Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

Instead of throwing together a room in our homes with random items, we typically spend days considering the options. From there, we analyze, debate, ask opinions, and finally, come up with what we think best represents us. The same amount of thought should go into designing the interior of our outdoor gazebo. Often times with outdoor spaces however, it’s hard to know where to start.

In most cases, there are a few ideas to try on for size in order to best direct your attention. The first begins with the type of space you’d like to create based on the size of your backyard gazebo.

To get the feel of an austere, rustic style of a gazebo, you may want to outfit it in light, natural wood tones that appear untreated. An example of this might be opting for whole log White Pine or White Cedar outdoor furniture collections. Typically, you’ll find these styles in matching patio chairs, garden benches, and porch  swings that can be purchased individually, based on the size of your gazebo.

If you value the old-fashioned feel of a log cabin with a slightly polished finish, the Red Cedar Adirondack chair or Cypress Adirondack chairs and garden benches offer a traditional approach. Their vertical, slatted backrests come in a variety of finishes from light and natural to shades as dark as night. A quintessential choice for gazebo and patio arrangements, Red Cedar and Cypress Adirondack designs are as recognizable to the world of outdoor seating as Abe Lincoln is to American history.

For a less rustic or traditional spin on wood furnishings, set your sights on a modern set of Teak wood chairs or an Outdoor Dining Set. Each of these lend themselves to a more luxurious feel while still retaining the forest vernacular. Since Teak is known for being hearty and self-reliant, complete your modern gazebo with a deep seating collection and coordinating cushions. Maybe even finish it with set of outdoor lamps to perfect the ambiance. Besides using Teak, the other way to create a modern outdoor gazebo is by creating a dining room. The use of an outdoor dining set or cedar picnic table in various shapes and sizes is another way to make your normal meal a beautiful, outdoor experience.

Gazebos should be designed the way you feel most comfortable enjoying the great outdoors. With that, live vicariously through the rustic or traditional designs inspired by the past, or bring the present into your outdoor space with modern comforts and dining.

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As we’ve established, there are several things that you can do to fix, or hide, scratches in your wood patio chairs, porch swings, gliders, and accent tables.  On the other hand, you may be better off replacing things that are beyond repair, or have bigger problems than just having a few marks on them.

This can be a good move, for many reasons.  For one thing, newer wood outdoor furniture, especially if it’s finished and/or treated, tends to be less susceptible to scratches than are older pieces.  It’s also more resistant to decay, mildew, and insects; and these days, it’s available in a much wider range of styles.

Of course, you can also opt for polywood, vinyl, aluminum, or synthetic wicker outdoor furniture.  Some of these materials are nearly indestructible, so you may never again have to worry about scratches, dents, chips, or warping.  Furthermore, you can often find them in just about any color imaginable.  However, even if you get something more contemporary, such as a polywood outdoor dining table, for your patio, you may still want a traditional cedar picnic table for your backyard.

This is often the case, because people simply love wood.  There’s no denying that it has (always had) an irresistible, and indescribable, charm.  Somehow, it seems to radiate warmth, beauty, and comfort – and, in many instances, luxury – and we’ll never stop loving it.  The good news is that, besides being able to repair it, there are lots of things that you can do to prevent, or, at least, mitigate, any damage that it may incur.

Naturally, staining and/or sealing unfinished wood outdoor furniture when it’s new, will give it a big head start.  The only problem is that, like everything else, finishes come in a bewildering number of choices, including lacquer, shellac, polyurethane, penetrating oil, and acrylic and alkyd varnishes.  You’ll also have to select from satin, semi-gloss, and glossy varieties, and decide whether or not you want a stain, a sealer, or a stain/sealer for your outdoor wood furniture.

Because picking the right one can be puzzling, it’s best to arm yourself with knowledge before you venture into the hardware store.  Just for starters, remember that, whatever type of finish that you buy, the only way to get the best results from it is to follow the instructions on the label, and heed warnings about safe usage, proper ventilation, and flammability.  You should also make sure that it is resistant to mold, mildew, insects, and UV rays.

Next week, I’ll attempt to make things a bit less confusing, by explaining the differences, characteristics, advantages, and drawbacks of these products, so that you’ll be able to find the perfect finish for your outdoor furniture.

Right now, however, I’m just looking for the perfect finish for this blog!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent tables, cedar picnic table, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor wood furniture, polywood outdoor dining table, porch gliders, porch swings, wood outdoor furniture, wood patio chairs