If we didn’t know already, we’ve been shown over the past few years that home is not just a place to hang our hats as we move to and fro between work and all our various activities. For most of us, our home is an essential element of our lives that provides us with a center, a place where we can relax and rejuvenate, dream and create, and gather with family and friends. Our gardens, decks, balconies, porches, and patios extend that living space and allow us the benefits of easily interacting with the natural world, whether it's a cool, refreshing breeze in a courtyard, a hour of Vitamin D-laden sunshine while restfully watching the clouds float past, or a morning coffee sipped as birds flock to a nearby feeder.  Attractively designed outdoor spaces are not only beneficial for our well-being, they can also significantly boost a property's appeal and value. Adding outdoor furniture is a key element in designing those spaces.

Teak

Teak, Tectonis grandis, is a dense hardwood originating in several countries in South and Southeast Asia. Due to its strength, durability, and beauty, it has become the premier wood for outdoor furniture. In its natural state it exhibits a soft, yellowish-brown olive hue that indoors will become darker brown. Teak wood does not need to be oiled, but oil can be applied to prevent stains from seeping deep into the wood and to reduce the natural weathering to silver-gray. Our teak furniture is carefully crafted with wood sourced from legal and sustainable teak plantations in Indonesia, using the traditional method of mortise and tenon joints with teakwood dowels. Only marine grade brass and stainless steel fittings are used in construction to ensure sturdiness and longevity.

• Durability: Teak patio furniture is extremely strong and durable, insect resistant and weather-resistant due to its high natural oil content. Teak is generally heavier than other types of wood.
• Maintenance: Requires minimal upkeep; naturally weathers to an attractive silver-gray patina. Can be oiled once a year if a warmer golden-brown finish is desired. Properly maintained, it can last for generations.
• Portability: Folding style patio chairs and patio tables allow for easy maneuverability.
• Aesthetic appeal: Offers a natural, warm, organic appearance and texture that ages beautifully. Simple, classic styling suits almost any space.
• Comfort: Soft finish and ergonomic designs tend to make them more comfortable when used without cushions.

Teak Planter Bench shown.

Aluminum

Aluminum outdoor furniture can be made from hollow tubular aluminum or cast aluminum.

• Durability: Suitable for all climates—resists corrosion. Items made with hollow tubular aluminum may bend or break with heavy weight.
• Maintenance: Typically requires occasional cleaning with soap and water, no harsh abrasives. More frequent cleaning may be necessary in coastal areas to remove accumulated salt deposits that can damage the finish. Can be waxed once or twice yearly if desired.
• Portability: Tubular aluminum is easy to move around and rearrange; however, this also means it may be blown around in storms and heavy winds. Cast aluminum will be considerably weightier.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Tubular types often feature sleek, contemporary designs while cast aluminum outdoor patio furniture tends to offer more ornate designs mimicking those of decorative wrought iron pieces.
• Comfort: If placed in the sun, darker colors may become hot to the touch. 

Rattan/Wicker

Wicker is not a material, but the process of weaving thin strands of fibers in a particular way. Wicker can be made of rattan, but also many other things including palm, willow, or synthetic fibers. Rattan comes from over 600 species of woody vines, most often from Indonesia. The outer portion of the stem is called “cane,” most familiar as the material used to create a strong hexagonal woven pattern for chair seats and backs. The less porous nature of cane gives it water-repellant properties that make it more suitable for outdoor furniture than rattan.

• Durability: Not as strong or durable as other materials, especially when outside. Metal frames combined with cane portions will be better suited to exposed outdoor applications.

• Maintenance: Requires occasional cleaning; needs protection from prolonged exposure to elements—cannot tolerate excessive dampness.
• Portability: Somewhat lighter weight, easier to move and rearrange.

• Aesthetic Appeal: Adds a casual, beachy, vacation ambience to outdoor spaces. Note that not all pieces advertised as “wicker” or “rattan” are made of natural materials. There are many synthetics on the market. “PE Rattan, “ for instance, stands for “polyethylene rattan” (plastic) so you need to be sure what you are buying.

• Comfort: Woven wicker or cane types of patio chairs offer greater comfort than metal or plastic; often offered with cushions, so be sure they are weatherproof if you intend to leave outside

 Plastic/Resin

• Durability: Does not rust or decay but lower grade materials especially may fade, crack or break with time, especially with outdoor exposure. Polywood is an excellent, longer lasting option.
• Maintenance: Easy to clean with soap and water; waterproof.
• Portability: May be lightweight or heavy, depending on whether material is of solid or hollow construction and thickness of material

• Aesthetic Appeal: Lacks the elegance and sophistication of other materials
• Comfort: Lighter colors will not be as hot as metal in the sun but may feel “sticky.” Heavier resin types offer a more textured finish and greater comfort.

Steel/Iron

• Durability: Solid and stable; suitable for windy conditions. When properly powder coated offers good rust resistance.
• Maintenance: If poorly powder coated may need repainting. May be best to cover in winter.
• Portability: Heavier than aluminum or plastic, larger items not easy to move.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Often offers an elegant, ornate look, with scrollwork or filigree accents that are only found in metal furniture. 
• Comfort: Will need cushions for comfort, especially in the hot sun.

Cast Stone

• Durability: Extremely durable and weatherproof

• Maintenance: Simple but regular cleaning is all that is required.
• Portability: Heavy, so choose a permanent spot. On the upside, it won’t blow away and it’s difficult to steal!

• Aesthetic Appeal: Stunning, classic, and timeless in the garden. This type of outdoor seating can create an important focal point.

• Comfort: Usually cast stone outdoor benches are backless.

• Placing your patio set under an umbrella can reduce exposure to the elements, increasing the longevity.  It's much easier to replace an umbrella than an entire patio set.
• Consider an outdoor storage bench as a home for cushions that need protection.

• If you are not able to create a patio or even a gravel area to keep a typical wooden picnic table from contact with the ground, place each leg on a large paving stone instead. Be sure to level carefully for stability. Lawn chairs can be set on a small square of pavers. This will also help the bottom of the legs dry out faster after a rain.
• Furniture covers will help protect patio chairs when not in use.  And don't even think about those ugly gray or brown covers from yesterday!  These days, beautiful colors are available in weather-resistant fabrics that will jazz up any outdoor area.
• To create a special garden room, place your patio dining table and chairs inside a gazebo or under a pergola.  Not only does this create shade and privacy, it adds a distinctive and elegant focal point to your landscape.

Adding outdoor furniture to your home isn’t just about decorating—it’s about creating inviting spaces where you can relax, entertain, and enjoy the beauty of outdoor living. Whether you have a sprawling garden or a cozy balcony, there are options to suit every space and budget. By investing in quality outdoor furniture and maintaining it properly, you can transform your outdoor area into a cherished extension of your home—a place where memories are made and relaxation is always just a step away.  Your overall well-being will benefit from giving yourself the opportunity to experience a beautiful, positively charged, and personal outdoor environment, that's always within reach.