Where Should I Focus My Budget When Buying Patio Furniture?#

When deciding what to do with your space, first determine how you’ll be using it. Consider your preferences on:#

• Who is using the space?#

  • Is it primarily you and your partner? Do you host a weekly game night? Or do you have all the kids and grandkids over once or twice a month? All three of these options have vastly different seating requirements you may want to plan for.

• Dining, lounging, or a combination of both?#

  • If you’re not a fan of eating outside then it may be better to invest the money you’d use on a dining set into something you’ll enjoy more often.

• Kids or pets?#

  • Some furniture is more suited for families with small children or pets than others. For example, if you have three younger children, they might enjoy eating on a bench at the table rather than individual chairs. If you have pets, consider ordering an extra cushion for a pet bed that matches your new sofa.

• Daily use or strictly seasonal?#

  • Is this going to be used all year? You may budget a little extra since you’ll be using it as an extension of your daily living space.
  • Or is this for a lake house that you may only visit a few months out of the year? In that case you may want to sacrifice some comfort / style to get something low maintenance that you don’t have to worry about while you’re away.

From here, look at the location of your seating area. Do you have:#

• Heavy tree cover#

  • Look for low maintenance options that are easy to clean / hose down.

• Full sun during all or part of the day#

  • Look for UV resistant materials that won’t fade or become compromised under the sun.

• Strong wind gusts#

  • Look for heavy furniture or furniture that has additional weight options. You may avoid cushions that don’t have some kind of tie down.

• Spots that hold water#

  • Look for furniture that has plastic or resin feet that won’t rust or rot if exposed to water for longer time periods.