Building 101: Buying Garden Furniture

Choosing furniture for the garden is similar to choosing furnishings for your house. There are several factors that can influence your choice—one of first to come into mind is comfort and use. Depending on the degree of comfort you are hoping to achieve, your choice can vary from the classic garden bench to a swimming pool lounge chair and even to a hammock where afternoon naps can take place.

Design is another factor in choosing outdoor furniture. Garden furniture with simple lines and basic forms complement classically designed gardens while rustic furniture blends well with tropical or country-inspired gardens. Size can also influence your choice since spacious gardens may accommodate a wider range of furniture as compared to pocket gardens.

However, the most important factor that you should consider in choosing furniture for your garden is durability. Exposure to sun and rain can take its toll on all kinds of furniture materials. Wind can also have bad effects on lightweight materials. Even insects can be detrimental to furnishings made of wood. Any of these elements can destroy your investment in a matter of months unless you carefully choose the right material.

Styling by Issa Villar. Photographed by Miguel Nacianceno.

Read the original article ("For the Great Outdoors") in the November 2007 issue of Real Living Magazine. Download your digital copy of Real Living on the Real Living App (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/real-living/id553158056?mt=8) now! Log on to summitnewsstand.com.ph/real-living for more details.