Effective use of a home's outdoor spaces can enhance the feel of the whole house. An outdoor patio, deck, or pool side space, if well decorated, can serve as a second living area for the family, and can be an excellent place for entertaining guests.

Outdoor furniture is the first consideration when deciding how to decorate the outdoor areas of a home. Outdoor furniture comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and can be made of many different sorts of material. With so many options to select from, choosing the best outdoor furniture for a specific area can be a little overwhelming. The first thing that should be decided is what type of material you would like. That will depend on the amount of sunlight and rain the furniture will be exposed to on a regular basis, and also on whether the furniture needs to be light enough to be easily moved. With these questions in mind, the buyer should then proceed to choose the material that best fits the outdoor spaces of the home.

Wood Outdoor Furniture Wood furniture for the home's outdoor spaces is heavy and has an elegant look. Because it is so heavy, wood furniture is often best for places where it is not going to be moved often. Many buyers prefer wood furniture because it has a natural look, and it is easy to clean. However, there is an amount of routine maintenance, such as oiling, that wood furniture demands. Depending on the type of wood that the furniture is made of, this can be a deterrent for buyers who are not willing to spend the necessary time and money to maintain the wood. Wood furniture does not absorb heat, and it always remains cool to the touch. This is one of the reasons it is so popular for outdoor furniture.

Teak is one of the most popular types of wood used in building outdoor furniture, and also one of the most expensive. It is a dense wood, and very durable. It does not decay easily, and can last for decades. This, along with the depletion of supplies of teak wood over the years, accounts for its high price tag.

Balau is another popular tropical wood used to build outdoor furniture, and it is more affordable than teak, due to larger natural supplies of balau. It is a dense wood and easy to maintain. Like teak wood, balau has an elegant look that will last for a very long time.

Eucalyptus is a similarly hard wood with an attractive color. It resists extremes in the weather very well due to the high content of oil found in eucalyptus. It is less expensive than teak, but more costly than balau. With the oils naturally found in the wood, it requires less regular maintenance than most wood furniture.

Other woods used for outdoor furniture include oak, pine, cedar, ash, and a variety of recycled woods. Generally, these sorts of wood are not as heavy as teak, balau, or eucalyptus. However, furniture made with oak, pine, cedar, or ash will still be heavier than aluminum.

Aluminum Outdoor Furniture Aluminum is a popular metal for outdoor furniture. It does not rust, so it is good for making long-lasting furniture that can withstand the rain. Aluminum furniture is easy to maintain, and it can be very affordable. The main disadvantage of aluminum is that it gets hot in the sun, which can make it uncomfortable to sit on. Finding suitable cushions that keep the user from the frame's heat is usually preferred for aluminum furniture, and it is important to find appropriate cushions that can withstand outdoor weather conditions.

Tubular aluminum is made of hollow tubes that are bent into the shape desired for the outdoor furniture. It is usually covered with cushions, and is one of the least expensive types of outdoor furniture. The buyer should be sure that all fixtures are aluminum, if the furniture is bolted together instead of welded, in order to ensure that it will not rust.

Wrought aluminum and cast aluminum furniture are both heavier and more expensive than tubular designs of aluminum furniture. Wrought aluminum is forged into the design desired for the furniture, and is usually a nice blend of simplicity and elegance. Cast aluminum is similar to wrought aluminum, but the designs are much more detailed. Cast aluminum is the most expensive sort of aluminum furniture, and it is heavy, durable, and it will not rust. It is put together using hand-carved molds, and the designs are often very detailed and elegant, making cast aluminum a popular sort of outdoor furniture.

Good quality aluminum furniture will be finished with a powder-coating. This makes the metal look elegant, and also aids in its resistance to wet weather.

Wicker Outdoor Furniture Wicker is a popular look used in the construction of outdoor furniture. Wicker furniture, generally, is strong and lightweight, and is easily moved from one place to another. It can range from very affordable prices to quite expensive pieces. It also comes in a broad range of styles and colors. If the furniture is the all-weather variety of wicker, it can withstand wet conditions very well. The all-weather varieties are made of synthetic materials. All-weather wicker is durable and strong, and easy to clean.

Rattan is the natural product most often used in the making of wicker furniture, being made from a sturdy vine. It is fairly durable, but exposure to direct sunlight or moisture can damage rattan furniture. Rattan is best used in screened or covered outdoor spaces, and if it is left fully exposed to the weather, it should be treated regularly. It is important for the user to make sure that there are no jagged edges on the rattan to avoid snagging clothing or causing splinters.

Wrought Iron Outdoor Furniture Wrought iron makes for heavy, strong, and elegant designs of outdoor furniture. The main disadvantage of wrought iron is that it rusts. Powder coatings and other rust retardants, besides creating a pleasing visual effect, can be used on the surface of wrought iron furniture to help avoid this problem. The buyer should look closely at the coatings used for wrought iron furniture before purchasing, to ensure that the furniture will not rust.

Plastic or PVC Outdoor Furniture Plastic or PVC furniture is lightweight, and is very good for wet weather conditions. It is often preferred for outdoor areas that are near water, such as at the pool side. Plastic and PVC outdoor furniture can be very affordable and offer a large variety of colors to choose from.

The Weight of the Furniture

It is important, when buying outdoor furniture, to consider the weight of the furniture. If the furniture needs to be moved from place to place, lighter furniture is desirable. Plastic, wicker, and aluminum furniture types are usually the lightest and easiest to move. On the other hand, if the outdoor furniture is going to be placed in windy locations, then the outdoor furniture needs to be heavy enough not to be moved by the wind. Wood and wrought iron are the heaviest types of outdoor furniture, with wrought or cast aluminum also being heavy enough to withstand most wind conditions. These considerations should be kept in mind when choosing the furniture for your home's outdoor areas.

The Need for Additional Accessories

Some outdoor furniture requires extra cushions in order to be comfortable enough for prolonged use. If the buyer plans to purchase furniture that does not include cushions, then the cost of the additional accessories should be factored into the overall price when choosing between one type of furniture and another. Cushions and similar accessories can often add up to be more expensive than some buyers first anticipate.

Wood Outdoor Furniture

Wood chairs for outdoor use range in prices beginning at around $70. A wide variety of eucalyptus and balau folding chairs can be found for prices below $100, along with side tables in the same price range. International Home has several models of both chairs and tables available for below $100. Larger pieces, such as the eucalyptus wood lounger or the balau wood bench, are priced over $200. For prices over $300, a variety of large tables for outdoor use are available. Large wood storage trunks that double as a bench can be priced over $400, though there are some similar pieces available for under $200. Yardiac sells a large wood pergola that is priced at just under $2500.

Aluminum Outdoor Furniture

There are many sorts of aluminum outdoor furniture, and prices can vary greatly. There are pieces that sell for as low as $50, and whole sets that can sell for several thousand dollars. Tripitone manufactures several complete sets of aluminum outdoor furniture that are priced between $1,000 and $2,000. Hampton Bay sells several sets for prices hovering around $800. Cast aluminum sets can be bought for prices as low as $80, or as high as $3,500. There is a great range in between, with many sorts of aluminum outdoor furniture available for all the prices spanning that range.

Wicker Outdoor Furniture

Wicker furniture can be very affordable. Armchairs and tables sell for below $100, with many models to choose from. Wicker chests sell for prices beginning at $120. There are more costly wicker items available as well, such as Plow and Hearth's wicker love seat, selling for about $500. Sets that come with a table and several chairs can reach prices over $1,000, though there are also sets available for prices just over $300.

Wrought Iron Outdoor Furniture

There are many attractive designs of wrought iron outdoor furniture for a wide range of prices. Wrought iron outdoor furniture sells for prices as low as $100 for a small set, such as the two-chair set manufactured by Plantation Patterns, or a small table and stool set. More elaborate sets, such as the dining table and chairs made by KNF Designs, sell in the price range of $1,000 to $2,500. Plantation Patterns sells a 7-piece dining set for just under $600. Individual pieces can range in price from $80 up to a few hundred dollars, depending on the piece of furniture purchased.

Plastic/PVC Outdoor Furniture

Plastic furniture prices hover around $100. Most of the outdoor furniture designs available in plastic are benches. A PVC picnic table sells for $369.