Today, many exterior spaces are viewed as extensions of interior spaces. In other words, the garden is often viewed as just another room in the house, even of it is an exterior one. Yes, you can place a few plastic or woven aluminum lawn chairs and a table on the patio and call it a day, but more and more people are choosing garden furniture that complements their home. Several factors should be considered when choosing garden furniture including material, how it will be used, and of course, your own personal style.
Probably the first decision is whether you want to go casual or formal. Do you prefer a rustic look for casual or a more formal dining area for 8 or 10 people? Do you like intimate tète a tètes? Also consider your home’s architectural style. Is it a modern contemporary, 20th century bungalow, Victorian gingerbread, or an Italianate villa? Once that’s decided the choice of material will also influence the look you are trying to create. For example, wood, wicker, or rattan furniture connotes an entirely different feeling than wrought iron or teak.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on garden furniture either. Look for display models, shop the sales, and check out the classifieds. Like most things you can always trade up in a few years. If you’re on a budget or your style is more flea-market chic, then check out “recycled” furniture (it’s an environmentally friendly option!) on Freecycle or scout out garage and yard sales, or even antique shops.
P.S. Stay tuned for an upcoming edition of The Daily Dirt featuring “green” garden furniture.