractive and beautiful. It is light-weight. However, it is not hardwearing. You will have to store it in an indoor store when it is not in use. Also, it needs to be waterproofed every year. The maintenance of this type of garden furniture is not as easy.
Various Types of Garden Furniture
As mentioned earlier, there are different types of garden furniture depending upon material and type. We have discussed the first type. Let’s look at the latter type now. There are various types of garden furniture deepening upon the make.
Benches
Discover all the different types of garden benches here as well as get dozens of garden bench ideas here.
Benches are the most widely used garden furniture. They are an informal and intimate addition to any garden. They provide your garden with a very warm feeling. Garden benches are available in all types of materials.
Materials that make the most popular garden benches are wood, flat polyethylene weave, and cast iron. They are comfortable and go well with other furniture types. Benches with storage are also available if you have limited space and want to make the best use of any space that can be made available.
Garden Chairs
Since a garden is supposed to be a place where you can relax, a seating one or other sort is essential. Garden chairs are a great option if you have a small garden. Garden chairs are available in wood, plastic, wicker, and aluminum.
You can choose the material as per your budget and requirements. You can place two chairs if your garden is small while you can place a set of four or six chairs if you have a relatively spacious garden.
Deck chaise lounge
Armchair
Chair with ottoman
Adirondack
Learn how to build an Adirondack chair here.
Camping chair
Dining chair
Rocking chair
Suspended seats
Hammock
Discover the different types of hammocks here.
Patio day bed/sofa
Patio stools
Tables
Keeping chairs in your garden without a table will leave it looking incomplete. In order to give your garden a finished look, it is necessary that you pair your garden chairs with a table.
A garden table serves many purposes like eating, painting, and even studying. Like garden chairs, the garden table should be made of weather-resistant material so that sunlight and rain don’t damage it.
There are several types of tables you can use outside. They include:
Coffee table
Side table
Dining table
Fire pit table
One of my favorite types of outdoor tables is a fire pit that includes a table like the one shown above.
Picnic table
You may also like: How to Build DIY Picnic Table!
Patio console table
Sofas
If you have a huge garden, sofa sets are probably the best option for garden furniture. They provide the ultimate comfort. Sofa sets provide an attractive, classy, and decent look to your garden.
What could be better than spending some time sitting and chatting outdoors with your guests while enjoying the cool breeze and the scent of fresh plants?
Patio sectional
Regular sofa for the deck
Patio loveseat
Bistro Sets
Bistro sets originate from 19th century France. They usually consist of pub stools and round or oval, small café table.
They are commonly made of iron but they are also available in other materials. Bistro sets look super trendy and classy in any garden. They will definitely make some neighbors envious!
Outdoor Dining Sets
If you have a fairly large garden, having a dining set is a great idea. Dining sets for the garden are made of wicker, resin weave, and metal. These materials require less maintenance and do not need to be moved indoors when not in use.
They provide a perfect ambiance for an outdoor dinner with family and friends. It makes your garden look super warm, welcoming, and cozy.
Gazebo and Pergola Furniture
Technically, gazebos and pergolas are not considered as garden furniture but they can make a great shady area for gardens.
They can make a calm, shady oasis in your garden where you can sit back, enjoy, and not worry about sunlight. They are suitable for gardens that are large in size and super spacious.
Patio and Deck Bars
Given you entertain quite a bit outdoors, one decent furniture option is a patio bar set. Not only does this give you a place to store/refrigerate your beverages, but it also provides for more seating (bar stools) and looks good (or at least can look good if you buy a nice one).
Garden Furniture Buying Guide
You can get carried away with all the choices you have in garden furniture. However, it is important to consider certain factors to avoid making your garden too congested. You wouldn’t want to overdo or waste away useful space.
1. Assess the Need
The first thing you need to consider when buying furniture for your garden is the need. You should be clear as to what you want to use your garden for; whether you will be using it for relaxing or for gatherings with family or friends.
If you want to keep the garden to your personal use only, sun lounger or comfortable bench would be good enough. However, if you are willing to host dinners with family and family in your garden, you will need dining sets or sofa sets.
The best idea is to make your garden a versatile space that can be used for all purposes. Once you have assessed the need, make a list of all the things you will need and then head out shopping.
2. Measure Before You Buy
Before you buy any furniture for your garden, measure the available space. Take a measuring tape along and measure the furniture you are willing to purchase and make sure it will fit in your garden.
Small furniture in a large garden or vice versa can look quite off and unattractive. So, always remember to measure first and buy later.
3. Maintenance
Make sure that you buy furniture that is easy to maintain. Would you like spending a lot of time cleaning your garden furniture when you could utilize that time in enjoying? Also, regular maintenance like waterproofing, polishing, and other treatments can be costly.
Making smart choices is important. Don’t jump into buying something you like impulsively. Evaluate all factors and then buy furniture for your garden.
4. Check the Textile
Check the fabric of the cushions and seats of the furniture. The fabric of garden furniture should be waterproof, weather-resistant, UV protective, and fade-proof.
As it will be exposed to sunlight all day long, the usual fabric won’t last long outdoors. If you use fabric or cushions that are used indoors, they will provide the necessary comfort but will absorb moisture and will wear off soon.
5. Storage
Garden furniture is usually not used during the winter season. Furniture that can be folded and stored should be a priority. That would increase the life of your garden furniture.
If you do not have enough storage space in your home, you should look for garden furniture made of a material that is resistant and durable.
6. Quality
Garden furniture should be of high quality. You shouldn’t invest in low-quality furniture because the garden furniture has to withstand rough weather conditions.
High-quality furniture would be more expensive but durable whereas low-quality furniture will be cheap but the maintenance cost will be high.
7. Shade
One thing you shouldn’t forget when buying garden furniture is shade. It can be unpleasant to sit in your garden on a sunny day.
Investing in a parasol will be smart, as it will give you the shade you need for enjoying your garden on a sunny day. They come in many shapes and sizes. They can be folded when not needed.
8. Try Before Buying
Before you buy any garden furniture, make sure it is comfortable to sit on. Always remember, garden furniture has to be comfortable and relaxing. You should never purchase it just by looking at a picture online. Seeing, touching, and trying it before buying is very important.
Gardens are the best place to spend your leisure time in, be it for eating, reading, or just enjoying nature. Garden furniture adds value to your garden and a good garden automatically adds value to your house. Investing in garden furniture is totally worth it!
