12 things to consider when choosing outdoor furniture

Outdoor living plays a huge part in our lives in the summer months. Whether you’re hosting BBQs or soaking up the sunshine with friends, having a good outdoor set-up is key. If you’re looking to give your outdoor area a refresh, changing up your outdoor furniture can be a great way to do it. But, before you make the purchase, you’ll want to ensure you are choosing the best outdoor furniture for you. In this guide, we’ll tell you 12 things you should consider when choosing outdoor furniture.

1. The size of outdoor space 

Before you pick out your dream outdoor furniture, think about the size of your outdoor space. The outdoor furniture you choose should fit comfortably in the space. This will ensure your outdoor area doesn’t look too bare or too crowded. In order to get the proportions right, it’s a good idea to measure the space where you would like your new furniture to go. Then when you find an outdoor furniture set you love you can check the dimensions. This is a really important step if you want to nail your outdoor living space.

2. What style of furniture will compliment your outdoor space

Think about what kind of furniture will work well in your outdoor area. Then establish the overall look you want to achieve. Maybe you gravitate towards a traditional style or you might love super modern pieces. Consider the different styles of furniture you can play around with. Then shop around for furniture that will help to elevate your outdoor living space. For example, if you have beautiful trees in your backyard, you might consider a hammock. At the end of the day, your furniture should reflect your own design style - have fun with it!

3. Consider the material your outdoor furniture is made of

It’s important to consider what material you want your new outdoor furniture to be made from. Popular outdoor furniture materials include stainless steel, wicker, and wood. Each material will have its own maintenance requirements. So, it’s important you familiarise yourself with these before your make your decision. You should choose the materials that make the most sense for your needs. For example, if you want to unwind in the sun, you might consider a soft sun lounger, instead of a chair with a harder surface, like, stainless steel. This will ensure your new purchase is fit for purpose.

4. Does your choice of furniture make sense for the weather conditions?

When choosing outdoor furniture, you should consider how practical it is for the climate and conditions where you live. It’s important to think about how the weather affects different types of furniture. If you live somewhere with lots of rain, you’ll want to be sure the furniture you choose is waterproof. In this instance, you should probably avoid furniture made from iron as rain can cause premature rusting. If you live somewhere with lots of sunshine (lucky you) you should choose styles that can handle UV exposure and are resistant to fading. At the end of the day, buying new outdoor furniture is an investment and you’ll want to get the most out of it. So, make sure you do your research! The last thing you want is to purchase a new outdoor furniture set for it to be ruined by the weather.

5. Do you have a place to store outdoor furniture during winter?

Before you buy outdoor furniture, you should also consider where and how you’ll store it. This is particularly important if you do choose an outdoor furniture set that needs to be covered or stored away to protect it in the colder and wetter months. If you have the space, we recommend that you store outdoor furniture inside a garage or storage unit during the winter months. This will ensure that it’s kept nice and dry. If you would like to store your furniture inside, you should think about what size the furniture needs to be for it to fit inside. If you’re planning to store your new furniture set in the garage, you’ll have to measure it up to see if it’s possible.

6. Choose outdoor furniture based on your lifestyle

The practicality of your outdoor furniture should be a huge factor when you’re shopping around. You’ll want to ensure the outdoor furniture you buy makes sense for you and your family. So, keep in mind, the purpose of the furniture when you’re shopping. If you love having your nearest and dearest over for dinner, an outdoor dining set might be more practical than a sofa set. Alternatively, if you prefer soaking up the summer sun with a good book, loungers are probably ideal for your lifestyle. It’s all about choosing outdoor furniture that you’ll get the most use out of.

7. Does it work for your budget?

It may not be the most exciting thing to think about, but knowing your budget is an important part of buying any new item. To identify your budget, consider how much money you would like to allocate to your new purchase. Once you start shopping around and get a feel for prices in the market. If you’re planning on giving your outdoor area a makeover, think about items you would like to invest in and areas where you can make some savings. It’s important to work with your budget and shop around to find something that works for you. At Briscoes, we’ve got outdoor furniture to suit every budget, so we’re confident you’ll find what you’re looking for.

8. Keep comfort top of mind when choosing outdoor furniture

When you’re shopping around for outdoor furniture, you’ll want to ensure you choose something that is comfortable. Think might sound obvious, but this is often something that is overlooked. So, whether you’re in the market for a new outdoor dining set or a sun lounger, ensure you are putting comfort at the top of your checklist. If you choose an outdoor furniture set that is made from a solid material, like stainless steel you can add accessories to make it more comfortable. Chair pads can be a great way to make your furniture more comfortable.  This will help get the most use out of your new outdoor furniture - nobody wants to sit in an uncomfortable chair!

9. Will you need a winter cover?

Another important thing to consider is how you will protect your outdoor furniture in winter. If you don't have the space to store your outdoor furniture indoors, you will want to ensure you have the right gear to keep it protected throughout winter. A cover is ideal for keeping your furniture sheltered from wind, rain and cold weather. This can even come in handy during the summer months if the weather isn’t quite living up to expectations - this is New Zealand after all.

10. How durable is your outdoor furniture set?

When you’re shopping around for outdoor furniture, it’s important to consider how durable it will be. Particularly if you are investing in a more expensive outdoor furniture set. Investing in high-quality furniture is great for those bigger pieces that you want to enjoy for years to come. At Briscoes, we have an unbeatable range of high-quality outdoor furniture to choose from. We’re confident we have everything you need to bring your dream outdoor living area to life.

11. Will it look good in your space?

You’ll want to choose outdoor furniture that looks good and fits seamlessly into your outdoor area. Think about what colour scheme would work best in your outdoor space. You might also want to consider the indoor-outdoor flow. If your kitchen opens up into your outdoor area, you might want to choose furniture that works well with your kitchen. This will enhance your indoor-outdoor flow and really open up the space. So, before you buy any new outdoor furniture, take a moment to envision it in your outdoor area. Do you love it? Then you know it’s for you.

12. How much maintenance will it require?

It’s also important to consider the maintenance of different materials. Outdoor furniture will have different maintenance requirements, depending on what it’s made from. So, if you’re choosing outdoor furniture that will require a lot of maintenance, be sure you’ll have the time to do this. So, before you select your dream wooden furniture set, ensure you have the time needed to look after it. Generally, wooden furniture will require oiling at least twice per year.  If you’re looking for more information on how you can best clean and protect your outdoor furniture, check out our guide.

Ready to choose your outdoor furniture?

So there you have it, our top 12 things to consider before buying new outdoor furniture. Hopefully, we’ve made the process of outdoor furniture shopping a little easier for you. Now you have all the information, it’s time to start the fun part! Shop our wide variety of top-quality outdoor furniture. Browse online or pop into your local Briscoes store to speak with one of our lovely staff members. It’s time to level up your outdoor space.