Furniture Best Bets for Outdoor Living

One of the best parts of summer in New Jersey is leaving the confines of the home and spending time outdoors. While our state does not have the year-round temperate, dry weather of California, we can still create an outdoor living space for several months out of the year. 

The most important part of creating a comfortable, functional, and durable space is the furniture. Resin furniture is arguably the most hardwearing choice for outdoor living, as it is not easily affected by the elements and is extremely low-maintenance and easy to clean. Resin furniture can be made out of recycled materials and is lightweight, so it is easy to move around and bring inside during the winter months. It is also often stackable for easy storage.

If you are looking for something more substantial, metal furniture is your best bet. Steel and aluminum tables and chairs are heavier and sturdier, and give the appearance of a more permanent outdoor living area. On the negative side, steel furniture is very heavy and not easy to move; steel can also rust if it is not coated with a finish or if it is left outdoors for the entire year. Aluminum furniture is lighter than steel and more durable - it won’t rust. However, it can be very expensive. 

Want to create a more natural feeling in your outdoor space? While wood furniture can seem cumbersome indoors, it creates warmth in an outdoor living area. While one may think that wood is not a great choice because water makes wood rot, there are a number of woods that work well outdoors and are resistant to cracking, warping, and rotting from rain. Tables, chairs, chaises, and sofas made out of Northern White and Western Red Cedar can last for 20 years outdoors without warping from wet weather. Teak is also known as one of the most substantial woods. The high mineral content of teak makes it completely weather resistant - it will not rot even in an extremely wet environment. If you are enjoy a rustic look, these woods will weather to a silvery-gray over time. If you are not a fan of the "weathered" look, throw on a coat of a paint and sealant (or purchase the wood furniture that way already).

Once you’ve chosen what type of furniture you want to use for your outdoor patio or deck, sit back, relax and enjoy a nice glass of lemonade in your new outdoor living area. . . at least until the first snowfall.