How to choose outdoor furniture: 9 top tips

One of the most important aspects of a functional outdoor living space is finding the right furniture. It should not only be comfortable and fit for purpose but aesthetically pleasing too. Knowing how to pick outdoor furniture in this way can be trickier than it initially seems but there are a few great tips you can follow to ensure you’ll make excellent choices that you can enjoy for years to come.

Considering your existing surroundings is the first thing you must do when selecting outdoor furniture. If you are buying for an existing deck or patio, then you’ll need to take a close look at it and everything around it.

First, it needs to match your architectural surroundings. Considering your home and its design will make it easier for you to find furniture that matches its aesthetics.

Similarly, you need to make sure the furniture also matches your natural surroundings. This way it will not seem artificial or at odds with the environment. Ideally, you’ll find options that will blend in seamlessly once they’re in place.

Related article: How to create a great deck in Australia

Next, you must learn more about your own personal style. Your personal style preferences and aesthetics will affect the type of furniture or outdoor furniture set you choose, so it's important to know what you like and why. After all, you’re going to be the one who sees and uses the furniture more than anyone else so you should prioritise your own tastes in this respect.

For example, you may prefer furniture with an organic feel. In this case, you may opt for wood or rattan furniture instead of plastics or metals. On the other hand, you might like the minimalist style, in which case, a sleek and contemporary choice might be better suited.

Being confident about your own personal style will make it easier to narrow down your outdoor furniture choices.

Before you buy outdoor furniture, you need to consider the weather where you live. If you live in a hot, dry climate, you will need to buy different furniture than you would if you lived in an area with a lot of rain or humidity.

For example, hot conditions can potentially make your outdoor wood furniture crack and aluminium furniture hot to the touch. On the other hand, excessive rain could cause problems for other metals like wrought iron which can rust if not treated and maintained properly.

Whatever your local conditions, it’s best to look for weather-resistant solutions to match the environment they’ll be in.

Different types of outdoor furniture will require different types of maintenance. Whether you are choosing an outdoor dining table, a fire pit, lounge chairs, or any other item you should be fully aware of the maintenance requirements for that particular piece and be willing to put in the work for its upkeep.

One thing that you should consider is investing in high-quality outdoor fabrics. These are able to withstand harsh weather better and can prevent stains from developing on your outdoor furniture.

You may also want to invest in powder-coated outdoor furniture. This coating makes your furniture resistant to corrosion and can protect furniture from the elements.

Costs are an important factor to consider when shopping for outdoor furniture. The price of the furniture will depend on the style, the designer/manufacturer/brand, the material it is made from, and more.

Understanding what different types of furniture will generally cost will make it easier for you to focus on items that best fit your budget.

This can be as simple as browsing online on websites like ours to get a quick idea of the price range of items that you’re interested in.

Because outdoor furniture can be such a big investment, you need to make sure that you are getting your money's worth. To ensure you are making a good investment, you need to find furniture that is of high quality in terms of construction and design.

It should be professionally manufactured with quality materials, strong and robust and able to withstand a high level of wear and tear. Companies won’t be shy about sharing the strengths of their products so you’ll be able to look at these fairly closely.

Keep an eye out for warranties too for validation. Companies that have confidence in their own products will usually be willing to back their products in the long term.

This overlaps slightly with the previous point but is so important that it rightfully deserves its own section. There are many different materials you can choose from when selecting outdoor furniture, each with its own benefits, different price points, and more. It is often the single most influential factor when it comes to the quality and lifespan of an item and needs to be taken seriously.

Common examples of materials include natural options, like rattan and wicker. These require additional weatherproofing but are traditional, inviting and beautiful.

You can also choose natural wood, which is a sturdy choice that brings a warm aesthetic style. However, wood outdoor furniture can fade over time and may require painting or staining to prolong its use.

Other options include classic and heavy-duty wrought iron and stainless steel, lightweight and modern aluminium and cost-effective and versatile plastic.

Next, you must choose furniture that is the right size for your space. Even if you find your dream outdoor furniture, it will look out of place if it is too small or too big for its intended space.

First, consider your needs. Are you using your furniture to host parties? Or do you simply need something to sit on while you enjoy a refreshing beverage? Do you have limited storage space?

If you are working with small spaces, it may be better to purchase a round table and chairs that are more efficient and economical. If you have large spaces to fill, then a sectional piece with several outdoor ottomans to better occupy the area.

When you consider the size of your furniture, make sure you leave enough room around your furniture to walk around to make it comfortable for movement too.

Finally, you must prioritise functionality when you buy any piece of outdoor furniture, be it an outdoor dining set, sofa suite or even bean bags.

If you have smaller outdoor spaces, you may need to find outdoor furniture that doubles up as a storage compartment too, particularly if you have limited storage space. For example, you can invest in a seated storage bench that allows you to store outdoor blankets, outdoor rugs, side tables, decor, and more.

A big part of function when it comes to outdoor furniture is comfort. For different items, this will mean different things. For chairs, it can be about their dimensions in relation to you as the user as well as their support and design. For outdoor sofas, it might be a matter of the quality of the fabric and padding. For tables, it might be the surface area that it provides.

Thinking about these practical elements is key to picking and buying outdoor furniture that will serve you as it should.

Related article: How well-designed outdoor living spaces add value to your home

Choosing the best outdoor furniture for your outdoor area is often a big investment so it’s important that make the best choices possible. These tips will help you precisely cover the fundamentals to do with form and function meaning you’ll end up with the right outdoor furniture that enhances the experiences you’re trying to create for you and your guests.