Your yard may be the place where you spend a good deal of your time when you’re at home, so it’s a good idea to make it as comfortable and attractive as possible. That includes selecting furnishings for your patio and yard, since a patio can be just another room of the house for those who enjoy entertaining and barbecuing with all the comforts of home within easy reach.
If you’ve looked around at all at patio furniture, you’re probably aware that it comes in a number of different varieties. Some is constructed of heavy, durable material meant to last a number of years, and other kinds are made of lighter, less resilient substances that will offer a few seasons of use, after which you’ll likely want to find replacements.
When selecting patio furniture for the grounds of your home, you might first want to assess what kind of look you want in furnishings. You might go for the rustic, country look made from unfinished pine, or perhaps more exotic hardwoods, such as cherry or teak, which will give a richer, more refined identity to your outdoor living room.
Unfinished patio furniture includes Adirondack style, which is plane, weathered wood that is sturdy and attractive, in a country lodge sort of way. You may prefer this casual, down-to-earth style for your backyard, because it can last a long time if you treat it periodically with a sealant, and prevent it from getting water-logged by taking it indoors during the off-season.
In the more elegant varieties of wooden patio furniture, hardwood crafted furnishings will give your gatherings a more elegant, urbane touch with rich, dark stained woods that display a beautiful grain. These kinds of furnishings are more expensive than Adirondack furniture, but can last a long time, and are very appealing to the eye. But like Adirondack furniture, hardwood furnishings must be refinished periodically, and should be sheltered from the weather during the off-season.
Iron and aluminum are both sometimes used to make outdoor furniture. Iron, is by far the heavier of the two metals. Furniture fabricated from iron can last a lifetime, but must also be sealed periodically to prevent the bare metal from being exposed to moisture, which will cause it to rust and deteriorate.
Aluminum will not rust, and is a great deal lighter in weight than iron. You don’t have to finish or refinish it, and it can be cleaned easily with a garden hose and brush. However, it blows away easily when the wind picks up, tends to dent or break more easily than iron.



