A Quality Outdoor Setting
Drive down any suburban neighborhood and you’ll see them—outdoor settings with those plastic chairs and tables. They even make chaise lounges and benches in that same plastic now, in a variety of colors. You can have an entire setting made of resin or plastic, complete with child-size chairs, tables and chaise lounges, too. And when you’re on a budget or you need a lot of seating, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with these options.
But outdoor patio settings shouldn’t be limited to white or colored plastic. If you invest in good outdoor furniture, even if you have to buy a piece at a time, your pieces will last you years longer than plastic and will look several times better. It’ll feel more like an indoor space brought outdoors.
Furnish Your Outdoor Kitchen
Whether you have a portable outdoor kitchen or a built-in one, you can’t forget things like seating. You’ll want a table and chairs where people can eat and maybe even some kitchen bar stools and a section of countertop or an island where people can sit. All this would probably be in addition to your outdoor setting that’s away from the actual kitchen area.
And where you’re cooking, even though it’s outside, things can get warm. Outdoor ceiling fans on patios provide some air circulation when there’s no breeze and make the entire space more comfortable. You’ll want to make sure you have at least 7 feet of clearance beneath the fan blades for safety. You can get an outdoor ceiling fan with lights attached, or you can have some separate patio lights, or both.
A Classic Outdoor Setting
So if you’re going to avoid the plastic chairs and tables, what do you get? You can choose different materials like classic wrought iron, lighter weight metals or something like wood. Teak is a classic choice for outdoor furniture because it’s water-resistant, pest-resistant and incredibly long-lasting. It can be sealed or allowed to weather naturally, and both are beautiful. Teak wood is very heavy and it’s very expensive, but smaller budgets could benefit from the one-piece-at-a-time approach.
Wrought iron is another classic choice that will last even longer than teak can. It costs almost as much or more, depending on what you buy. You can also opt for something like powder-coated steel furniture. The metal furniture can rust if the coating or sealant chips or cracks, but with proper care you can prevent it.
Elements of Outdoor Settings
The very basic patio setting is something like a table with 4 chairs, and maybe a chaise lounge or two. But there are other options. The classic picnic bench is an option, with a long table and either separate or attached benches on each side. This can be the main part of the setting or in addition to it. You may want wicker furniture instead, an umbrella, and many other elements. If you examine how you’ll use it most, that will help you decide which pieces you really need. Another piece of outdoor decor that is an absolutely must is a fire pit. I have one on my backporch and love it and use it almost year round. You can find the best fire pit design for your patio space by looking at different options online or in your local outdoor store. Get one to complete the look of your space and more importantly, just to enjoy!
