Choosing the Best Material for Your Home's Outdoor Furniture
When shopping for new outdoor furniture for your home, you want to consider the material of the furniture and not just its appearance. This is because outdoor furniture needs to be especially durable, as it will be exposed to direct sunlight, high humidity, bitter cold, and the like. However, you also want that furniture to be comfortable for everyday relaxing! To help you choose the best pieces for your home's outdoor space, note a few pros and cons about various material options, and this will ensure you find the right pieces for your patio or deck.
Metal
Steel and iron are not as durable as you might assume, since these metals can rust and corrode, so they may not be a good choice for areas with high humidity or lots of rain. Aluminium is resistant to corrosion, but note that all metal furniture will hold heat and cold! If you do opt for metal, you'll need to invest in some thick cushions for chair seats and backs, and a covering for tables.
Teak
Teak is very dense and durable, and its natural appearance can be left untouched, so you don't need to worry about painting it over the years. The colour does tend to fade to a silvery grey, which you may or may not prefer. While the material is softer than metal, it can still be very stiff, so teak furniture may also require some cushions for added comfort.
Plastic
Plastic outdoor furniture is usually the most affordable, but may not be as durable as you assume. Thin plastic can tear or suffer cracks, and may warp or become brittle and break when exposed to high heat or bitter cold. Very lightweight plastic pieces can also easily topple or get caught in a strong wind, so that your patio pieces might get scattered around the yard with every storm. Plastic is soft so it can be comfortable, but the material also has an attractive artificial look that you might not enjoy.
Wicker
Wicker is a timeless choice for outdoor furniture, as it's very soft and may not even need cushions on chairs and benches. Wicker also doesn't rust or corrode, and may only need an occasional hosing down to keep it clean, and an occasional tightening of the wicker strands to keep it in good condition. You can also easily repaint wicker yourself, using an everyday paint sprayer, so you can change the look of your wicker pieces whenever you want to update your home's outdoor space.
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