At Inside Out Living, we truly believe that buying garden furniture should not be a chore. We understand how important it is to find the perfect pieces that not only fit in with the rest of your garden but also provide the properties you’re after. There are, however, certain key things to avoid when buying garden furniture. Being aware of these mistakes and pitfalls can help to save you a great deal of headache in the future, which is why today we’re going to take a look at the 6 of the most common.
1. Size your space before buying
We know how it is online, we’re the same – it’s all too easy to go click-happy and begin planning entire sections of the home and garden by purchasing all those missing key parts. We’re recommending a level of restraint and research ahead of ‘adding to cart’. First, physically go and visit the space that the garden dining set is destined for, take your tape measure and get hands-on with the dimensions. One of the most common and easily avoidable pitfalls is an over-estimation of space versus the size of the assembled garden dining furniture.
2. Don’t underestimate the durability of rattan
We don’t really understand why, but some of our customers come to us with the impression that rattan outdoor dining furniture lacks staying power. They worry that the way much of it is made (synthetic rattan weave over an aluminium frame) means it won’t be of the same high standard as traditional materials like wood, cane, or wicker. This is simply untrue. In fact, the synthesised fibres are extremely durable against the outdoor elements and, in many cases, more so than their traditional counterparts.
3. Don’t overestimate longevity without protection – protective covers
When it comes to buying garden furniture many will understand, and rightly so, that the hardy modern materials used such as rattan weaves and coated cast aluminium mean that durability and longevity are a given. However, even with the impressive materials now found on modern outdoor dining furniture, there will still be an upper limit to their life, albeit greatly improved. So, if really looking to increase the life of your outdoor dining set or sun loungers it is truly worth considering protective covers for them. These are usually specifically fitting and made from a varying mix of lined polyester or a resin finish. Make sure to pair with the relevant brand and model.
4. Cleaning and a little upkeep will be key, factor this in
As we’ve covered a few different articles in recent times, when buying garden furniture it’s important to also factor in the cleaning and upkeep. Some will require a little more attention than others and some barely any at all. Don’t purchase with the idea that you should leave and never ever check in with your garden dining set. We tend to think that in general there’s really not much to do in terms of cleaning but the little maintenance completed goes a long way. Please check out our articles listed below for the best ways to go about doing these simple measures to give your prospective outdoor garden dining furniture its best life possible.
- Rattan Garden Furniture Cleaning
- Aluminum Garden Furniture Cleaning
- Other Garden Furniture Materials and Cleaning
5. Don’t Forget Seating & Plan For Guests
This is really simple but could actually save you money. When buying garden furniture, don’t simply envisage yourself and your household using it, plan a little bigger. What the last year and a half has shown us is how important our gardens are in terms of socialising, so don’t just purchase with your set number in mind – add at least 3-4 more diners into the equation. If purchasing a larger seating garden dining set versus a smaller occupancy one only to then later add more chairs or a bistro set, for example, you’ll save money in the long run. The extra bonus of hosting more frequently than other households is the home comforts it enables. You get to choose the music, the food, the guest list, and when the party ends (so FOMO isn’t an issue!). What’s more, you don’t have to drive home once things have wrapped up – so no designated driver! There are some incredible outdoor dining furniture options from the likes of garden masters Bramblecrest, Hartman, and Kettler.
6. Provide Cover – No one wants to sit out in glaring heat all-day
It might be hard to imaging right now but cast your minds back to early summer and that stifling heatwave. What we noticed was a spike in add-on purchases of parasols and pergolas after the fact, but it actually makes a lot more sense to buy one at the same time as the initial garden furniture purchase. While some garden dining sets offered through Inside Out Living come with cantilever parasols, they are not included in many instances. As a rule of thumb, the 4 seat round sets and 6 seat round sets do include a parasol but corner sofa sets and lounge sofa sets don’t so be attentive to the product descriptions. Encouragingly there are separate options for purchase, including expansive shade-giving pergolas. The pleasant lounging experience provided by these shade givers honestly cannot be underestimated.
That brings our list of the 6 common mistakes to avoid when buying garden furniture guide to a close. We hope this article will help you get adequately shaded and garden ready for the rest of the summer, but these are just some of the things to think about when looking for your perfect piece and by no means a strict guide. If you’re after more advice or would like any additional guidance, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the Inside Out Living team. You can also chat with us directly using the chatbox on the bottom right-hand corner of the site.
