After our recent winter, most of us are cherishing summer like never before! Nancy’s four tips for buying outdoor furniture should come in handy.
1. Make sure you choose outdoor furniture which is made with fabrics that won’t fade and lose their vibrant colors. It’s also important that the material is water resistant so that it doesn’t retain water from storms.
2. Whether you choose outdoor furniture made with metal or wood, it must be able to survive the elements. You don’t want your outdoor furniture to rust. And, it must be sturdy enough so it won’t blow away in the wind and end up in the neighbors yard! The Venetian chair and ottoman by Brown Jordan, shown below, are made of hand and machine-forged aluminum. This material is substantial but easy to move and comes in a fantastic array of powder-coated finishes.
If you love wicker, you’re going to adore our pieces made with woven resin fibers, as this close up photo of Brown Jordan’s Del Mar sofa shows. It’s truly amazing! It has the natural look of rattan but will withstand the weather beautifully.
Synthetic Woven Resin
3. Shop at a store which has samples on the floor that you can see and try out. At Toms-Price, we have a selection of outdoor furniture from fine quality manufacturers such as Brown Jordan and Lane Venture. These include gorgeous pieces in an array of colors and styles. When I walk into our outdoor furniture showroom and see the different groups, it just puts a smile on my face! The settings are so inviting, especially if you like to entertain. And best of all, they’re made with revolutionary, high tech materials which have all the beneficial attributes I mentioned above.
Brown Jordan’s Aluminum Venetian Chair
4. Always work with a knowledgeable designer to make sure the size and style will work well on your particular deck, patio or other outdoor setting. Whether it’s one piece or a complete group of furniture, I’d love to help you pick out something you will love. You can’t go wrong if you work with any of the designers at Toms-Price!
View more outdoor furniture from Toms-Price here.
Nancy Hides is an interior designer at Toms-Price in Lincolnshire.
When you say withstand the elements, do you mean winter, too? Or do the wicker pieces (and the metal and wood you mention) have to be brought into a sheltered area during the winter????
Hi Molly,
Thanks for the question. You should always reference the manufacturer guidelines to determine how important it is to bring furniture inside during the winter.
We carry Brown Jordan outdoor furniture and they say you can leave it outdoors. With Chicago winters, I personally suggest bringing in the cushions and purchasing covers for the frames – even though their frames will not ever rust, even in the worst weather elements. This will make your life a lot easier in the spring, too, because you won’t have to spend hours cleaning everything.
Nancy
Very helpful information. Thank you very much. N
Great advice!
Thank you for the information! I love that Brown Jordan Venetian chair in the photo.
Perfect timing for this blog entry! I am thinking about my deck furniture and how to make life cozier out there.
If you have kids, then this is also something that you’ll need to plan for when picking your outdoor furniture. I hate to say it, but when I was a kid, my brother and I could do some damage to patio furniture. Once the quality has been accounted for, I’d definitely look to ensuring your gonna be in for some solid comfort time outside.