Outdoor Furniture Ideas – If you’ve got an outdoor area at your home that you want to turn into your own little outside oasis, you’re going to need the right kind of outdoor furniture.
But before you head out to the shops to check out the new season of furniture available or start browsing online, we think you should read our tips on how you can make it a whole lot easier to find the best outdoor furniture for your home.
You see, there are many different kinds of outdoor furniture available, and you can purchase it from a lot of different places, which can make it pretty tricky to make your final decisions.
The tips we’ve put together are suitable for anyone with any sized outdoor area, so whether you’re looking to furnish a sprawling backyard or an inner-city balcony, we’ve got the tips to make it a whole lot easier.
Keep reading for our insider information on outdoor furniture.
5 Steps to Make Choosing Outdoor Furniture Easier
These are the 5 things you should do before you purchase any outdoor furniture.
Is there a theme or style that you like?
This step is probably one of the most fun elements of creating your outdoor space – well, other than being able to use your outdoor area when it’s fully furnished. Figuring out the theme or style that you want to create.
So, get your notepads, open up pinterest, and maybe even buy some home design magazines, because you’re looking for inspiration.
You want to look for colours that you like, styles that speak to you. You don’t necessarily need to find exactly what you’re after in this part, but you need to figure out what you like.
Essentially, you want to be able to start visualising what your space could look like.
There really are so many different kinds of outdoor furniture pieces, not to mention colours and finishes, that it can be overwhelming. In this stage, you’re starting to narrow down these options, which will make some of the latter steps a whole lot easier.
What do you want to use your outdoor area for?
This step and step one are interchangeable, so don’t stress if you already know the answer to this one before you know the colour palette or theme that you’re after.
If you’re not sure how you want to use your space, now is the time to do some brainstorming. Perhaps your theme research will have given you some outdoor furniture ideas. It’s important to remember that you can use your outdoor area however you like.
You could make it a place you retreat to relax on warm sunny days, with umbrellas and sun loungers. You could make it into a place where you start your day with your morning coffee with a little café style outdoor table and chair set. If you want to make a space you could entertain in you could consider modular lounges, outdoor extendable tables and fire pits.
Obviously, the size of your area will dictate your ability to do some of these things, however, there is no harm to listing your ideas out and seeing how you could make them possible.
And while we’re talking about the size of your area, let’s talk about the next step
Make sure you understand the space you’re working with
Before you even think about buying anything, you have to know the space you’re working with. The last thing you would want is to buy a large outdoor lounge set that leaves you with no walking space in your backyard.
So, you’ve got to measure. Measure everything and measure it more than once. Measure the perimeter of your area. Measure the height of the walls, especially if you have a balcony, and measure any awkward areas, like strange corners, or rounded walls.
Once you have your measurements, we suggest drawing a mockup of your outdoor area from an aerial perspective, so when you are looking at potential furniture, you can get an idea of how it may fit in your space.
Research the right materials
There is just no point in buying outdoor furniture that hasn’t been made with durability in mind. In recent years it seems that every man and his dog has started offering outdoor furniture, and while some of it might be ok, it’s really important to remember that you will get what you pay for when it comes to this kind of furniture.
Outdoor furniture requires materials that can actually withstand all sorts of weather. This furniture is likely to be exposed to weather for the majority of the time. You don’t want to have to be lugging it in and out every time the weather changes.
So, make sure you do your research on the right materials for the climate of your area. Think about the most common weather in your area. There are some super durable materials, like aluminium, stainless steel, oak, teak and various other timbers.
Materials really do matter in this context, so if you want to know more about the materials, just ask.
Related: Luxury Furniture Ideas
Take your time to shop
While you’re probably dying to go out and buy your furniture right now, we suggest taking your time. Visit furniture showrooms, see the furniture styled, not just on a shelf of many others of its own kind.
If possible, try to see as many different styles in person, that way you can see the colours, the finishes, and how it really feels. If you don’t have the ability to see the furniture in person, shop with a company that will work closely with you to find what you’re after. There are even outdoor furniture specialists, like Mamagreen, who will work with you to share the best outdoor furniture ideas and customise their designs to fit your requirements, including sizes and finishes.
Just don’t rush it.
Now that you’re armed with these tips, you’re ready to furnish your outdoor area!
