People love decorating and investing in their indoor living spaces. But, once the weather gets warmer, lots of home activities start happening outdoors. For this reason, making the outdoor living spaces as luxurious and inviting is just as important. When complemented with the right furniture, you can transform your garden or balcony into a cozy little spot for enjoying the long summer nights. Outdoors furniture should be comfortable, durable, and aesthetically appealing.
However, there are some factors to consider before purchasing the right set of patio furniture for your home garden. One of them is choosing the best materials for your outdoor furniture based on where you live. As climate plays an important role, choosing a material that can withstand the elements is a very important aspect.
While there is no 100% waterproof patio furniture, there are big differences in the materials used. Therefore, knowing the characteristics and distinctive features of each of them will help you make a smart design choice that will suit your unique outdoor place.
What Is the Best Material for Outdoor Furniture?
When buying outdoor furniture, you should look for the same features you value when shopping for indoor furniture. The main difference is that externals conditions require choosing furniture that will endure exposure to different weather conditions as well as some other features such as functionality, comfort, cost, and size. Besides this, you should consider some other factors such as which outdoor furniture material looks unique and attractive.
Materials for Outdoor Furniture
Synthetic Resin
Resin is a man-made synthetic material that is typically used in outdoor patio and deck furniture, including faux wicker, lawn chairs, tables, lounge chairs, and decks. High-density polyethylene is the highest quality of resin for making synthetic wicker. Wrapped around an aluminium frame creates the ultimate sturdy material with an exceptional level of durability.
Modern patio furniture has lots of advantages such as low maintenance, lightweight, fade resistance, and durability. You can clean it easily with a power washer, hose, or stiff brush and soap.
This furniture is inexpensive compared to some other materials like wood and metals, impervious to moisture and damage. Moreover, it’s made with an ultraviolet light treatment so that the material won’t fade easily, making it less susceptible to rain and sun damage.
Because the dye is mixed into the mould it doesn’t require refinishing unless you want to change the colours. Resin patio furniture can be often made to resemble classic wicker furniture and some people confuse it with “rattan”.
Teak
Teak is a highly versatile material that can be used for making high-quality garden furniture. This is one of the strongest and most durable hardwoods often used for patio furniture. It produces its own oil which makes it unique and capable to endure all weather conditions. What’s more, teak garden furniture requires little maintenance such as occasional brushing and cleaning. It is also naturally resistant to mould, mildew, and insects.
If left outside, teak garden furniture will gradually change the colour from golden brown to a beautiful silvery grey. Its ability to age well is a testament to its high quality and durability. Having all these superior qualities, teak is one of the more expensive materials for outdoor furniture. Its price usually depends on the length, width, and thickness of the material. While it can be a bit costlier than other materials, it can last up to 50 years compared to some other types of woods like pine or cedar that have to be stored during the winter season.
Cast Aluminum
If you decide to choose metal patio furniture instead of wood or resin, cast aluminium is the best choice to consider. What makes it different from regular aluminium, which is hollow and bent into shape, cast aluminium is poured hot into a mould which helps to achieve a finely detailed surface texture. This casting method produces an almost unlimited range of designs, colour combinations, and textures which can be achieved through powder coating and painting.
Due to its natural strength and rust-resistant qualities, it requires minimal maintenance. You only need to occasionally spray it with a hose or wipe it with a damp rag to keep it clean. As patio furniture is used regularly during the warmer months, it’s essential to consider good quality seating chairs. For the utmost comfort, you can add plush cushions above the seats. This way you can easily switch up the whole look of your garden without having to buy new furniture.
Rattan
Rattan (also referred to as ‘wicker’ or ‘cane’) is a distinctive hand-women material that is originally made from rattan vines and natural wooden cane. However, these materials are no longer used as they tend to expand and don’t retain their colour. Nowadays, rattan is usually made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or PVC.
There are many reasons why rattan garden furniture has become such a popular choice in recent years. This material is extremely durable, expected to last up to 10 years. Besides that, it requires very low maintenance, just a damp cloth, and soapy water will be enough to keep the look of your rattan furniture set neat and tidy.
Choosing stylish, durable, and comfortable rattan furniture will perfectly complement any garden. You can combine a sleek modern look with comfort by adding many different rattan pieces for your garden, from garden sofas to rattan cubes and armchairs. Rattan is among the more pricey materials used for making outdoor furniture. This is mostly due to the fact that it has a plastic used in its manufacturing process, which is expensive, made distinctly to endure UV rays and avoid colour fading over time.
Wrought Iron
If you are looking for patio furniture that lasts the longest, wrought iron posses a level of durability proven through the ages, that will surely withstand the test of time. It can be the perfect choice for outdoor usage due to its durability and attractive design. This material is perfect for commercial and residential usage. It is mostly used in restaurants, cafes, and bars for decorating their outdoor patio.
If not properly maintained it can succumb to weather and begin to rust. For this reason, it’s essential to choose a water-resistant coating for your wrought iron furniture to keep it protected from the elements and prolong its life. Wrought iron is an extremely malleable material, which means it can be hammered, bent, or pressed and worked into various shapes. The word “wrought” actually means “worked” meaning that wrought iron is “worked by hand”.
One of its drawbacks is that it tends to match the prevailing temperature outside, it gets very hot in summer and freezing cold if left out in the open in winter. Additionally, wrought iron can be hard for sitting without considering adding upholstery or cushion seats for maximum comfort. Wrought iron furniture is ideal for places that experience high wind gusts, which means that during storms or high winds your patio set won’t blow and became scattered across the yard.
