The Backyard Enthusiast’s Guide to Buying Quality Outdoor Furniture

by | Apr 22, 2020

As the weather begins to warm and the frost melts away, now is the best time to take a look at your outdoor patio and liven things up. Outdoor entertaining is just around the corner. Whether it’s just with family or a group of friends, is your patio up to the task? 

Much of the comfort and overall feel of your outdoor space has to do with your outdoor furniture. If you’re in need of a major update, check out this guide to choosing the best quality outdoor furniture for this spring and summer! 

1. First Thing’s First, Consider Your Budget

Your budget is a large determining factor in the type of furniture you choose for your outdoor patio. It’s all about buying the best furniture you can personally afford — not what’s completely unrealistic. 

If you’re bound by a tight budget, here are a few tips to help you find the best quality furniture at a decent cost: 

  • Shop for attractive outdoor furniture at the end of the summer, around August, and make the most of the change-of-season sales 
  • Look for less expensive materials i.e. resin, aluminum or imitation wood and veneer 
  • Scout out thrift stores for vintage wooden pieces that can be restored — they may even be better quality than first-hand finds! 

Otherwise, if you can’t afford to completely replace an outdoor patio set, why not switch out the cushions for new material?

2. What Type of Weather Are You Working With?

Next, it’s important to consider your local climate and its weather patterns. How often does it rain, do you live near the coast, do you struggle with humid or very dry, arid weather? All of these factors play into the type of furniture you choose and the material to suit. 

Bear in mind that some types of outdoor furniture just do not suit certain climates. For example, very dry and hot climates tend to splinter wood furniture. Strong coastal winds can blow over aluminum sets, while wicker does not stand up to humidity well. So, do a little research and choose wisely. 

3. How Much Space Do You Have? 

You’ll need to consider how much room you have on your outdoor patio and choose your furniture based around the available space.

Keep in mind that you still need to leave room for movement and traffic on your patio. Don’t go for a furniture set that takes up 90% of your available space, making your patio cramped and uncomfortable. Basically, you should apply the same principals of traffic flow that you would inside your home. 

If you’re working with a small space, think about elevated furniture, such as a bar counter and stools. Otherwise, café and bistro-style furniture also work well due to a smaller profile. 

4. Choosing the Material of Quality Outdoor Furniture

As mentioned, material choice for your outdoor furniture is vital. Aside from the type of weather in your region, there are two other factors to consider. These include the level of care required and the aesthetic appeal of the material. 

Some of the most low-maintenance materials include aluminum, teak, and resin. Resin furniture is highly popular because it can withstand damp conditions well, and is available in a large variety of finishes. Teak is long-lasting but can be expensive. 

Wrought iron is also a hardy material that can withstand the elements, take the heat, and last for a long time. 

5. Place Your Furniture Wisely 

Another important consideration when choosing furniture material is the surface it will sit on. Think about whether you plan on putting your furniture on soft grass, hardwood, paving, tiles or concrete. The furniture material must also be a good match for this environment. 

A word of caution: avoid placing softer woods (pine) on grassy or damp surfaces. The moisture can cause the wood to rot over time. The same goes for softer metals (aluminum) which can corrode over time.   

6. Choose Furniture Color for Longevity 

In the world of outdoor furniture, you are no longer bound to the natural tones of wood and wicker or sleek metal tones. There is a variety of furniture tones to choose from, but this doesn’t mean they are all fit to last a lifetime. 

If you plan on purchasing your outdoor furniture as a long-term investment, it’s wise to choose a color that will stand the test of time. For true longevity, stick to muted, neutral tones such as natural wood, beige, white, and grey. If you want to add in a splash of color, do so with your cushions and other accent pieces.  

7. Make Comfort a Priority 

The point of your outdoor furniture is for relaxation. You want to feel completely comfortable in this space, and the same goes for your guests. This being said, make sure you don’t skimp on quality either. When choosing cushion material, ensure it’s a high-quality outdoor fabric that can withstand heat exposure and mildew. 

When shopping for outdoor furniture, don’t make the mistake of not trying it out before you buy it. Sit on it, lay down, and get a feel for the comfort level. You may want to consider rockers, recliners, day beds, chaise lounges, and hammocks for ultimate comfort.  

8. Make Room For Storage 

What will you do with outdoor furniture when the weather starts to turn? It’s important to make provision for this furniture when it’s not in use anymore. The reality is that furniture covers may not cut it in the dead of winter, especially with softer materials such as wicker, cane, and pine. 

Storage should be a priority, whether it’s in your garage, a shed, or it can be brought indoors during the winter months. Otherwise, buy an outdoor furniture set that folds down flat and is easy to store.  

Get Your Outdoor Furniture and Décor with Lesara

With spring and summer knocking on our doorstep, Lesara offers high-quality outdoor furniture, garden decor, outdoor living structures, and more. 

Makeover your garden with our enchanting garden pieces and get ready for the warmer months to come. Browse our outdoor selection today!

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Ride or Die Motorcycle Themed Gear Shaped Wall Clock with LED Lights
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A pair of Red Santa Mailboxes
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Spring garden gnome statue and wheelbarrow planter holding pink flowers
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Pair of 41 inches tall metal heron garden figurines in metallic finish, in fall garden
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6 acrylic hummingbird pot stakes in 5 assorted color combinations with beads on long metal stake
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5.6 Feet tall iron Christmas ornament tower with polka dot, strip and argyle patterns in red, white, black and gold
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37.8 Tall Frosted Silver Standing Polyresin Buddha Statue
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Classic galvanized metal Santa Claus figurine holding Merry Christmas sash
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Three Metal Christmas Trees on Garden Stakes in Red, Green and Blue Colors
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Front View of Iron Rooster Standing Tall and Proud
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1 set of two long three piece acrylic cardinal hanging Chain ornament with one in all red and the other in a redish orange and clear color
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side view image of Iron and glossy cobalt blue porcelain birdhouse stake with ornate roof and a little bird perched on leaves attached to the stake
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American garden bench with the American colors and a star on both sides of the bench
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Six Acrylic Hummingbirds - in Multi-Colored Finishes with Strings and Beading
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Three Piece Iron Bistro Set with Birds
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2 Sets of Children Statues- Sitting on a Snowball, Holding Lanterns and Reading a Book- Christmas Tree lights in the background of picture
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North Pole Direction sign with solar lantern
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View of Three Suns and Moons Hanging from a Metal Chain
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closed up image of 47 inch tall decorative garden iron balance stake with two birds
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classic garden iron bench with round top backrest with flying eagle and mountain silhouette in distressed antique bronze finish
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full size image of 4 74 inch long garland with porcelain sailor balls and rope in navy, blue and white colors
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extra long iron rain chain with birds and bells in antique copper finish
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collage of 6 five tone hanging acrylic robin ornaments with beaded tassel in 6 assorted colors
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15 inch tall round porcelain pedestal birdbath in peach with hand painted hummingbird and large flower blossoms “Hadley” in front of rose bush
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Front View of Full Size 31 inch Tall Iron Jack-O-Lantern Totem Pole Halloween Decoration on Front Porch with Haystacks
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Ceramic Balls sitting in a Pant on a table in assorted colors and designs
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collage of 6 hanging acrylic 3-piece hummingbird chains in 6 assorted colors
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Full set of Hanging Acrylic Dragonfly with flower in different assorted colors
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Iron Hanging Chain with with Bee Hive, Bees and Bell on the End
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Small , Medium and Large Iron Plant Stands with Floral Design
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collage of large purple acrylic angels in 6 assorted styles hanging ornaments
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collage image of five tone hanging acrylic three piece butterfly chain in assorted colors
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31 inch tall old style iron Christmas water pump in antique blue finish and faux snow patches with Merry Christmas sign and red cardinals
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A Pair of Iron Herons with Ombre White and Dark Feathers in garden
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close up 2 sections of antique bronze hanging pinecone and bell rain chain
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Metal Hanging Rope Chain
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Set of 9 oversized hanging on a rope bells in assorted styles in antique gold distressed finish
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40 inch tall iron Christmas tower of top hats in red, blue, green and black with bows, bells and snowflakes holiday display
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Small green iron truck with yellow bars to the back of the truck with christmas tree in the tray
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Full body view of Two Colorful Metal Peacocks in bright colors of blue and green
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25.5 in. Tall Sitting Fairy Garden Statue "Iris"
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collage of 6 hanging acrylic ornaments with 4 chubby birds and a bell in 6 assorted colors
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Turned Right Side View Iron Birdhouse sitting on a Stale with Bird and Leaf Details
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12.5 inches long country style red pickup truck in distressed red finish with removable Christmas tree in trunk
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19 Tall Buddha statue in Frosted Gold finish in Dhyana Mudra sitting in garden
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Dragon with Wings Sitting on Grass with Tail Curled
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Close up image of Tall bronze to brown country style birdhouse stake that looks like a farm house with small bird perched at the top of the roof with vines growing from stake to the birdhouse where there is a hole for the birds to enter
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Red and Cream Colored Metal Station Wagon with Christmas Gifts and Tree Strapped to the top of the Roof
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extra long iron rain chain with windmill details in copper finish
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Set of 6 handblown glass ball iron stakes with fleur de lis finial in 6 colors red, cobalt blue, orange, green, purple and greyish blue
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Halloween decoration of tall metal pumpkin soldier holding out orange candy bowl standing on door step
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24 inch tall glossy green pedestal birdbath with painted two love birds sitting on grape vines on the inner side of the basin in garden
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iron rain chain with lilies and abstract globe accents in antique bronze finish
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