How to choose the perfect Outdoor Furniture

Q. What Outdoor Furniture Products Should I Purchase?

A. It all depends on what you want the outdoor furniture for. If it is to create a relaxing place in the garden to unwind and sit comfortably, you will want an outdoor lounge setting or a small side table with comfortable arm chairs. If your outdoor furniture is going to be used to create an entertaining area, then it depends on the number of people you expect to regularly host. You could mix and match a dining table with anywhere between four and eight dining chairs or if your crowd is more than eight, you can look at an extending dining table with extra chairs or bench seats.

Tip! – Consider who you are entertaining, for example, if you frequently have older guests consider getting comfortable dining chairs with arms whereas if you constantly have a crowd of 8 – 10 younger people, maybe invest in some benches or large lounge settings to fit everyone in.

Tucker Karma 7 Piece Modular Lounge

Melton Craft 3 Piece Bairo Setting

Q. What Size Setting Would Suit My Area?

A. Before coming in to store or looking online you should measure your outdoor area to get an understanding of what size setting you can look at – do you want your dining setting to be the main feature and take up most of the space or do you just want a small table and chairs combination leaving plenty of room around it?

Tip! – When measuring for an outdoor setting, make sure to allow 1 metre either side of the table to safely pull chairs out. Consider also whether you will want to walk around the table while people are sitting down, in which case maybe aim for 1.5-2 metres.

Alternatively, many brands creating outdoor furniture are now designing benches to match their dining tables, so rather than having eight chairs all being pulled out and possibly damaged against nearby walls or obstructions, consider buying a bench that everyone can easily slide in and out of without having to move every time.

Melton Craft 5 Piece Corfu Bench Setting

Q. Will My Furniture Be Affected by the Weather?

A. Before purchasing any outdoor furniture, have a good look at your outdoor area and consider all the possible weather situations your furniture might be in. Will it be completely undercover, or will it get wet in the rain? Do you live near the beach where it is windy and the air is salty? Will it be in full sun? All of these situations can affect the appearance, the quality and the longevity of your products and should be taken into account before making your purchase.

If you’re coming into store, our sales team are always happy to assist with these questions and can point you in the right direction of a product that will suit your environment and climate. If you’re looking to buy online, feel free to give us call with any questions you have prior to purchase.

Lastly, if the furniture will fit completely undercover – you’re lucky! Look into whichever pieces you like as they are unlikely to be badly affected by weather.

Kwila 7 Piece Hexagonal Dining Setting

Q. My Furniture Won’t Fit Undercover – Now What?

A. Just because your outdoor furniture might occasionally get wet or be in direct sunlight doesn't mean you can't have any! Afterall, this furniture is designed to be outside. There are a few options you can consider when making the decision about what type of furniture to buy if you already know its going to be affected by the elements.

1. Buy Wooden Furniture

Rather than wicker or cushioned chairs that may absorb rain or an aluminium setting that may be blown around the backyard with strong winds, wooden furniture is a sturdy, heavier option of furniture that can be ready to use again after a simple drying out in the sun or a wipe down with a towel. Treated timber is especially good as the oils prevent the timber from absorbing water and therefore won’t crack or rot after a particularly wet winter!

2. Buy an Outdoor Umbrella or Gazebo

A great way to protect your outdoor furniture from the elements is by covering it with some form of protective structure, like an outdoor umbrella or gazebo. Available in a range of sizes, colours, and even the possibility of LED lighting, outdoor umbrellas will not only add extra comfort for the people sitting beneath it but it will also help prolong the life of the furniture.

Tip! – Rinse off your umbrella fabric once a month with a hose to get rid of dust and grime as it will begin to eat into the fabric if left for too long.
Alternatively, you can protect your outdoor furniture with the use of a gazebo. Although they are more expensive, they are also structurally sound and will provide a safe area away from the sun, wind and rain (depending on which gazebo you choose!). They come in a range of sizes making it possible for your furniture to fit safely inside it.

3. Buy Something Moveable

Lastly, if you really want an outdoor furniture setting but your backyard is constantly being battered by bad weather, think about buying something you will be able to move undercover when particularly bad weather is forecast. Most outdoor furniture can withstand rain, wind or sun, but when those hail storms or big gusty winds are coming simply plan ahead and move your outdoor furniture undercover or into the garage.

Melton Craft 5 Piece Corfu Bench Setting

Q. What Setting Will Look Best in My Outdoor Area?

A. This is a matter of taste and is totally up to you! Outdoor furniture comes in a wide range of materials, styles and colours. Various metals can be used in the construction of outdoor furniture including stainless steel, aluminium or coloured powder-coated metal. Similarly, furniture can be made from numerous woods including teak and timber. Dining chairs are available in a range of materials, not only metal and wood, but also mesh which is available in a range of colours (usually grey or dark grey, white and black) as well as wicker which is available in white, black or cane colouring. Lastly, outdoor furniture such as sun lounges or lounge settings can come in a range of colours and can always be brightened up by the addition of outdoor cushions.

Tip! – If you decide to go with a brightly coloured cushioned outdoor setting, make sure to use some sort of fabric-protection to protect fabrics from fading and help prolong the life of the cushions.

East India Alexander White Wash 9 Piece Dining Setting

Tucker Malibu 4 Piece Lounge Setting

Q. What Outdoor Furniture Products Should I Purchase?

A. It all depends on what you want the outdoor furniture for. If it is to create a relaxing place in the garden to unwind and sit comfortably, you will want an outdoor lounge setting or a small side table with comfortable arm chairs. If your outdoor furniture is going to be used to create an entertaining area, then it depends on the number of people you expect to regularly host. You could mix and match a dining table with anywhere between four and eight dining chairs or if your crowd is more than eight, you can look at an extending dining table with extra chairs or bench seats.

Tip! – Consider who you are entertaining, for example, if you frequently have older guests consider getting comfortable dining chairs with arms whereas if you constantly have a crowd of 8 – 10 younger people, maybe invest in some benches or large lounge settings to fit everyone in.

Tucker Karma 7 Piece Modular Lounge

Melton Craft 3 Piece Bairo Setting

Q. What Size Setting Would Suit My Area?

A. Before coming in to store or looking online you should measure your outdoor area to get an understanding of what size setting you can look at – do you want your dining setting to be the main feature and take up most of the space or do you just want a small table and chairs combination leaving plenty of room around it?

Tip! – When measuring for an outdoor setting, make sure to allow 1 metre either side of the table to safely pull chairs out. Consider also whether you will want to walk around the table while people are sitting down, in which case maybe aim for 1.5-2 metres.

Alternatively, many brands creating outdoor furniture are now designing benches to match their dining tables, so rather than having eight chairs all being pulled out and possibly damaged against nearby walls or obstructions, consider buying a bench that everyone can easily slide in and out of without having to move every time.

Melton Craft 5 Piece Corfu Bench Setting

Q. Will My Furniture Be Affected by the Weather?

A. Before purchasing any outdoor furniture, have a good look at your outdoor area and consider all the possible weather situations your furniture might be in. Will it be completely undercover, or will it get wet in the rain? Do you live near the beach where it is windy and the air is salty? Will it be in full sun? All of these situations can affect the appearance, the quality and the longevity of your products and should be taken into account before making your purchase.

If you’re coming into store, our sales team are always happy to assist with these questions and can point you in the right direction of a product that will suit your environment and climate. If you’re looking to buy online, feel free to give us call with any questions you have prior to purchase.

Lastly, if the furniture will fit completely undercover – you’re lucky! Look into whichever pieces you like as they are unlikely to be badly affected by weather.

Kwila 7 Piece Hexagonal Dining Setting

Q. My Furniture Won’t Fit Undercover – Now What?

A. Just because your outdoor furniture might occasionally get wet or be in direct sunlight doesn't mean you can't have any! Afterall, this furniture is designed to be outside. There are a few options you can consider when making the decision about what type of furniture to buy if you already know its going to be affected by the elements.

1. Buy Wooden Furniture

Rather than wicker or cushioned chairs that may absorb rain or an aluminium setting that may be blown around the backyard with strong winds, wooden furniture is a sturdy, heavier option of furniture that can be ready to use again after a simple drying out in the sun or a wipe down with a towel. Treated timber is especially good as the oils prevent the timber from absorbing water and therefore won’t crack or rot after a particularly wet winter!

2. Buy an Outdoor Umbrella or Gazebo

A great way to protect your outdoor furniture from the elements is by covering it with some form of protective structure, like an outdoor umbrella or gazebo. Available in a range of sizes, colours, and even the possibility of LED lighting, outdoor umbrellas will not only add extra comfort for the people sitting beneath it but it will also help prolong the life of the furniture.

Tip! – Rinse off your umbrella fabric once a month with a hose to get rid of dust and grime as it will begin to eat into the fabric if left for too long.
Alternatively, you can protect your outdoor furniture with the use of a gazebo. Although they are more expensive, they are also structurally sound and will provide a safe area away from the sun, wind and rain (depending on which gazebo you choose!). They come in a range of sizes making it possible for your furniture to fit safely inside it.

3. Buy Something Moveable

Lastly, if you really want an outdoor furniture setting but your backyard is constantly being battered by bad weather, think about buying something you will be able to move undercover when particularly bad weather is forecast. Most outdoor furniture can withstand rain, wind or sun, but when those hail storms or big gusty winds are coming simply plan ahead and move your outdoor furniture undercover or into the garage.

Melton Craft 5 Piece Corfu Bench Setting

Q. What Setting Will Look Best in My Outdoor Area?

A. This is a matter of taste and is totally up to you! Outdoor furniture comes in a wide range of materials, styles and colours. Various metals can be used in the construction of outdoor furniture including stainless steel, aluminium or coloured powder-coated metal. Similarly, furniture can be made from numerous woods including teak and timber. Dining chairs are available in a range of materials, not only metal and wood, but also mesh which is available in a range of colours (usually grey or dark grey, white and black) as well as wicker which is available in white, black or cane colouring. Lastly, outdoor furniture such as sun lounges or lounge settings can come in a range of colours and can always be brightened up by the addition of outdoor cushions.

Tip! – If you decide to go with a brightly coloured cushioned outdoor setting, make sure to use some sort of fabric-protection to protect fabrics from fading and help prolong the life of the cushions.

East India Alexander White Wash 9 Piece Dining Setting

Tucker Malibu 4 Piece Lounge Setting

Drop into Tucker Barbecues stores in Mona Vale, Silverwater and Taren Point for some great friendly advice on our products.