A patio is a pleasant indoor and outdoor space that can be used for dining and entertaining or relaxing. The aim of a patio is to bring the outdoors in. A patio is an extension of the rooms inside of your home, and it should be furnished accordingly. The look should be a coordinated effort involving the furniture you choose and the general décor that surrounds it.

There are different types of patio furniture to choose from including cast aluminum, wrought iron, wood and resin. Cast aluminum is the most popular choice because it is lightweight and sturdy. It stands up well against wind and rain and it does not rust. Popular cast aluminum sets include the classic table and chairs. Most are rustproof and coated with a weather resistant finish that will last for years. A set cost any where from $150 up.

Wrought iron sets are beautiful but tend to rust. If you plan on decorating with wrought iron, make sure that is has a rust resistant coated finish and it will last for years. One nice feature of wrought iron, it never goes out of style. Popular furniture includes a wrought iron table and chairs. The chairs can be cushioned or not. The most popular finishes are white, green or black.

Wooden patio furniture is naturally beautiful and makes any patio looks like a place to be enjoyed. There are wooden armchairs, gliders, and benches, as well as lounge chairs and tree benches. There are many different types of wood to choose from including Alder, which is a fine-grained hardwood that is similar to cherry or birch. Alder patio pieces are great because they are classy unfinished, or you can paint them to enliven any patio. Northern white cedar is durable and resistant to insect damage, decay and weather. It has a wonderful clean smell that acts as an insect repellent. Over the years, it takes on a weathered gray look. Also worth mentioning is cypress - a durable wood that resists decay. It is yellowish-red in color and is beautiful unfinished but can also be painted.

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In choosing the best outdoor furniture for your needs, it is important to scrutinize both style and the materials used in manufacturing the furniture. With most outdoor furniture, the materials used usually dictate the style and specially the durability of the furniture.

Oak is probably the best and most traditional choice for outdoor furniture. Furniture made from Oak is considered to be of very good quality. A very good choice for outdoor furniture is Chinese oak. It is a very fine-grained and densely formed hardwood, with a pinkish tone on its interior and a heart that is a lighter shade of brown. Another good attribute of the Chinese oak is its tannic acid content. The tannic acid acts as a natural deterrent to fungus and insects. Chinese oak looks much like a very good quality of teak wood, and is known to be slightly more durable than the popular Red Oak.

Another very popular choice due to its rustic and warm appeal is the cedar. Cedar is classified as softwood but has the same tannic oil found in the Chinese oak. It serves as protection against mildew when the cedar wood is comes in contact with water. A lot of people prefer to use Cedar due to the fact that it is as strong and durable as oak but is lighter. The most popular form of cedar is natural red cedar. In fact, it is so popular that it is often reproduced using other materials. It is a good practice to check that the furniture you’re going to buy is real red cedar and not just a very good look alike.

If you’re looking for both durability and beauty, teak is a very good choice. Teak is a tight-grained hardwood known to be extremely durable. Teak is not only strong; it also has a very attractive appearance in a range of natural shades. Teak has rubber and natural oil content which provides extra protection against fungus that often times appears on wood that has been wet for a long period of time.

Teak is so durable that it can stand almost any weather all year long. Unfinished teak that is left to nature’s elements will turn into a lovely silvery-gray color. It may seem that furniture made from teak may need repainting at this point, but the truth is that paint won’t be able to hold on to the wood properly due to the natural oil that is found in the wood.

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