Where Should I Focus My Budget When Buying Patio Furniture?

When shopping for patio furniture it’s important to consider not only your aesthetic and functional uses, but the pros and cons of each kind of furniture as well. Investing in a quality patio set is just that, an investment, for the next decade or longer.

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.

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you narrow down the kinds of furniture that will work the best for your situation.

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.

If the space is new to you and you’re not sure of your requirements yet, think about getting some temporary furniture. For example, if your partner wants a dining table but you aren’t sure how often you’ll really use it, get an inexpensive trial set at a big box store and use it for a few weeks. If you sit outside daily and end up enjoying it, we’ll take into consideration the things you liked and solve the issues you didn’t like with your new table.

It’s also not uncommon to work in stages. If you’re positive you want a bistro table but are unsure of lounge furniture, we may start with a dining table and a couple of lounge chairs. In a few months (or years) you can get more pieces to add where you feel your patio is lacking whether that’s a couple of ottomans for your lounge chairs or a full sectional for entertaining company.