How to Pick Inexpensive Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor living is becoming increasingly popular. Outdoor furniture prices are rising accordingly. Of course, you can buy inexpensive plastic furniture; but it will only last a few seasons. High winds or bad weather can wreak havoc with this type of furniture. If you want better quality furniture at a bargain price, you'll have to get a little more creative when you shop! Read on to learn how.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• List of the furniture you're looking for
• List of local garage and yard sales
• Some time to shop

1. Take a weekend morning to head out to garage and rummage sales in your area. Know what type of outdoor furniture you're looking for, and how much you're willing to spend. Often, you can find furniture in good condition that people are simply replacing or downsizing. Their loss is your gain!

2. Look for good quality wood or metal furniture that will stand up to the elements. If you find wood furniture that needs refinishing, don't worry. You can always sand it and refinish or paint it. Don't overlook it if it's a bargain. You can paint metal, too!

3. Sit on the furniture to make sure it is stable and not damaged in any way. Look at the legs and feet to make sure they are not cracked or warped.

4. If you can't find what you're looking for at a garage or rummage sale, try the classified ads. Moving sales can be a great source of outdoor furniture bargains.

5. Check out end of season sales at your local home or building center. Often, end of the season items are reduced to a fraction of their normal selling price.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose good quality furniture that still has some life in it.
• Don't buy anything that shows any sign of damage or wear.

[irwriter]

on 8/5/2008 That's a great idea, too!

[derbyka]

on 8/5/2008 You can always paint "indoor" wooden furniture with bright waterproof colors for an interesting look.