How to choose the right garden furniture

At one time , outdoor furniture was considered secondary to that of the house. A few chairs were enough and it was done… Today the way of interpreting the outdoor space has changed.

The garden and terrace are seen as an integral part of the interior spaces, as fundamental elements for greater comfort and well-being, in every season.

In order to fully enjoy your green space, the right choice of garden furniture is essential, thus creating an environment where you can spend time surrounded by nature with family, friends or relax alone.

The choice is very large, and sometimes in order not to understand the difference between the materials and types, you risk buying a furniture that does not suit your needs.

In this guide we would try to help you better understand the differences between the types and materials of garden furniture.

First of all, understand your needs.

The evaluation must take into account maintenance: if they are to be stored away in winter, they should be foldable, stackable or quickly disassembled.

In choosing the types, it is to be taken into consideration even if the furniture is for porch or completely outdoor.

To be sure about the combinations and space available for the furniture, it is better to bring with you the measurements of the area to be set up and some photos. In completing the green space, do not neglect to take into consideration banal but indispensable elements, such as a place to hang clothes, a shed in which to place equipment or children's games.

The materials.

Today, technology has made important steps forward, and in the case of outdoor furniture, new materials and special treatments are able to offer many advantages combined with the absence of maintenance.

It is not necessary to spend a lot, but it is essential to opt for high quality products, the only ones able to guarantee long life without losing the qualities of comfort and beauty.

Wood.

Teak has been used for centuries in the construction of outdoor artifacts, ship decks, furnishings and flooring, in all those places where strong resistance to water and salt is required, together with dimensional stability, impermeability and, not least, beauty.

In addition to teak, considered one of the best woods for outdoor furniture, there are also other exotic or European woods, in any case they must be properly treated, periodically, to increase resistance to humidity. Today, in the design of outdoor furniture, wood is often combined with fabrics, for chairs and armchairs, to increase comfort. By choosing high quality products there is the certainty of a very long life, taking care of a minimum of maintenance to preserve the beauty and solidity of the furnishings.

Iron.

If properly treated, iron is an excellent material for the outdoors, used both in furnishings and in shading structures such as gazebos and pergolas. The manufacturing processes that guarantee its beauty are different. Cataphoresis is a special paint that gives the iron elements resistance to corrosion; it is characterized by the uniform deposit on the surface of an epoxy resin, which avoids rust. Hot dip galvanizing is another treatment that allows furniture to stay outdoors all year round.

Steel.

Stainless steels are iron-based alloys with peculiar characteristics resistant to corrosion: furnishings made of this material are indestructible and, if treated correctly, do not need maintenance.

Resin.

Plastic models can be classic or design, in particular shapes and colors, they can play an important stylistic role in modern environments. This furniture can stay outdoors all year round. They are light and easy to clean, economical and durable.

Synthetic fiber.

It is an ideal material for outdoors because it does not require maintenance; it is woven by hand on painted aluminum structures. Resistant to heat and frost, it lends itself to the creation of sofas, low armchairs and sun and relaxation loungers. Similar to the weaving fiber are technological fabrics, robust and elastic: they do not wrinkle, do not tear, do not shrink, they are resistant to sunlight (so the color does not fade), to bad weather and stains. Among the most robust fabrics is airlon, a smooth and soft to the touch canvas, made with 100% polyester fiber. Textilene, acrylic fabrics and those coated with a layer of PVC to make them waterproof are also very valid.

The service furnishings.

When organizing the outdoor space, it is also worth considering service structures such as houses and sheds for tool sheds. The use is mostly that of an extension (or replacement) of the garage, for lawn mowers, bags of fertilizer and soil, bicycles and mopeds, toys. You can also equip a corner with a workbench; if the environment is large and airy, there is the possibility of hanging clothes indoors in case of bad weather. The shed should be placed in a secluded and not very visible corner, preferably hidden by a backdrop of vegetation or a high hedge of evergreens.

If the outdoor space is just to be observed, plants and architectural structures will be sufficient; but much more often the garden and terrace are intended as environments to be lived in; it is useful and pleasant to complement them not only with furnishing elements but also with equipment that simplifies daily life.

The elements for furnishing the environment can also become fundamental for their aesthetic and stylistic role, capable of underlining the atmospheres that you want to evoke through the plants and the style of the green space.

We hope we helped you understand the materials better. If you come and visit us in Iperverde , you will be able to see all our models and we would be happy to help you choose the right one for you!