4 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Your First Patio Furniture

There’s nothing more cringe-worthy than costly mistakes. When outdoor furniture is concerned, it could literally be a costly mistake if you choose the wrong type of furniture. Buying your first patio furniture is exciting, especially if this happens to be your first home. It’s almost as exciting as buying your first home. In the excitement of decorating your home and making it as Pinterest-worthy as you always dreamed it would be, it can be easy for many homeowners to overlook the research portion of the buying process.

Yes, when outdoor furniture is concerned, research is absolutely a necessity. If you rushed into the buying process, you could end up getting stuck with the wrong type of furniture. Expensive errors like these can be very difficult to correct, and that’s why it’s better to pump the brakes and do your research thoroughly before you buy. What you’re trying to figure out is the types of furniture that will be able to withstand all types of weather, require very little maintenance, and look fantastic on your patio, porch, deck, or veranda.

With that in mind, here are mistakes you want to steer clear of when you’re choosing the type of furniture you want on your patio:

1. Not all furniture quality is meant for the outdoors

Furniture that’s going to live outdoors for the rest of its lifespan needs to be furniture with unprecedented durability. During your research, you’re going to come across a mix of outdoor furniture quality that ranges from teak to aluminum, wicker, and wrought iron.

The different material will come with a list of pros and cons each, and not all material is designed to withstand all weather conditions. Some material does better in certain climates, but fares poorly in others. For example, stainless steel furniture is great because it’s relatively low-maintenance, but think about how hot it will get in the summer. Before you rush out there and purchase your furniture, consider the climate and the design of your patio.

Do you have a patio that’s covered or exposed? What’s the weather like where you live most of the year? If it rains a lot during the year, you might want to think about skipping out on the wood furniture as another example. With those details in mind, you can begin to narrow your search options, searching for only the types of furniture that are ideal for your weather conditions and living space.

2. Prepare a backup plan for rainy days

Even if your furniture is built to withstand all weather conditions, you should still have a plan, anyway, for the rainy days. Many people don’t realize that while outdoor furniture is generally water-repellant, it isn’t designed to be waterproof.

If your outdoor furniture comes with cushions, you’d still need to bring them in when it’s pouring outside. A rookie mistake that gets made quite frequently is the assumption that outdoor furniture will take care of itself because, well, they were meant for the outdoors. The best thing to do would be to bring them indoors or prepare some sort of storage box nearby. That way, you can quickly pop your cushions inside to keep them nice and dry at the first sign of rain.

Soggy cushions that are heavy with rainwater will take forever to dry, and you don’t want to end up with cushions that smell, too. Yes, those cushions are going to smell eventually, thanks to a little thing called mildew.

3. Avoid the urge to choose cheap furniture

It can be tempting to go for cheap just to save a few extra dollars in your bank account, but this is one mistake you should aim to avoid. When it comes to furniture, resist the urge to go for cheap because when furniture is concerned, you’ll get what you pay for. There will be a huge range of outdoor furniture for your patio to choose from, and prices will differ drastically at times.

If you’re wondering whether the more expensive furniture is worth the investment or not, the answer is yes. The cheaper furniture will be on the flimsy side, and you can bet that it isn’t built to last. If you add up the cost of having to replace your cheap furniture regularly, you’re better off saving some money for a little while, and then investing in a high-quality and durable piece.

You can’t put a price on a well-made piece of furniture. When shopping around for something within your budget, always consider the quality and how long it’s going to last as a factor in your decision-making process.

4. Don’t pick furniture based solely on looks alone

Some furniture is going to look beautiful on your patio, but in terms of design, they might not be the best idea. Before you make your purchase, look at your patio and how it’s designed. Consider how much space you have to work with and, more importantly, what the flooring is like. For example, if you have gaps between tiles or the wooden planks on your floor, furniture with skinny legs won’t be a good idea.

The legs will end up slipping and sliding through the cracks and the gaps, and you’ll end up frustrated in the process. Narrow your list of furniture options, and then cross out the ones that aren’t going to be practical. Aesthetics matter, but in the long run, they don’t matter as much as practicality. Outdoor furniture is meant to be enjoyed, and choosing the wrong type of furniture is quickly going to eliminate that possibility.

Long story short, do your research (and that means thorough research) before you shop. It will save you from a very costly bill at the end of the day, and all it takes is a few extra hours of research, planning, and preparation. An outdoor space you’re in love with is going to be worth it.

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