How to Choose Your Garden Furniture

How to Choose Your Garden Furniture

Contents

– Garden furniture: comparison according to the material

– Choosing a piece of garden furniture according to your needs

– Which size of garden furniture to choose?

– Where to install your garden furniture?

– What material should I choose for my garden furniture?

A garden lounge is synonymous with relaxation, sharing and pleasure. Installed on a patio, beneath the shade of a pergola, or in the heart of the garden, it should be an invitation to relax and share convivial moments with family or friends. The use, the location, the style and the type of material are all criteria to be taken into account to choose it correctly.

Garden furniture: comparison according to the material

Material	Style	Advantages	Disadvantages	Maintenance
Wrought iron	Elegant Romantic Retro	Durable Solid	Relatively heavy Heats up in the sun	Anti-corrosion treatment required
Stainless steel	Design Modern	Lightweight Available in many shapes and colours Stackable	Sensitive to rust if scratched	Sponge cleaning, anti-corrosion treatment are required if rust is visible
Aluminum	Contemporary	Lightweight Stainless steel	Heats up in the sun	Sponge cleaning
PVC	Modern	Available in many shapes and colours	Resistant to humidity Deforms under the effect of heat	Can be cleaned with soapy water
Wood (eucalyptus, pine, bamboo, teak and other exotic woods)	All styles	Warm Rot-proof (treated or natural) Durable Solid	Maintenance required	Specific treatment and saturator to preserve the color
Woven resin	Contemporary	Low maintenance Comfort Design	Bulky Fragile on low-end products	Sponge cleaning
Textilene	Contemporary	Wide range of colours UV resistant	Sensitive to humidity	Sponge cleaning
HPL	Modern	Weather and climate resistant Strong Available in several finishes	Relatively heavy	Sponge cleaning

 

Choosing a garden lounge according to your needs

A garden lounge can be composed as you wish and combine different elements: coffee table, bench, lounge chair, sun lounger, high table for meals, deckchair, etc. It is therefore important to think carefully about your needs before investing.

Here are the three fundamental criteria to consider before buying:

– How many people is it intended for on a daily basis?

– What are the possibilities of extension to receive guests?

– How much outdoor space is available?

Ask yourself about its main use. For example, if it is dedicated to meals, a table with chairs is preferable. If it is a corner dedicated to relaxation, a sofa with large cushions, a coffee table and comfortable armchairs are more suitable.

What size of garden furniture to choose?

To maintain harmony and practicality, be sure to respect the proportions of your outdoor space and adapt the furniture that will make up your garden furniture accordingly. Here are a few suggestions:

– For small spaces, such as a balcony: opt for a small square or round table and folding chairs.

– For a terrace of about 4 m2: a medium-sized rectangular, round or oval table with four to six chairs is perfect for a family of four.

– For larger spaces: choose a table that seats 6 to 10 people. Some models come with one or two extension leaves to seat an additional 2 to 4 guests (plan for enough lawn chairs or armchairs at the time of purchase).

– For a relaxing corner in a small space: two garden deck chairs accompanied by a small side table are the most beautiful effect.

– For a relaxing corner in a large space: one or two sofas, armchairs and a large coffee table are the promises of pure moments of relaxation.

Good to know: in a very advanced decorative spirit, you can choose a trendy shade cloth, matching the garden furniture and its dimensions.

Where to install your garden furniture?

When you have a garden, it’s best to create a pleasant space, specially reserved for the garden furniture and its presentation. This can be:

– a terrace, covered or not;

– a shady place;

– in the middle of a lawn;

– in the heart of the orchard;

– near the beds and rock gardens;

– under a tree to take advantage of its shade;

– under a gazebo or any other place;

– at the edge of the swimming pool;

– under a pergola or an arbour;

– near the barbecue.

Good to know: in summer, to enjoy meals with family or friends, it is advisable to equip your garden furniture table with a sufficiently spacious parasol. A water-repellent PVC model offers the advantage of protecting guests from the sun’s rays as well as impromptu summer showers.

Which garden furniture material to choose?

Various models of garden furniture are available on the market. Depending on your taste, needs and budget, you can choose the garden furniture of your dreams in different materials, such as wrought iron, stainless steel,

Wrought iron

A great classic in garden furniture, wrought iron offers a country-style, romantic and retro. This material has the advantage of being solid, corrosion-resistant (provided it has been treated), aesthetic and durable. On the downside, note that it must be maintained annually to avoid corrosion. Wrought iron garden furniture is heavy, so it is perfectly suited to very windy regions. On the other hand, they are constraining to move, especially if they are imposing pieces such as benches.

For a wrought iron garden furniture set consisting of a table, two armchairs and a bench, count between 350 and 850 dollars.

Stainless steel 

Lovers of design or contemporary will appreciate this style of garden furniture which has the particularity of being UV resistant, weather-resistant, composed of chairs and armchairs easily stackable for a minimum of space, offered in different colours and financially accessible. However, one drawback is that this material scratches easily, making it susceptible to rust. It is therefore advisable to handle it with care and to protect the tabletop with mats, a tablecloth or a table runner. The price range for stainless steel garden furniture is between $400 and $1,200 (a table, two chairs and a bench).

Aluminum

Modern in style and design, aluminum garden furniture is lightweight, non-corrosive, weather-resistant and recyclable. Because of its lightweight, aluminum garden furniture is not recommended if you live in a windy area unless you place it in a well-sheltered place. Its price is often high for quality garden furniture: from $450 to $1,200 (a table, two armchairs and a bench).

PVC

PVC garden furniture comes in a variety of colours and shapes, from the most classic to the most original. Very light, they are easily transportable (but be careful in case of strong winds!), stackable and rather economical to buy. If they are rain resistant, they are relatively resistant to sunlight (possible discoloration) and high temperatures (possible deformation). The cost of a PVC garden lounge is affordable: between 100 and 300 dollars (a table, two armchairs and a bench).

Wood

This is the star material for garden furniture. Country style, romantic, exotic or contemporary, all moods are possible. The garden furniture can be made in different species such as eucalyptus, pine, bamboo, teak and other exotic woods. The disadvantage of wood is its maintenance. If it is not naturally rot-proof, it will need to be treated regularly. A saturator should also be applied annually to prevent the wood from greying and to preserve the original colour. Depending on the species chosen, the cost can be high: from $280 to $1,900 and more for a high-quality set (a table, two armchairs and a bench).

Woven resin 

Very trendy, the woven resin garden furniture (synthetic resin or synthetic rattan) brings a decorative touch to the outdoor space and harmonizes beautifully with the glass. In fact, many models of woven resin garden furniture are composed of a bevelled glass tabletop. This material has many advantages: it does not fade over time, it is resistant to weather and UV. Its chairs and armchairs are easily stackable but often remain quite bulky. Note that the thickness of the resin and the quality of the weaving are essential. A poorly made material is prone to irreparable breakage. It is, therefore, preferable to go for high-end resin garden furniture for optimal durability. Count between 500 and 1 400 dollars for a living room composed of a table, two armchairs and a bench.

Textilene

This is a PVC-coated polyester fibre. These garden furniture come in several colours and designs. They can be exposed to the sun for a long time without their coating fading. They are nevertheless fragile and fear the weather, especially humidity. Whatever garden furniture you wish to buy, it is highly recommended to ask a specialist for its maintenance beforehand. The price range is quite wide: from 150 to 600 dollars (a table, two chairs and a bench).

HPL

HPL (High-Pressure Laminate) is a new material in the world of garden furniture. Long used by kitchen designers for its many qualities, it is now used in the design of outdoor table tops, to which it brings exceptional strength and durability. Generally associated with aluminum structures, HPL tops ensure optimal longevity, without particular maintenance. The only drawback is its price, still very high. It costs about $800 for a tray that seats up to six people.

Good to know: whatever the material that makes up the garden furniture, it is recommended in winter, to shelter it in a dry place. Ideally, it should also be protected with a garden furniture cover.

This year, all the spring-summer decorating trends agree that wood is back! Its appearance and aestheticism sublimate the furniture, in raw, ribbed or ceruse style. If you want to be at the forefront of the trend in your garden, opt for eucalyptus wood. This species can be maintained with a special oil for exotic woods to keep its colour. You can also let it age naturally and it will turn grey like teak.