The stylish Summer Garden – Reinventing Your Garden Furniture.

Some individuals concentrate on improving the interior of a home and the garden is often neglected. Happily, most now realise the advantages of their outdoor space and are determined to use it for as much of the year as possible with the use of high quality garden furniture.
Turning a garden into an outdoor room
The first thing to realise is that old-style stackable plastic furniture is not the only choice and does not have the stylish look that many people desire for their gardens. Much of the thinking behind having plastic furniture for the garden is that it can endure harsh weather, needing only a wipe down before use. Much of the furniture being designed today is intended to be left out to endure all weathers, so choosing wisely in regard to outdoor furniture can mean no more packing tables and chairs up for storage in the shed during the autumn and winter months.
All weather furniture
In some homes, the transition between indoor and outdoor is very marked; in others, the difference is more gradual. Some homes have an open patio area and this is the perfect place for a garden-only dining table and chairs. The best material for this type of furniture is wood, which can be treated to stop it rotting from being out in the wet at times, and rattan or wicker furniture, which is highly resilient and durable. The advantages of both these materials are that they are natural, and therefore look more at home in the garden.
Yet plastic furniture is not to be totally disregarded. New manufacturing processes have created plastic or resin garden furniture that resembles both painted wood and natural wicker, yet still possess the qualities that makes plastic so good for outdoor environments. Another advantage to this faux natural material is that it is cost-effective, available at a fraction of the price of the real thing.
Metal was often considered a material suited to outdoor use, but tables and chairs were usually constructed using cast iron, which could rust. Nowadays, aluminium has replaced iron, which is much lighter and will not rust, making it a perfect choice for those who want a low maintenance garden seating solution.
Half open structures
Homes that have made the indoor/outdoor transition more gradual with the erection of semi-permanent structures such as gazebos can use beautiful furniture that would ordinarily be found in the home, such as a standard dining room table and chairs, or even sofas and chairs. Not only do these look more stylish than garden furniture, but also they will be a great deal more comfortable, meaning that they are likely to be used more often.
Much indoor furniture is perfectly suitable for outdoor use in good weather. Such pieces work best in sheltered three-sided structures, which have removable covers for the fourth side providing protection, or a permanent structure such as a conservatory, which has fully opening windows and doors to turn it into an outdoor space.