May 20, 2010

Outdoor Wicker Patio Furniture – Buying and Maintenance Tips

Wicker is no longer just grandma’s furniture. Wicker has changed dramatically from the old country kitchen look of your grandmother’s day. Today, outdoor wicker patio furniture comes in a vast variety of styles from traditional to outright trendy, and in every color imaginable. With the right care, high quality wicker patio furniture can provide comfortable seating and outdoor enjoyment for many years.

When selecting the right furniture for your home, there are several considerations you should keep in mind. These include:

How large is your patio?

Will your furniture been subject to heavy duty use?

How do you plan to use the furniture?

Do you prefer traditional or more contemporary styling?

As you determine the answers to these questions, it will become easier and easier to eliminate options that aren’t right for you and hone in on the perfect wicker set for your patio or yard. If you are shopping for a small patio, stay away from the bigger sets as they will make your space crowded and uncomfortable. For larger spaces, skip the smaller sized sets as they will just appear lost in all that space. Picking furniture of the right size for your patio is just as crucial as selecting the right color and style.

It is also extremely important to choose wicker furniture sets that are constructed of high quality materials for regular outdoor use. Higher quality material can hold up better to the weather over time than poorer quality materials will. You should simply avoid any outdoor wicker patio furniture made from paper fibers. This material cannot handle either outdoor conditions or regular usage. For long-term use outdoors, natural wicker furniture sets constructed of rattan or bamboo are your best bets

Choose a wicker set for your patio that has a heavy-duty aluminum frame. These are more durable and will hold up better under regular use. Finally, carefully inspect the wicker weave. High quality furniture items will feature tightly woven weaves that prevent you from seeing the actual frame. If there are gaps or loose threads in the weave of your furniture, they will simply get bigger over time, compromising your furniture’s appearance and comfort level.

Your wicker furniture must be sealed for protection from the elements no matter where you live. Options for sealing the wicker include painting it or applying a resin sealant. The sealant will show off the natural beauty of your wicker furniture. At least annually you will need to clean your wicker furniture well using warm water and soap. You can use a hose to rinse the soap off the furniture and then allow it to dry thoroughly. You will also most likely need to refinish the wicker with a varnish or clear lacquer from time to time.

Outdoor wicker patio furniture comes in shapes, styles, colors and sizes to fit every dcor. You can find modern lounge chairs and couches to create attractive patio seating areas. Wicker bistro and dining sets are available for outdoor meals and entertaining. And if you loved Grandma’s old white country kitchen look chair, you can get that, too, only in a much higher quality.

If you are feeling a bit of sticker shock after looking at wicker furniture prices, remember that quality costs money. However, don’t let a high price tag deter you from your dream of a fabulous wicker set. Shop at the end of the season when clearance sales have patio furniture available at a bargain. It may be inconvenient to store all winter long, but you will not regret the purchase in the spring when you have a beautiful patio to enjoy all summer long.

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categories: furniture,home,patio furniture,garden,patio,deck,outdoor,house,shopping,remodeling,review,business

Filed under Garden Furniture by Sean Hughes

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