OUTDOOR FURNITURE BUYING GUIDE If you re reading this guide, you re probably dreaming of a place where you can create unforgettable memories with family and friends. At Rich s that s our goal for every client. But before you purchase any furniture, it s a good idea to understand all your options. What type of frames can you choose from? What style will fit you best? What about durability? Will wood survive the northwest weather? Our goal with this guide is to answer all your questions and maybe even a few you didn t know to ask. To your family from our family, may your life be full of special moments, Larry & Marianne Chapman Owners, Rich s For the Home Rich s Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide- www.richshome.com Page 2
FRAME MATERIALS Your first consideration What do we mean by frame? The frame of your furniture is what holds everything together and determines how durable it will be and how long it will last. This is an important decision given the cold, rainy seasons we experience in the Puget Sound area. There are five basic options that are excellent choices for our northwest weather: aluminum, cast aluminum, wood, wicker or woven, and wrought iron. These options allow you the freedom to choose a style and design that fits your home and your tastes. Rich s Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide- www.richshome.com Page 3
FRAME MATERIAL OPTIONS Aluminum Aluminum gives outdoor furniture incredible versatility. It comes in wrought, cast, and tubular form, and has a vast range of styles, from traditional urban to modern contemporary. Aluminum is solid, so it gives a great deal of support and will last for years, yet is light enough to move easily. Cast Aluminum Cast aluminum frames begin as molten aluminum. In that liquid state, the aluminum is poured into a mold. This lets designers create intricate, unique designs not possible with other frame materials. Another advantage of cast aluminum is it s heavy weight, which works well in areas where there is a good deal of wind. Wood Can anything beat the sheer beauty of wood? If you believe the answer is no, you don t need to worry about the damp northwest weather. With little maintenance, outdoor furniture made from wood can last for many years. Rich s Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide- www.richshome.com Page 4
FRAME MATERIAL OPTIONS (Continued) Wrought Iron If you re looking for a frame material that will stand up to almost anything, and gives a true, old-word charm, the choice is wrought iron. Wrought Iron is nearly indestructible. Heavy. More than sturdy. And is one of the most durable products available. And did we mention it looks beautiful? Woven Outdoor Woven furniture offers a classic, timeless look. It's nostalgic charm gives the feeling of antique craftsmanship from when weaving was a prized skill. And it comes in a vast variety of colors and styles. Rich s Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide- www.richshome.com Page 5
STYLE OPTIONS Now that you have a feel for the type of frames available, let s chat a bit about style. The style you choose will have an influence on how comfortable the furniture is, and of course how well it matches the look and feel of your backyard and house. The three main style options are: Cushions Slings Straps Each have their own pros and cons. Let s take a quick look at each. Rich s Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide- www.richshome.com Page 6
STYLE OPTIONS (Continued) Cushions You want the most comfort possible? Think cushions. They make outdoor furniture feel like indoor furniture. Soft to the touch with the feel of a sofa or overstuffed chair. But they re made to handle whatever kind of weather the northwest dishes out. The color and style choices are endless and the fabric is made from dyed acrylic so they ll never fade. Slings While not as comfortable as cushions, slings mold to your body contour and are extremely durable. They re perfect for a patio or pool area as they dry quickly, easy to clean, and are completely weather and weather resistant. Straps The advantage of straps is their strength durability and low maintenance requirements. Many homeowners put removable cushions on top of strap furniture for comfort. Straps are used most often around pools and in commercial applications like hotels and restaurants. Rich s Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide- www.richshome.com Page 7
SET OPTIONS Next? Let s talk about set options. Patio furniture sets come in myriad shapes, sizes and number of pieces. In other words, you can customize your set so it will fit perfectly within the size of your backyard. Are you the type that always seems to have a gathering of lots of friend and family? Or do you prefer a more intimate setting with just a few folks together? Or maybe you like a little of both. Whatever the case, it s simple to choose a set that will fit your home. On the following pages we ll take a look at dinning, deep seating, bar, café, poolside, and chat sets. Rich s Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide- www.richshome.com Page 8
SET OPTIONS (Continued) Dinning Sets Options for dinning set? Almost endless. Oval. Square. Rectangle. Round. Different sizes, materials, finishes are all available. Dinning chairs on the other hand, come in two basic options: stationary and swivel. And of course the size of your table will determine how many chairs (and people) you can put around it. Deep Seating If you re all about relaxation and deep conversation with your family and friends, deep seating can be an excellent choice for you. Lounge chairs, sofas, love seats and club chairs offer a very comfortable place to gather. Ottomans, coffee tables and side tables can be the perfect complements to deep seating sets. Bar Sets If you think being in the backyard means cookouts, then a bar set might be the right choice. The high seating is ideal for entertaining: folks can stand up or sit and still easily carry on conversations. Rich s Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide- www.richshome.com Page 9
SET OPTIONS (Continued) Cafe Sets With smaller backyards, café sets will likely be your best option. They re designed to work for two to four people and allow you to create a comfortable, relaxing area to gather, without feeling crowded. Poolside Lounge Reclining chairs go hand in hand with pools! They create that resort feel and are perfect for laying in the sun. And, as we already mentioned, sling style furniture is ideal for pool areas since they dry so quickly. Chat Sets Chat sets are one of the fastest growing trends in outdoor furniture. The low seating seem to encourage great meals and great conversations. Usually, four chairs form a circle around a fire pit or large coffee table which adds a wonderful ambiance. Rich s Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide- www.richshome.com Page 10
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING These questions will help narrow down your choices and give you a good feel for what will work best in your outdoor space 1. How often to you entertain family and friends? 2. What is the average size of the groups that gather? 3. What is your home s style? 4. What is the total square footage you have? 5. What will you use your outdoor space for most of the time? Dining or lounging? 6. Are you the type of person that wants low maintenance? 7. What kind of maintenance will the furniture you choose require? 8. What kind of warranties are offered on the furniture you re considering? 9. What is the budget you want to work with? 10. What reputation/reviews does the furniture company have? 11. What frame, style, and fabric combinations do you like the best? Our hope is we ve given you the right questions to ask, as well as answering the questions you had. If not, please use our free consultation service. At Rich s, we love helping people find the perfect combination for their home. Rich s Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide- www.richshome.com Page 11