A major part of many individual’s outdoor space, patio furniture let’s you take the party outside. Read on for some great tips and tricks for picking out the perfect patio furniture for your home, from a small patio bistro set to a 5-piece patio set, 7-piece patio set, an outdoor extension table for entertaining large groups of friends, family, and guests, relaxed deep seating with cushioned chairs, or even a sofa or sectional with a fire table.

How will the Patio Space be Used?

Grilling or lounging? Understanding how the space will be utilized ensures unregrettable decisions later-on. Grilling outside requires a substantial patio dining table to eat and socialize with friends and family, while lounging needs a proper mix of comfortable chairs and chaises to relax outdoors. If you plan to entertain, especially in the cool summer evenings to late fall afternoons, a fire table set may be just the thing you need.

Even exceptionally large areas can go to waste if mismanaged, so making an extra effort to properly divy-up the space into defined areas, dining, lounging, grilling, etc. will help avoid cluttering. Planning the space ahead of time will also assist in preventing unnecessary placement, like blocking pathways from the house or blocking sight lines of the outdoor rooms views.

Measuring is key to ensuring a properly used outdoor space. You don’t want to buy furniture that’s too small and will be dwarfed by the space around it, or have too many large pieces crowding up the area. This will also help you determine how to set things up for ideal traffic flow.

What’s the Temperature Outside?

Knowing the climate of the region goes a long way into knowing what patio furniture options will produce the most practical, longest-lasting results. Outdoor furniture items designed for use in the mountains of Western Maine aren’t the best for the Arizona backcountry.

Dry conditions can cause wooden patio furniture to splinter over time, while humid or damp climates can cause certain wood options to warp. Light, soft woods will grey and weather as they age, which can be a benefit for many buyers, while teak is known to outlast many other varieties of woods available for outdoor furnishings. Keep in mind that wood outdoor furniture typically has a maintenance factor vs. metal, recycled poly, and wicker materials. Durable, versatile, and comfortable, metal patio furniture like wrought iron can take both heat and moisture, as can both extruded and cast aluminum. Woven outdoor furniture can work in a variety of different styles from contemporary outdoor spaces to traditional front porch designs.

The important things to consider when selecting patio furniture is space and climate, whether choosing a full patio set, putting together individual pieces, or combining a plethora of the beautiful patio tables and outdoor chairs available in today’s marketplace.

If you’re interested in learning more about porch, patio and poolside design? Read our Patio Basics Buying Guide.