An Inside Out Look at Patio Furniture

Last month we talked about the importance of style when choosing outdoor patio furniture, Casual Outdoor Dining or Relaxing Retreat. Now, let’s take a closer look at the individual materials used to make quality outdoor furniture. Knowing the pros and cons of specific manufacturing materials can help you choose the best patio furniture for your home.

Fabrics

Part of the fun in choosing new patio furniture is browsing new color palettes and fresh summer designs. Understanding a few common fabric industry terms can make a difference in the long-term appearance of your outdoor cushions and throw pillows.

• 100% acrylic fabrics are water resistant, making them ideal for outdoor use. Each strand is individually dyed before woven into a bolt of cloth. This process allows the colors to stay truer for longer periods of time – even in direct sunlight. However, this process also means that you may not see as many bright and intricate patterns with these types of fabrics.
• Spun polyester fabrics often use a screen-printing process. The colors and patterns are printed directly onto the fabric after it has already been woven into large bolts. This process offers you brighter colors and more designs, but spun polyester tends to fade faster in the sun than acrylic fabric. Spun polyester fabrics are still an excellent option if you plan to use your patio furniture in shadier areas such as on a covered porch.

Cushions and pillows made from acrylic or spun polyester fabrics should be properly stored during the winter months to ensure longer wear. Since they are both synthetic fabrics, they should also never be dry-cleaned or tumbled dry – even on a low setting. Always remember to follow manufacturers cleaning instructions for your outdoor fabrics.

Foam

You may not see it or even pay much attention to it, but the quality of the foam that fills your outdoor cushions and pillows is the next item you should consider when choosing your patio furniture.

• Regular foam is the same type found in your indoor furniture. It can be used for your outdoor furniture as well, but only if you take certain precautions when it comes to water. Regular foam, even when paired with waterproofed fabric, can and will get wet if left outside. Over time, water trapped inside the foam can mold your fabrics. Regular foam is best used for outdoor furniture that will be well protected from unexpected summer showers.
• Foam made for outdoor use is specifically designed to dry quickly and resist mold. Special air holes inside the foam allow water to run out and not pool inside the cushion. This type of foam can be more expensive, but may be a better option if you plan to leave your outside cushions unattended.  

Chairs, Tables and Lounges

Quality outdoor furniture can be made out of most any type of natural or manmade material. Plastic, wood, wicker and metal are the most common. For many homeowners, budget and personal style play more of a role when making final buying decisions.

• Plastic is an excellent choice if you are shopping on a budget. Plastic is highly portable and a snap to clean. The only downside is plastic may not maintain its appearance, or last as long as other more expensive options.
• Wood gives outdoor furniture a classic, warm feeling. Teak, pine, cedar, eucalyptus, or redwood are all excellent choices when shopping for quality outdoor furniture. Hardwoods such as teak tend to last longer than other types of wood furniture. Treating your wood outdoor furniture with oils or sealants can help increase its lifespan, so you can enjoy your furniture for years to come.
• Wicker is always a beautiful option when choosing outdoor furniture and can be made from natural or synthetic materials. When choosing natural wicker, look for cane, rattan, or bamboo. Wicker gives your outdoor entertaining a cozy or rustic look.
• Metal furniture is often made from wrought iron or aluminum. Wrought iron is best for formal or classic settings, and is a great choice if durability is important. Like wrought iron, aluminum is also very durable. Aluminum furniture is more expensive than wrought iron, but requires less maintenance and will not rust.

Built to last

At Hennen Furniture, our sales representatives are outdoor furniture experts. Our sales reps are here to help you with your questions and concerns and can offer suggestions based on where and how you want to use your new outdoor furniture. At Hennen’s, we carry all your favorite patio furniture brands including Woodward, Homecrest, Tropitone, Breezesta, and Seaside Casual. Come see our huge patio store! You’ll be glad you did!

Casual Outdoor Dining or Relaxing Retreat?

With so many styles and brands to choose from, buying outdoor patio furniture can be a difficult decision for many homeowners. There are several things to consider even after you take into account the amount of available space on your patio or deck.

To help you choose and to whittle down your choices, you should first decide how you plan to use your outdoor living space. Do you see your outdoor space as a quiet retreat to relax and unwind, or do you envision an outdoor gathering area to entertain family and friends? Or perhaps a combination of the two?

A quiet getaway

To create a quiet retreat, choose couches and chairs with soft cushions that are easy to get comfortable and stay comfortable in. Since these cushions will primarily stay outside, be sure to choose durable fabrics that are easy to clean and can stand up to the elements. Outdoor cushions should hold their colors without fading in the sun and dry quickly when they get wet.

Soft outdoor armchairs, sofas and love seats, rockers, footstools, and chaise lounges are all good options to create a relaxing atmosphere. Decorative throw pillows in coordinating colors and homey accents will help to pull the look together.

Entertaining al fresco  

For entertaining and casual outdoor dining, look for tables with ample space to lay plates, glasses and serving dishes. Dining chairs should be straight-backed or at least offer firm support so guests will be comfortable eating and drinking while seated. Low coffee table seating is better for serving drinks and casual snacks compared to full-course dining.  

Traditional dining tables or tall, café-style tables and stools are both good choices and can be found in styles ranging from contemporary casual to chic and sophisticated. To help serve or stow glassware when not in use, choose an outdoor drink cart or serving tables with built in cabinets.

Many homeowners will choose to create an outdoor living space that is a combination of a quiet retreat and casual dining area. If space allows, create distinct areas for outdoor dining as well as more casual seating where your guests can relax and unwind.

Shade is important regardless of how you intend to use your space. Consider adding an umbrella if shade from backyard trees is insufficient. There are many different types of umbrellas to choose from that will fit any outdoor space and decor. For example, a cantilever style umbrella is a stand-alone umbrella that can swing into place whenever you need shade.

To keep your outdoor furniture looking its best, keep it covered when not in use or store inside away from the elements. When cleaning, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions as some outdoor furniture will require special care.

Outdoor living at its best

Whether you are looking to create a relaxing outdoor retreat or a casual dining experience for your friends and family, Hennen Furniture has the style and comfort you are looking for.

Come browse our huge collection of patio sets and accessories at our patio store. At Hennen’s, we offer all the best patio brands and outdoor living furniture including Seaside Casual, Tropitone, Homecrest, Breezesta, and Woodard. Our sales associates can help you create the outdoor living space of your dreams. Come see us at Hennen Furniture today!

Buying Outdoor Furniture

Think About Size

It’s important to think about the size of your outdoor furniture. Is your outdoor furniture going to be used for your own leisure or hosting parties? (Maybe it will be used for both.) Consider table size and how many chairs will fit in your outdoor space comfortably. You don’t want people to feel like they are sitting right on top of each other nor do you want your outdoor furniture too feel huge as if you are on the set of Alice in Wonderland. The shape, size and padding of outdoor chairs is important. Think about the narrowness and how low the chair is compared to who is going to be using it. For example low furniture is difficult for older people to get out of. No one enjoys sitting in an uncomfortable chair. Make sure your chair has enough padding that will last for years.

Think About Quality

Outdoor furniture goes through a lot of harsh weather. Such as sitting out in the sun, wind and rain. This is why it’s important to purchase high quality outdoor furniture that is built to last. When thinking about quality, the type of material your outdoor furniture is made of is key. Quality doesn’t mean expensive. Aluminum, plastic and PVC are all relatively affordable. These materials are rustproof and lightweight. The benefit of purchasing aluminum, plastic and PVC is that they require very little weather treating. Natural wood is a nice strong and sturdy material. This sturdy material tends to be the most comfortable and attractive when it comes to outdoor furniture. Natural wood does require routine weather treatments such as UV protections. Teak, Redwood, Cypress and Cedar are typically the best natural woods for outdoor furniture. Wicker is not only stylish but it is a great material for outdoor furniture. Wicker is durable for the outdoors. Every couple of years wicker furniture should be waterproofed.

Think About Shade

Your outdoor furniture can be of great quality and comfort but if you are left in the scorching sun it can make sitting outside dreadful. Enjoy summer while it's here. An umbrella connected to outdoor tables or a small canopy above your setting are great solutions. Many outdoor furniture items have shade options like a umbrella or small canopy.