Choosing Outdoor Furniture: 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying

It’s prime time for spending the summer outdoors with your family and close friends but is your patio or outdoor space ready for the occasion?

Have you decorated your yard to meet your needs?

Let’s face it, choosing outdoor furniture is often a last-minute event. You end up stuck with cheap plastic chairs and tables that last you a season at best.

You can do better.

We’re here to help. Keep reading for some of the mistakes that you should avoid when you’re choosing your outdoor furniture this season.

Choosing Outdoor Furniture: 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying

Choosing Outdoor Furniture: 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying

1. Not Considering the Weather

If you want to have a year-round furnished patio or yard, you need to remember the year-round conditions of where you live.

If you live somewhere where the weather is mild no matter the season, this isn’t a big problem. You have a lot more flexibility about the furniture that you’re choosing.

If, however, your area deals with extreme temperatures or natural disasters, you may want to put more consideration into choosing outdoor furniture. Sure, your new lounge can handle fun in the sun, but is it still usable when it gets cold? Are the furniture pieces able to be protected from hurricanes, blizzards, or other disasters?

2. Form Over Function

You want a super stylish backyard that all of your friends are going to be jealous of, right? Us too!

But what good are your chairs, couches, and lounges when you don’t want to sit on them?

Maybe they get too hot in the sun, or they’re just stiff and uncomfortable. Regardless, don’t give up comfort for aesthetics. You can find a piece that strikes the balance.

3. Poor Fabric Choice

When you’re looking for outdoor furniture you’re not restricted to the plastic and wicker furniture of years past, but that doesn’t mean that all forms of “indoor” furniture are going to work for you.

You need to make sure that any fabrics that you use are either completely moisture-wicking or mold-resistant (even if they’re on an enclosed deck).

Assuming that you have rain or humidity from time to time, your furniture will get a little bit wet even if it’s protected. If you don’t plan ahead, your fabric won’t last more than a season before it gets icky.

4. Going Too Cheap

It’s tempting to skimp on outdoor furniture. It’s outside, it’s not always in use, and it’s exposed to the elements. Why pay big bucks?

While you can definitely save money on your outdoor favs, don’t opt for the beach chairs and plastic tables of your youth. Get something with a little more class to it and make your living space somewhere that you want to spend your time.

5. Forgetting to Measure

You’ve picked out the perfect furniture set. You’ve got a banquet table, some benches, a few umbrella tables, and a perfect lounger.

But wait, is this going to fit on the patio of your townhouse?

Oops.

Measure first so that you don’t have to return your treasured new items later. Save yourself the trouble.

Choosing Outdoor Furniture: Takeaways

Choosing outdoor furniture for your space is fun, but it’s easy to get too excited and make a few mistakes along the way. We made those mistakes first so you don’t have to.

To check out money-saving hacks for buying your new furniture or anything else on your list, visit the rest of our site!