Outdoor Furniture Checklist

Selecting your Outdoor Furniture

Figure out your budget.

Look at the landscape of your yard - consider the size.

Decide whether you want stackable or foldaway furniture that will be put away in the shed.

Determine your luxury level, and how the outdoor patio furniture will be used.

Decide on the type of material - it determines maintenance requirements.

Decide on a color theme.

Determine how many people will sit at the table.

Determine if you want cushions on the chairs.

Buying your Outdoor Furniture

Sit in the chairs to get a feel for fit and comfort.

Make sure the seat height seem right for the table height.

Ensure the table is designed to give everyone's legs plenty of clearance.

Check if armrests are matched to the table height.

Make sure the armrests are designed for comfort.

Ensure chair seats are roomy side to side and front to back.

Be sure the cushions fit the seats well and have ample padding.

Make sure wood furniture have closely fitted joints.

Be sure welded joints on metal furniture are neatly done and unobtrusive.

Painted surfaces should be uniform, with no drips, ripples, or missed spots.

There should be no sharp, unfinished edges on metal furniture.

Make sure the furniture is designed so that nuts and bolts holding pieces together are hidden or capped.

Maintenance Tips

Hose down plastic outdoor wicker to remove airborne dust and dirt.

Keep water away from genuine wicker.

Unfinished teak will weather to a silvery gray.

If you want to preserve teak's rich, golden-brown color, sand the furniture and apply teak oil annually.

Steel and wrought iron need to be painted to prevent rust.

Cover the furniture to keep rain away.