Furniture choices exist that offer pure comfort and practical advantages while they invite you and your crew to partake of the outdoor breezes.
Gone are the days when outdoor furniture options consisted of wooden picnic tables with attached benches, folding lawn chairs, and basic hammocks. Not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with those; many of us have fond memories of childhood hours spent around, on top of, or even hiding underneath a classic wooden picnic table.
But modern creativity, technology, and design have greatly widened the available options. Admit it, you also remember how that picnic table bench made your butt ache. Nowadays, whether you’re dealing with a porch, a deck, a patio, or just a really cool spot under a tree you love, choices exist that offer pure comfort and practical advantages while they invite you and your crew to partake of the soft summer breezes or the crisp feel of fall.
Speaking of fall, this is a great time to find great deals on outdoor furnishings, and you may still get a few weeks of enjoying your purchases before the weather turns, especially if part of your outdoor setup is a firepit and your location is sheltered from the wind. Wind blockers, outdoor curtains or panels can help you here; it’s possible to spend blissful evenings by the fire in January if you dress for it a bit and minimize the wind chill factor. Making the right choices while you’re shopping can lead to trouble-free good times with furniture that lasts for years. So here are some tips to keep in mind as you focus on furnishing your favorite bit of the great outdoors. After all, the great outdoors deserves great seating.
Making the right choices while you’re shopping can lead to trouble-free good times with furniture that lasts for years.
• What will you be doing there? If you plan to grill a lot and eat outside, a sturdy, easy-to-clean dining table and a smaller cook’s table near the grill are essentials. If you’re picturing cocktail-focused evenings around the firepit, seating and nifty decor may be more of a priority. Just want to lie outside and lose yourself in a good book? Look for a lounger, couch, or hammock that will invite you to stretch out.
• Think easy cleaning. Metal, cedar, teak, and all-weather wicker are sturdy choices that should look good for years with minimal care; the same cannot be said of the ubiquitous white resin. Cushions and pillows with zippered covers that can be thrown in the wash are easy to freshen.
• Where will it spend the winter? Remember that you’ll get a lot more years of beauty and enjoyment out of your outdoor pieces if you can either cover them securely or tuck them away in a garage, basement, or shed during the harsher months, and think about where they might fit. Stackable pieces are a help.
• Invest in quality. Solid materials and well-made joints are the difference between something you’ll need to replace after a couple f years and a piece that will provide many seasons of pleasure and comfort. Do your homework, check the reviews, and plan to spend the bulk of your funds on the major pieces—you can accessorize with inexpensive accent pieces, and no one (including you) will care as long as the seats are solidly comfy and the table is level.
Metal, cedar, teak, and all-weather wicker are sturdy choices that should look good for years with minimal care.
outdoor furni turere sources
A&M HARDWARE
5000 Rt. 209, Accord
845-626-2788
amhardware.doitbest.com
BARE FURNITURE
4737 Rt. 209, Accord
845-626-0061,
barefurnitureny.com
HOUST HARDWARE
4 Mill Hill Rd, Woodstock
845- 679-2115,
housthardware.com
POTTER BROTHERS
57 City View Terrace, Kingston
845-338-5119,
potterbrothers.com
1083 Route 9, Fishkill
845-297-2941,
potterbrothers.com
WILLIAMS LUMBER & HOME CENTERSE
6760 Route 9, Rhinebeck
845-876-WOOD,
williamslumber.com
