Outdoor Living Furniture
How To Transform Your Life
And Your Yard
Outdoor living furniture alone
does not a room make.
True transformation
only happens when your furniture enhances the aesthetic, increases
your comfort, and adds purpose and functionality.
And who said entertaining is the only
legitimate purpose of an outdoor room?
What
about secluded alfresco bed and bath suites, wooden garden furniture, outdoor showers, and fresh air studios, retreats, and outbuildings,
and open-air offices, and outdoor kitchens?
Today,
there's outdoor living furniture for all these rooms!
And to be well
dressed, you need art and objects d'art!
These little treasures infuse your outdoor
rooms with indoor ambiance.
It's the
final layer that adds style, anchors your space, and takes function
to the limit.
The Guide helps you choose the right
casual living outdoor furniture for your alfresco
retreat.
And helps you define the line between really
fabulous outdoor living furniture and just a table and some chairs
stuck out back.
 Outdoor rooms are the last frontier in home
decor. And outdoor living is here to stay!
With so many
manufacturers stepping up their game, outdoor living patio furniture
ain't what it used to be.
Today's offerings rival
any choices you have for indoor comfort and style.
Teak, red cedar, molded plastic and wrought
iron are all traditional favorites.
But today, we have more
choices than ever before.
Now, there's cast aluminum, galvanized metals
dipped in zinc baths, rust-resistant steel with enamel finishes,
faux wicker and rattan, and exotic woods like ipe and
mahogany.
And don't forget mix
media.
Wood tables pared with woven chairs and outdoor
chair cushions. Woven seats on metal frames.
Sling-style
seats attached to wood chairs.
And stone slabs that make
seriously stunning tables when perched on top of wood and stone
bases.
Powder-coated cast aluminum looks
like wrought iron, but it's lightweight and
doesn't rust.
Furniture made from recycled plastic looks just
like wood, and you don't have to paint them, and they don't rot.
Every season brings new
reasons to gather with friends and family outdoors.
So be ready for any
occasion in any weather with stylish outdoor living furniture pieces
layered with big cushy pillows, overstuffed upholstered sofas
wrapped in expressive fabrics that harmonize with nature, and
that are outfitted with storage ottomans.
Outdoor Living
Furniture Materials
Wood - $$-$$$
-
Teak and other tropical hardwoods
-
Redwood, cedar, cypress and pressure-treated is
more affordable
-
Classically blends with the outdoor
environment
-
Sturdy and withstands windy areas
-
Doesn't retain heat or cold
-
Non tropical woods need a regular coat of
protectant
-
Can last up to 40 years
-
Hard surface
-
Needs pillows for comfortable extended
seating
Iron -
$$
Aluminum -
$
Woven - $$
-
Marine-varnished reeds, plastic-wrapped fabric
fiber, or acrylic strips
-
Sturdy metal frame
-
Comfortable woven covers
-
Last up to 30 years
-
Dries slowly
-
Comfortable with or without cushions
Plastic -
$-$$
Outdoor Living
Furniture Seating Styles
Swings, Rockers &
Gliders - $-$$
Bar Stools - $-$$
Chaise Lounges - $-$$$
-
Sunbathing
and napping favorite
-
Perfect
for pools, patios, & decks
-
Can be
awkward in a grouping
Cushioned Chairs & Sofas -
$$-$$$
-
Indoor
furniture style and comfort
-
Easy to
mix and max for groupings
-
Lots of
finishes and fabric choices
Garden Benches - $-$$
Hammocks - $-$$$
Built-in - $$-$$$
Outdoor Living
Furniture Compatibility
Outdoor living furniture
that complements your style makes the most of your outdoor space by
accommodating all your fresh air activities.
Love dining
alfresco? An obvious choice is a traditional patio dining
set. Practical doesn't have to be boring. Some dining set styles
have a center bowl that doubles as a
fire pit.
Got a party that's been simmering on the
back burner? Outdoor sectionals with weather resistant
cushions work well. Group pieces around a low table to encourage
conversation and lingering over beverages. Sometimes limiting
seating can even inspire guest to
mingle.
Love
your solo time for reading outdoors? Get a hammock and the
hardest decision you'll have to make is whether to turn the page or
take a nap.
Is
your space limited? Don't let a small space cramp your
outdoor style. Use space-savvy furniture like bistro tables, hanging
swings or chase lounges that convert to a chair with a removable or
detached footstool.
Outdoor Living
Furniture Table Tops
Wood - $-$$$
-
Teak, cypress, ipe, mahogany are most
durable
-
All need protective finishes
Glass - $-$$$
Tile -
$$-$$$
-
Artistic element
-
Purchased as is or
customizable
-
Lots of colors, patterns,
textures
-
Can chip, fade and crack
-
Requires sealing
Outdoor Living
Furniture Maintenance
Weather can wreak havoc on exposed
surfaces. So show you care and keep yours looking like new with
these tips:
-
Inspect furniture at the
beginning of each season for rust and loose hardware
-
Wash hard surfaces with mild
soap just before storing them away
-
Use only UV protectant cleaning
products on wood furniture
-
Treat metal furniture at the
first sign of rust
-
Only use acrylic latex paint
with built-in protection for painting outdoor living
furniture
-
Expect to paint wood
surfaces every 3 years to keep them looking like new
-
Prevent peeling, warping,
and splintering by sanding the furniture and applying a
weather resistant sealant
-
Shelter furniture pieces when
the weather is bad
-
Cover pieces with heavy tarps
when it's not practical to move them under cover
Outdoor Living
Furniture Fabrics
There are lots of outdoor fabric
innovations, patterns, textures, and colors that let you show off
your personal style and personality.
Have you heard about the new
neutrals?
They have bold, pronounced
surfaces and quiet patterns. And they look and feel like posh indoor
fair but they're completely weather resistant.
And don't be afraid to bring
indoor comfort to outdoor upholstery and pillows by using cozy
throws, sweeping draperies, and breezy curtains made from silks,
sheers, velveteen, chenille and terry cloth.
Outdoor
Office
Have you ever looked out of your
office window and wished you could be outside? Then let's get to
work on your fresh air office!
An outdoor office headquartered just
a quick trek from your backdoor is a great way to mix business with
pleasure.
You'll need a desk, a chair, a
clock, a laptop, waterproof electrical and phone connections, and
handy storage that shelters filing cabinets.
Design the desk as an L-shaped,
foldaway that can be secreted when it's not in use. That way, your
office space can do double duty by making space for other activities
on a whim.
Metal and wood surfaces are
both good choices. And if your area is breezy -- no worries --
use magnets on metal or stones on wood to hold papers in
place.
Design storage to hold your filing
cabinet, desk, chair, phone, calculator and other miscellaneous
office supplies.
If you only need a few supplies to
get the job done and you don't mind carrying the supplies back
and forth, forego storage and save some money.
My personal home office is
headquartered out on the front deck -- up in the trees.
My desk options are both
portable. I use a wooden TV tray when I feel like
sitting up. And I use resin chairs filled with oversized
pillows.
When I'm in the mood for the chaise
lounge, I use lots of pillows on it too. And my laptop sits on
this little Japanese table that rests across my lap.
I don't need lots of supplies to do
what I do.
I typically have my laptop, a
few papers, and the cordless phone that I cart back and forth
between the deck and house as needed.
And I have electrical and
cable hook-ups installed on the deck that power a TV, a radio and
a personal fan. All my outdoor living furniture
and accessories live on the deck all year.
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Outdoor Decor 
