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“Look at, my new outdoor living space. Isn’t it nice? Now I get to furnish it!”
Just like a house needs furniture, artwork, and decorations to feel like a home, your new outdoor living space needs those things to be truly enjoyable. Buying quality outdoor furnishings to outfit your new space is important. You didn’t spend all that money on the outdoor living space to furnish it with cheap, tacky stuff.
Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping employees are outdoor living specialists, and we create amazing outdoor spaces and rooms for families to enjoy for many, many years. No matter how significant the transformation that we make with the elements and details that we include, it is never quite finished until it is furnished and staged.
The furnishings make the space useful and make it feel lived in. The staging adds all the little details that really give off the WOW FACTOR. From rugs to candles, place settings, ornaments, planter pots, cafe lights, and all the other items that make a space feel like home.
It is tempting to buy the same things you would use in a house for your outdoor living space. That is a mistake. Even though the furnishings may be under a roof, temperature changes, blowing rain, windborne pollen and dust, and other features of the outdoors are hard on things. Purchase furnishings specifically made for the outdoors; you will be happy in the long run.
Here are a few common mistakes people make in furnishing their outdoor living space.
Make sure you measure the space correctly. An easy trick is to use a piece of graph paper that is the size of your space or a scaled drawing provided by your landscape designer. You can then cut out the furniture you want out of another piece of graph paper to match the scale of the space. Place the furniture you want on the first piece of graph paper and make sure it all fits and make sure there is plenty of room for people to move in and around the space.
While appearance is important, you need to look at how practical each piece of furniture is. How comfortable is it? Can you use it for multiple things?
Outdoor furniture and accessories come in materials from wicker, wood, and metal to outdoor fabric. Each has pros and cons. Consider these clearly before buying anything.
Don’t buy something because it is cheap. Cheap products will break down or look bad much more quickly than quality furnishings. You spent a lot of money on your outdoor living space. Invest in good-quality furnishings that compliment your space. If you don’t invest in something quality you could end up paying a lot more in replacing pieces over and over again through the years.
Big purchases need to be planned so that they fit with the other furnishings and the space. Often impulse purchases on furniture can be low quality and not long-lasting. When decorating a space, however, and including the small details of candles, place settings, and outdoor artwork, you can feel freer to buy what you like in the store or online and figure out how to make it work the best once it arrives.
Choose furniture that can be used for more than one purpose. For example, an ottoman can be used as a seat or writing surface if needed. You can find coffee tables with storage to put cushions and rugs into when they are not needed.
Some materials for outdoor furniture develop a weathered look or patina, while others stay looking like new. Here are some of the materials available.
Metal furniture is not damaged by the sun. However, it can get hot and burn an unwary person. Aluminum furniture is light, so strong winds can blow it over. Metal coated with a powder finish is the most durable option. Rust spots can form, but usually where water pools, rather than occasional dampness. You can sand the rust spots out and repaint the metal.
Wicker is a popular option. It, too, is light and can be blown over. Wicker used to be made of willow branches, bamboo, rattan, or reeds. Now, wicker is almost always made of resin. Buy high-density polyethylene wicker, not PVC. It will last longer and feel nicer. Wicker degrades in the sun. Clean-up is easy with a little soapy water and a cloth.
Wood is an elegant material for furniture. Teak is rot-resistant and will last a long time. Wood develops a weathered patina as it ages unless it is regularly oiled. It will need to be cleaned annually before the season ends.
Plastic is an economical choice but degrades in the sun and doesn’t last as long as the other choices. It is generally lightweight and will blow over in the wind. Expect to wash it frequently. Plastic chairs can be stackable and good for those occasions when you have a large gathering and need a little extra seating, but not for everyday use.
While the furniture frame is important, the cushions or fabric covering the frame are what makes the furniture comfortable. Use outdoor grade fabric that has been treated to repel water. This also makes it harder for mold and mildew to grow on the fabric. Consider storing any cushions when not in use. This will make them last longer.
When choosing colors for your fabric, remember that any fabric will fade in the sunlight. Dark colors like black, navy, and dark brown fade the fastest, followed by bright, vibrant colors. Using furniture covers designed for outdoor furniture can keep fabrics bright longer.
You would not leave all your walls bare inside. Don’t do it outside, either. There are lots of available types of outdoor art. Metal, wood, and plastic are weather resistant and can be cut into wall hangings. You can also get paintings that are printed on metal, wood, or plastic. Waterproof canvas art can hang outside, as well. Most outdoor paintings are made with acrylic paints. As with fabric, the colors on painted or printed art will eventually fade. If you have paintings or printings outside, you will need to bring them inside during winter.
You are not quite finished furnishing your outdoor living space yet. Now you need to stage it, so it really pops. Outdoor rugs can soften a room. If used in contrasting colors to the furniture, the rugs will help finish the room.
If you look at your interiors, consider using similar elements outdoors. Accent pieces such as vases, lamps, and other things will finish the room. Choose heavy items that will not get blown over by the wind. Wood, metal, and ceramic pieces will be more weather resistant and last longer.
Winter is hard on outdoor furniture. You may want to store your furniture in the garage, inside, or in another place out of the weather when winter comes. If you leave it outdoors, you will need to cover it. Even covered, the cold can make it brittle, especially plastic and wicker.
Not everyone carries quality outdoor furniture. Here are some good places to consider buying from.
Wayfair is an internet-only company, but they have a nice selection of outdoor furnishings and decor. They have free shipping over $35 and have a thirty-day return window. They also have frequent sales so you can stretch your budget. Learn more at https://www.wayfair.com/outdoor/cat/outdoor-c32334.html
Yardbird has a new store in Overland Park that has eco-friendly, quality outdoor furniture that will last. You can learn more about them at https://yardbird.com/.
Outer is another newer resource for high-end quality furniture. This is an online shopping experience that walks you through every step of finding the perfect set for your space. You can learn more at https://liveouter.com/
Outdoor living spaces need quality outdoor furnishings to make them enjoyable. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping does our best to design and install the right outdoor living space for your needs. You get to enjoy them for years and years to come. Buy the best furnishings you can to enhance your outdoor living space.
If you want an outdoor living space, or to add a feature to your existing outdoor living area, schedule a consult with us today.
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