Besides the inside of your home, your patio also needs decent furniture to lighten up mood of relaxation. Choosing outdoor furniture is different from choosing indoor items. Since your backyard and veranda may well have exposure to sunlight, water and dirt, you will need materials that are more durable. There is no way you can put an extremely expensive leather upholstered sofa outside since the weather will ruin it in no time. When buying modern furniture for outdoor use, consider these things.

1. Item and space

Before buying furniture you must have at least a mental perception of how big the furniture will be and where will you put it. This will prevent from running into problems such as getting a heavy wrought iron dinner set ruining your grass or not having enough room for your new swing. It is also advised to measure your available area and hold to it while browsing around at furniture departments. Some examples of outdoor furniture include dining sets, coffee sets, patio umbrellas, rockers, ottomans, hammocks and patio swings.

2. Material

Leave expensive upholstery behind; you need more durable materials such as plastic, wrought iron, aluminum, wood, and wicker.

– Plastic is cheaper, stackable, lightweight, weather-resistant, and comes in many colors. Modern or contemporary designed furniture will look good in plastic.

– Wrought iron is sturdy and very heavy. Putting it on your lawn might ruin your grass. Wrought iron looks best in classic designs.

– Aluminum is lighter than iron, rust-resistant but doesn’t last as long as iron furniture.

– Wood elicits a natural aura in your home and fits most styles including Asian, English, French, rustic, and contemporary. Without a weatherproof sealant, the color of wooden furniture will fade outdoors.

– Wicker is very comfortable to sit on, weather-resistant, lightweight and highly portable. While uncolored wicker gives natural ambiance, wicker furniture painted in black, white or other bold colors and combined with contrasting colored cushions will bring out a modern look.

3. Comfort

You don’t put furniture outside your home just to show off. At times, you will need to use it too. This is why comfort is also crucial. Check the things below before buying items for your patio or garden:

– Cushions; these usually come with wrought iron, aluminum, and wicker furniture. Make sure they are covered with water resistant fabric, fit the seat perfectly and have sufficient padding.

– Seat and table heights should be compatible; it is awkward to take a teacup from a short table from a ridiculously high-legged chair and vice versa.

– Armrest; wrought iron chairs usually have smaller armrests compared to wicker chairs. Often this is simply for the sake of style. Whichever style you choose, make sure you are comfortable with it.