Posted on: 08 June, 2017
Author: Steven Watts
It’s getting warmer, less rainy and we’re slowly clambering our way out of our dwellings and into the light for what always feels like the first time in 3 years. That’s right, it&rsq... It’s getting warmer, less rainy and we’re slowly clambering our way out of our dwellings and into the light for what always feels like the first time in 3 years. That’s right, it’s spring, and that means one thing. It’s time to prepare for our welcomed, albeit brief British summertime. That also means having somewhere to actually enjoy the sun when it does shine. You don’t want to face the disappointment of running to your back garden, hoping to enjoy the sun only to realise all there is to sit on are those warped plastic garden chairs you got 5 summers ago. No, this guide will tell you how to choose the perfect spring outdoor patio furniture because you deserve better.Here’s our brief patio furniture buying guide.Know your materialsOne of our best tips to select spring outdoor furniture is knowing your patio furniture materials and what each one means in terms of long-term ownership. Choosing between hard plastics, metals and woods will determine the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor patio furniture, the comfort afforded by them and how much maintenance is involved. Choosing the perfect spring outdoor furniture starts here.Plastics and metals are generally cheaper and less maintenance than woods, but they sacrifice aesthetic charm and comfort - not something we recommend (as you can see pictured). If your budget allows it, we’d opt for a higher quality wood such as mahogany or grade-A teak for the perfect balance of looks, luxurious comfort and little to no maintenance (high-quality woods are higher in natural oil and rubbers, protecting them from rot, insects and general wear). Complement your surroundingsSecond in our patio furniture buying guide is matching your furniture to your environment. This sounds obvious, but many of us see a stunning furniture set in the catalogue or showroom, get it home and realise it sticks out like a Victorian broken thumb. If you have a contemporary setting, opt for more angular and minimalistic designs (avoiding anything with ‘Lutyens’ or ‘classic’ in the name) or go for a lovely rattan patio furniture set. For conservative environments, opt for scrolled arms, lattice backrests and deep, supporting seating positions. Wooden patio furniture is particularly adept to each environment due to its high variability in designs. Be sure to go in with an idea of what would best suit your current landscape. Don’t overdo it We’ve all bought things on impulse before. It’s hard to avoid. Emotions take over reason as you’re presented with something which is simply too good to be true, which is often the case. Shopping for the perfect outdoor patio furniture is no different. Always begin shopping with a list (yes, a written list) of exactly what you’re looking for, this way you won’t be sold into a patio furniture set that is far too large for your space, one which is a knock off of the your dream set (though you still paid premium prices), or one which will be way more maintenance than you were prepared to undertake. Think long term. Study your sellerParticularly true if you’re buying premium garden patio furniture, this may be one of the most important tips in our patio furniture buying guide. Like any sizeable investment, it pays to know who you’re buying from and what their reputation is after you’ve made the purchase.How sure are you of the level of aftercare you can expect, what if something goes wrong with your order or something is faulty, will they be on hand to help? Buying from a trusted seller can make your outdoor garden furniture experience a dream, and the contrary a never-ending headache. Look for reviews online and the seller’s T&Cs for a better idea. Prepare for the elements This wouldn’t be a list of patio furniture tips without mentioning the part we all try and avoid.Depending on your location and what materials you opt for, you can expect varying degrees of maintenance/precaution-taking with your patio furniture. Again, hard plastics and metals will be much more resistant to long term wear, rot and overall degradation as the seasons roll by, so you’ll need to do very little in the way of upkeep (though metals can be prone to rust so invest in some anti-corrosion paint every few years).Low quality woods will need to be sanded and treated pretty much yearly in order to maintain their youthful appeal. High quality woods such as mahogany and teak require little to no maintenance as they age into maturity due to their natural weather-proof characteristics. Synthetic rattan garden furniture is pretty much solid depending on its underframe. Regardless, we recommend investing in a damp-proof, breathable patio furniture cover for the wetter months to keep your outdoor patio furniture in tip top shape. Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com This post is submitted by Steven Watts. He is passionate blogger for Corido Garden Furniture, which is a leading outdoor patio furniture and rattan garden furniture supplier in the UK. Steven has 5+ years of experience in the industry and loves to share insightful posts for his readers.