Patios provide a space for outdoor relaxation – a cup of morning coffee, a lunchtime snack, a relaxing pre-dinner drink, a musical interlude with your iPod, a place to curl up with a book or magazine. Most of these activities suggest that you will need somewhere to sit, lounge or lie. Furnishing your patio gives the family shopaholic an excuse for a great workout.

You probably don’t want to spend time transporting furniture between your patio and indoors: so you will be looking for furniture that can safely stay outdoors for long periods of time. There is plenty available that is manufactured from materials that will resist exposure to sunlight, considerable heat, exposure to rain, and likewise considerable cold. The price range is wide, depending partly on whether you use synthetic or natural materials.

Among favored materials are teak, wickerwork, stainless steel, plastic and acrylics.

Teak is a highly durable timber with a fine reputation for outdoor use. However, it does come in more than one grade, and, like any timber, the quality of the processes it undergoes – such as kiln drying – can vary from one supplier to another. The standard of workmanship in manufacturing the furniture, right down to the quality of fixings used, can also vary. So if you opt for a bigger budget item like a teak dining suite, buy from a reputable firm offering an enforceable guarantee. Some environmental activists are opposed to this use of a resource that is rare and takes a long time to grow.

Wickerwork is a traditional material for outdoor furniture. It involves weaving thin, flexible twigs together. Traditionally, willow species provided the twigs. Over time as the twigs dry out they lose their flexibility and the woven object becomes rigid, while retaining the original shape. Treated with a suitable preservative, wicker furniture lasts a long time. Some people prefer not to be exposed to the chemicals found in such preservatives. Although durable, wickerwork is not particularly comfortable, so it is usually necessary to have cushions to sit on when using this furniture.

Stainless steel, often associated with glass in the case of a dining table, and acrylic seats and backs in the case of chairs, is a very durable, reasonably priced material. It has a distinctive modern look, and does not suit all home decors, looking out of place if it is used in a more traditional setting. In the right setting, it can look stunning.

Plastic furniture can be very cheap, and is functional. It comes in several different “grades”, depending on its exact chemical formulation. For this reason plastic furniture is sometimes quite rigid, and sometimes quite flexible. Many plastics will degrade over time if constantly exposed to the sun. There is patio furniture suitable for every taste and for every budget.

Article from Steve Boulden. Steve is the creator of The Landscape Design Site which offers free garden designs, patio ideas, and pictures. For even more landscaping and garden design ideas, visit http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/patio.

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