How to Arrange Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor furniture that looks like wicker but is made of resin is both durable and stylish.

Outdoor furniture affords homeowners the advantage of extra room for seating during good weather, and the addition of weather-resistant and durable selections has made the option even more resilient. Put some thought into arranging your outdoor furniture to get the optimum results for your time and money, and learn to love your new outdoor living space.

Things You'll Need

• Weather resistant chairs
• Weather resistant table
• Weatherproof cushions for chairs
• Weather resistant deck or storage box
• Umbrella (optional)
• Fire pit (optional)

Instructions

1. Decide which asset or assets of your yard you'd like to highlight. If you have a deck, you have the perfect place to arrange outdoor furniture. Otherwise choose a garden area or an area with a pleasant view and design your outdoor living space based on your choice.

2. Choose weather resistant or weather proof options for outdoor furniture and complimentary cushions. Choices like real wicker or metal aren't optimal. Wicker breaks down and eventually rots from exposure to the elements, and many of the older metal pieces rust quickly. There are a number of durable heavy plastics on the market, as well as a wicker look that is comprised of a polyresin material. These not only hold up to the elements, they are also simple to care for.
   Some higher priced wood furniture is quite durable, but requires far more maintenance in addition to the ample cost.

3. 

   Arrange your seating options with conversation in mind. Never line up chairs or a sofa so that people wind up simply sitting side by side. Instead center an anchor piece like a table or a fire pit and arrange your seating pieces around it. Guests can move their chairs to view a sunset or watch a badminton game if needed, but the stationary spots should revolve around conversational ease.

4. Incorporate a deck or storage box into your outdoor furniture arrangement. In addition to protecting items like cushions, candles or blankets it also serves as extra seating, an ottoman or a serving spot for snacks and drinks. A deck box is also a good substitute for a table and may be used to anchor the seating design. Stash cushions in the box overnight. Even though you should buy waterproof or water resistant items, it is best to treat the cushions with a little tender loving care. They will last much longer this way.

5. Add accent pieces to your outdoor living space; much the same as you would indoors. Candles that double as insect repellants are good choices, as are decorative trays that can function as serving pieces, too.
   Add an umbrella to the area for bright sunny days, and your outdoor space is ready to enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• Affordable options in outdoor furniture and accessories are available at stores like Lowes and The Home Depot.

Resources

• Lowes
• The Home Depot