Outdoor Patio Furniture – Your Ultimate Guide

outdoor patio furniture

Everything you need to know to design your ideal oasis with outdoor patio furniture!

Your home is your castle, which also includes your outdoor living space!

Whether you’ve got a sprawling backyard or a modest garden, there are plenty of ways you can decorate and style your space using outdoor patio furniture to turn it into your own private getaway.

How The Right Outdoor Patio Furniture Can Enhance Your Life

An outdoor set-up for relaxing and entertaining has so many benefits that we simply can’t list them all here.

But here are just a few of the ways that outdoor patio furniture can enhance your life.

You can…

1. Expand the living space of your home

A well-furnished patio adds huge value to the enjoyment of your home by offering you increased space to live your life in.

In many cases, patio furniture gives you the equivalent of a second living room, with the added bonuses of the warm sun, cooling breezes, and relaxing birdsong.

Pets love the extra space to run around in, too.

2. Create an outdoor dining area all to yourself and your guests

Whether it’s a quiet coffee by yourself in the morning or a full-blown dinner party, outdoor patio furniture lets you turn your outdoor area into a space to eat, drink, and entertain, all in the privacy of your own home.

3. Enjoy the great outdoors easily and conveniently

A daily dose of fresh air and sunshine does wonders for your mood. A well-appointed patio allows you to enjoy this “medicine” simply by stepping out your back door and into your own private oasis.

It’s even better if you have an outdoor swim spa that you can exercise in a while enjoying the great outdoors.

How To Choose the Right Furniture For Your Outdoor Living Space – Buyer’s Guide

Before you dive into your decorating plans, take the time to do some research and get an idea of what your options are.

Go window shopping to get a sense of the possibilities.

With all of the various brands and styles of patio furniture out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But not to worry—you can simplify the process and find the best patio furniture for your unique taste and lifestyle by making a few key considerations upfront.

1. Cost vs. Budget

Price will likely be one of your biggest considerations. Look at your outdoor space and decide how much furniture you’ll need and how much you want to spend to fill the space. If you have a large outdoor space, you don’t necessarily need to fill it all with furniture. You can also create “nooks” that help break up the vastness into cozier areas to relax and unwind in.

We recommend that you prioritize choosing quality over low-cost furniture, since going for the cheap option can end up costing you much more later on if it needs to be replaced after a season or two.

2. Durability and Longevity

Not all outdoor patio furniture is created equal! In most cases, the durability and longevity of your outdoor patio furniture will come down to the materials. Patio furniture generally comes in plastic, metal, or wood options. Metal and woods rate higher for durability.

Fabric choice is also crucial. Since your furniture will be exposed to the elements—sunlight, wind, water—it’s important to choose fabric that won’t fade quickly and that can stand up to different kinds of weather.

Plus, if you have a swimming pool or an outdoor hot tub, you’ll want patio furniture that works well with them.

If you plan to take a dip in the water and then sit or lie down on your patio furniture, selecting fabrics and styles that play well with water is important.

Consider the climate you live in as well. If you live in a place where the sun shines year-round, your patio furniture can probably live outdoors for 12 months of the year. If you live in an area that gets lots of rain and snow, it’s wise to store your outdoor patio furniture away from the elements during the cold and wet months so that it doesn’t accumulate unnecessary wear and tear.

3. Functionality

Of course, functionality will also be a top consideration when building the outdoor space of your dreams. And by functionality, we simply mean that when choosing your patio furniture, you should ask yourself “how do I plan to use this furniture?”

For instance, if you’re already dreaming of the big family barbecues you want to have all summer, you should plan to buy patio furniture that can function as a dining room table, one that’s large enough to comfortably seat all of your family members and guests.

If you’re a sun-worshipper and look forward to spending the summer working on your tan, you’ll want to select a chaise longue, perhaps, that you can stretch out on, with an optional parasol for when you need a refuge from the rays.

4. Read Online Reviews Before Committing

Finally, when you’re in the research stage, don’t forget to read online reviews!

These are usually a treasure trove of unbiased information about the quality of the items and the satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) of previous buyers.

Make sure to read the comments (don’t just look at the number of five-star or one-star ratings) as they provide details about the furniture and how it holds up over time that are impossible to know from looking at it online or testing it out in the showroom.

Installing Your Outdoor Patio Furniture

Installing your outdoor furniture is usually a breeze, as the items tend to be lightweight and easy to assemble.

Most of the big decisions revolve around the placement of your furniture (for ideas on how to install and style your furniture, scroll down to the section below entitled “Decor ideas for styling and accessorizing your outdoor space”).

Now, if you’re planning to put in a fire pit or a hot tub, that will require a little more time and attention to install. We can help you create your ideal backyard setup! Simply reach out to us and one of our experts can go over your options with you.

Maintaining and Cleaning Your Outdoor Patio Furniture – 4 Things You Should Know

Different materials require different care and handling. Here’s a quick rundown of how to clean and maintain your outdoor patio furniture to keep it looking in tip-top shape.

1. Plastic

This tends to be the easiest material to clean—all you need to do is give it a good spray with an all-purpose cleaner (nothing abrasive) and then wipe it down with a soft cloth or a damp sponge.

2. Metal

When people think of metal patio furniture, often the first thing that comes to mind is rust. You can avoid the issue of rust entirely by choosing powder-coated aluminum or steel, which will keep rust at bay. In general, caring for this kind of patio furniture requires nothing more than a bucket of soapy water and a brush or a sponge.

If rust has started to appear on your furniture, all is not lost. You can remove it by using a steel wool pad to rub off the oxidation. A fresh coat of paint will help ensure that the rust doesn’t come back.

3. Wood

Once again, your best friend for cleaning wood patio furniture (and this includes wicker) is a trusty bucket of warm water with some mild soap dissolved in it. For wicker and other woven materials, you may need to use a toothbrush to clear out the dirt from all the nooks and crannies.

Don’t even think about unleashing a power washer on softwood, since it can cause scarring and damage.

Hardwoods, including teak, shine up like new after washing with diluted laundry detergent. There are also commercial cleaning products that you can buy that are specifically made to clean hardwoods.

4. What To Do About Mold

No matter how well you protect and care for your outdoor patio furniture, you may still wake up one day to find that mold and mildew has been quietly growing on it for some time.

If this happens, let the furniture dry out as much as possible before giving it a good scrub with a hard brush and a rinse with water to remove the surface mold. Then go over it with undiluted white vinegar to tackle the stubborn bits.

7 Best Decor Ideas for Styling and Accessorizing Your Outdoor Space

Now, this is the really fun part—styling and accessorizing your outdoor space. The sky is truly the limit when it comes to decor, so don’t be afraid to unleash your creativity.

If you need a little inspiration to get you started, we’ve provided some of our favorite style and design tips below:

1. Create Charm With Small End Tables

Set up two patio chairs together and anchor them with a discreet table in the middle. A bouquet of flowers or a flickering lantern on top of the table will lend just the right amount of atmosphere and romance to this little conversation area.

2. Add Comfort and Elegance With an Outdoor Rug

Placing a large rug under your outdoor dining table will effortlessly pull together the look of your patio and make the trip outdoors a little easier on bare feet.

3. Channel Beachy Vibes With a Hammock

Once you hang a hammock, we can pretty much guarantee it will never be empty. Kids, adults, and even pets all love lounging in them. Plus, it will make being in your backyard feel like a day at the beach.

4. Enjoy Ease and Convenience With an Oversized Ottoman

Ottomans are the ultimate multi-taskers. Besides propping your feet up on them, you can lay a tray of drinks on them for easy serving, and they work as additional seating, too.

5. Create a Lush and Private Landscape With All Kinds of Greenery

Hanging planters, trailing vines, potted flowers and herbs . . . they all add to the sense that you’ve truly escaped into a natural getaway. Plus, strategically placed ferns and bushes can shield your space and enhance the privacy of your backyard.

6. Shield Yourself and Add a Pop of Color With a Bright Umbrella

A gorgeous printed parasol not only provides protection from the sun and the rain, it also functions as a design element. Choose a bright color or a funky print to give a big shot of charm and character to your outdoor space.

7. Maximize Coziness With Blankets and Throw Pillows

We firmly believe you can never have too many throw pillows or blankets.

They’re great to cozy up with on a cool evening, they add color and charm to your decor, and they hide any dings or other imperfections in your furniture.

Our only rule is to keep them within the same color and pattern families to keep a cohesive visual style.

Shop Outdoor Patio Furniture in Southeastern PA

Did you find the information in this article helpful? Find more useful outdoor lifestyle tips on our blog and online resource center.

Our experts at Jacuzzi Hot Tubs of Southeastern PA are always here to help, that’s why we have a fully-loaded owner resources section on our website, along with a variety of frequently asked questions.

If you’re ready to take the next step and find the best outdoor patio furniture for your lifestyle, contact our experts at Jacuzzi Hot Tubs of Southeastern PA today.

We are more than happy to help you browse our selection of outdoor patio furniture for sale and then brainstorm unique ideas to incorporate it within your backyard living space.

Better yet, we’ll work with you and your budgetary needs, to ensure that this investment is not only long-lasting, but comfortable as well.

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