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Let's Take It Outside: Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide – Part 2

The second of a three-part series, we show you what to look for when buying new or replacement outdoor furniture

Karla Rey 21 January 2018

Houzz Contributor. Landscape architect in another life. I have a fervent affair with travel, books, photography, films, design, and architecture. I think having great company to share stories with over good food are essentials to a happy life.

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In Part 1, we showed you what to watch out for when you do an audit of your existing pieces, and we shared tips on how to deal with some of the more common issues. In this second helping, we look at outdoor trends and the materials available in the market to help create your dream outdoor space.

Let's Take It Outside: Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide – Part 2

Besides the usual teak and woven synthetic fibre furniture, Panai Phatanapirom, a director of outdoor furniture brand Suniture, suggests the trendy option of upholstered sofas as well as outdoor beanbags. “It is more of an evolution in the perception of what makes a stylish outdoor setting. We see people more open to experimenting with their outdoor furnishings, all with the intention of making the space comfortable and suited to their lifestyle.”

Andrea Schumacher Interiors

These days, all the important considerations when shopping for furniture, cushions and accessories – function, design and finish – are already made available in outdoor quality. If you have existing outdoor seating, you can have outdoor cushions made to measure. There are even outdoor carpets and curtains. As long as you ask for the right materials, problems such as mildew stains and colour fading, featured in Part 1, will not occur.

Sunbrella

Phatanapirom recommends a quick-drying foam such as Urecel QuickDry foam for starters. “It is available in different firmness to match your seating comfort and has anti-microbial treatment built in so you do not worry that they would get smelly and unhygienic – no mould and mildew to worry about.”

Sunbrella

Cushions in Sunbrella® fabrics

For upholstery, use outdoor performance fabrics that are designed to resist rotting and fading. “You can choose from hundreds of beautiful Sunbrella fabrics. Made of 100 per cent solution-dyed acrylics, these fabrics are guaranteed not to rot or fade for half a decade following proper care,” says Phatanapirom.

OUTHOUSE design

For other suitable materials, you can check out specialty distributors such as BVZ Asia that carries a wide array of high performance fabrics such as the Exclusive Galaxy Collection which was specially put together by designers. Good distributors will sell you fabrics, trims, foams, and zippers, all tested to withstand the elements, so you can take them to your local contractor. Or they can refer you to shops which retail their materials.

Rikki Snyder

“In the quest for comfort, it is important to remember that durability doesn’t need to be compromised. So it is important to ask for specifications [they should be of outdoor quality] as well as a warranty specially if you are paying good money,” he concludes.

TELL US
Are you thinking of purchasing new outdoor materials, furniture and cushions? Let us know in the Comments section. Or share a photo of your outdoor space’s before and after.

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OUTHOUSE design

Thank you for featuring our cosy courtyard in your article.

2 Likes 23 January 2018 at 7:59am

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R C

What kind of metal legs are suitable for outdoor with lots of rain and moisture?
I understand aluminium is good but what about plain stainless steel? Powder-coated metal? Are there different kinds of cast metal that make them rust-proof?

Like 19 September 2018 at 9:10am