Garden Furniture Sources and Tips: Well-chosen and well-sited garden furniture extends living into the garden in the most comfortable and relaxing way possible. Garden furniture either needs to be tough enough to stay outdoors all year or be fold-up or stackable so that it is easily stored away when not in use. There are two main types of garden furniture - that used for eating outdoors or that which is for periods when you simply want to lounge in the sun or the shade.
Furniture used for eating outside will usually double up as a temporary resting spot, but garden benches spaced around the garden allow the opportunity of moving from sun to shade at any time_ Place a single bench to create a visually attractive element as part of the garden design and where it provides a new and different view of the garden from that of the main sitting area. This type of furniture needs to be robust enough to remain permanently in place.
The most popular chairs for sunbathing, or relaxing in the shade, usually have a light, fold-up plastic or plastic-coated metal frame that can be placed at several angles on a ratchet system, and a long, padded, slip over cushion. These chairs can be moved about with ease so that anyone can follow the sun or shade as required.
Furniture can either be chosen to blend with its surroundings or to make a colorful statement. In most cases permanent furniture looks best if it blends with other materials used in the garden, for example natural timber for a brick patio, or a wooden bench to stand below a tree at the end of the garden. For painted furniture, choose colors to blend with those used in nearby rooms of the house or mimic the colors of nearby garden flowers. White furniture works well where white or bright colors are used and green blends attractively into a leafy background.
Timber furniture may be natural in color, arid in tough hardwood such as oak, teak or less robust stained softwood, or it may be painted. Unless wooden furniture is folded-up, it is better to stay in place around the year. However, wood takes a beating from the stet winters and hot, dry weather in summer, so needs to be regularly maintained with oiling or painting if it is to last when kept outside.
Stone or concrete seats are tough and easy to maintain, requiring no more than a periodic scrub. Curved designs are available, that can be placed around the trunk of a tree.
Cane and wicker, like timber, blend beautifully with the natural surroundings of a garden but they cannot be left outdoors as sun and rain will damage them. Their light weight makes them easy to transport but storage can be a problem. If the patio leads off a conservatory then the furniture can double up for indoor and outdoor use.
Metal furniture may be traditional wrought iron, which is heavy and needs constant maintenance if it is not to rust, or a lighter aluminum copy. Plastic-coated metal is easier to maintain, only needing to be wiped, although a cheaper surface coating can deteriorate.
Moulded plastic furniture, usually in white or green, is now very popular as it is easy to look after, light weight, and weather resistant. Most tables tops and legs come apart for storage and chairs stack to take up a minimum of space over winter. Plastic furniture can be left outdoors throughout the summer. Buy good quality furniture if you want it to last. Cheaper alternatives can crack and discolor on exposure to sunlight.
Canvas director deck chairs are light to move and fold flat for storage. Director chairs are smart enough to use indoors when required. Canvas rots in time but is easy to replace.
Padded fabric loungers with metal or plastic frames can be used in a lounging or upright position, are light 'weight and fold up for storage.
Home-made seating adds an individual look to your garden. Concrete paving slabs can be built 011.E0 the top of a low wall, a plank screwed to a couple of tree stumps could make a temporary stopover spot in a wild garden or, for something very different, use a special metal chair frame shape and plant it with box to make a topiary seat.
