How to Buy Wicker Outdoor Furniture

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Pick wicker furniture to set a decidedly romantic mood outdoors. Pay close attention to materials and weaves for wickers that are much more durable than they look.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Wicker Furniture
Wicker Rocking Chairs
Patio Furniture Cleaners

Step1

Work with wicker's nature to find the best place in your garden to use it. Give it some protection from the elements by locating wicker on the porch, under the gazebo or out on the patio or deck.

Step2

Make room for wicker's sensual statement by creating a sitting group. Start with a love seat or two chairs and a table, and then look for the piece de resistance: a wicker rocking chair.

Step3

Look closely at wicker materials besides all natural wood canes. Modern vinyl and vinyl/resin wickers look remarkably like the real thing but age much more slowly.

Step4

Inspect pieces for tightly woven caning, with no splinters or gaps and smooth surfaces overall. Check leg bottoms for taps or casters to protect them.

Step5

Sit down to see whether the wicker fits. Lean back, rest your arms and cross your legs - if you're comfortable, it's yours.

Step6

Buy wicker pieces already assembled - wicker can be difficult to work with. Joints that are pieced together will tend toward instability no matter how skilled you are at assembly.

Step7

Calculate delivery prices and logistics before buying. Include a set of furniture covers in that budget and buy them to fit your wicker for sure winter protection.

Tips & Warnings

Any natural cane will mildew under the right conditions - warm, moist and damp settings will give you problems.
Steer away from wickers if you have very rambunctious children or very obese family members.
When it's time to repaint wicker, clean with a damp rag, sand only slightly (if at all) and use a sprayer to apply paint without drips.
Shopping at flea markets for wicker furniture can be iffy. The money you save and more may go to the expensive process of recaning seats and backs.