Patio Sets

Wicker Patio Sets – Combining Elegance and Style

If you have been looking to add that extra bit of style to your patio with some elegant garden furniture, then look no further than wicker patio sets. It is not always easy to choose a type of material when it comes to outdoor furniture (see our buying guide on patio furniture materials for help) but wicker has a style and elegance, which is a class apart. So if you are having difficulty selecting from the many options you have open to you, consider wicker first and provided you take care of it, you will not regret it.

Natural wicker chairs are particularly good if you are looking for something that is comfortable but not heavy but they tend to fare less well in a damp climate, as they have a tendency to absorb moisture, so always cover your furniture in the rain. If you think this will be a problem you can now buy artificial wicker chairs which look just as good but can be left out in all weathers without risk of rotting or fading in the sun.

Before you start shopping for garden furniture, in any case, you should think about how you plan to use the furniture and where it will be situated. The maximum size of the wicker patio set will depend upon the space you are able to spare for it. Keep this in mind before you actually purchase your set. You might also like to find a place so that you can sit in either the shade or the sun depending on the weather and your preference.

Beautiful Wicker Patio Set CLICK IMAGE FOR DETAILS

Beautiful Wicker Patio Set
CLICK IMAGE FOR DETAILS

Furniture made out of wicker can easily blend with any theme your home may have. All you need to do is throw a few cushions on the set to coordinate the look of the wicker furniture with surrounding plants and garden fixtures. They will add additional comfort too, as the natural ridges in wicker can be a problem on bare legs. If you use adequate patio cushions, perhaps the only drawback you will encounter with this type of furniture is the lack of capacity to carry heavy weight but it is unlikely that you will have a problem that will prevent you using wicker patio furniture because of that.

If you are worried about the maintenance of these sets, you can set your mind at rest. There is no need to be concerned as all that is required is a little cleaning with a damp cloth. You can use a vacuum cleaner on wicker garden furniture and cushions periodically too if you like. However, wicker cushions will require washing every year

This type of wicker outdoor furniture is a great addition to a patio. Add a little care to the equation and you can enjoy these pieces for many years.

Teak Patio Sets

There are many beautiful teak patio sets around. Although teak is not the cheapest material, (in fact teak is used for some of the most expensive garden furniture available) teak is a strong hardwood and will last for years and years without too much attention.

The great thing with teak is that you can buy a patio set one year and add items to it each season and they will not look out of place. Although the brand new furniture will not look quite the same as the old (which will have lost its bright, shiny new appearance) after a few weeks the pieces will look as if they have always belonged together if you choose similar styles. This property of teak is especially good if you would love to buy a whole set of teak outdoor furniture but you don’t have the budget to buy it all at once.

A beautiful teak garden bench

A beautiful teak bench which would enhance any garden

You will find the most choice in teak patio sets if you are looking for a set with 4 or 6 garden chairs but you will also find plenty of sets in other combinations. Look for what you really need. See What Size Patio Set Should You Buy for this. Also think about buying a chaise lounge or two in matching teak for when you really want to relax in your garden and perhaps a side table or drinks trolley. And of course a sun umbrella is always a good idea to offer a little shade for the hottest days.

Look after your teak outdoor furniture by feeding it with teak oil on a regular basis to maintain the new appearance. This will prevent drying out of the wood, cracking and fading. If you prefer the rustic brown shade of new teak you can help prolong it by using oil with a little color designed to keep teak looking like new. However, if you don’t mind the weathered look just leave your teak items to face the elements and they will eventually take on a gray color like an old park bench.

If your furniture gets dirty for any reason, wash it down with warm water to which you have added a little mild detergent. Rinse your furniture and let it dry without replacing any cushions until any dampness has gone.

You can leave teak outside in the winter and it won’t come to much harm but it will grow old looking more quickly so if you want to preserve a new appearance take your set indoors in the fall. In this case it is helpful to have chairs which fold to reduce the storage space required. If you would like to protect your teak but you have no room inside then think about purchasing patio furniture covers. They are not beautiful but if no one is around in your garden in winter they are a great way to keep teak patio furniture looking good.

Patio Sets Buying Guide : Materials

Patio Sets come in all shapes and sizes and also in all kinds of materials which vary considerably  in price from very low-cost PVC patio sets to high end teak, aluminum and wrought iron. When choosing patio furniture sets be sure to check out this buying guide to get the best combination of durability and value and money to suit your home and circumstances.

Aluminum

Aluminum is lightweight as far as metal furniture goes so that it can be easily moved around.  It doesn’t rust or fade due to a powder-coat finish and so will continue to look good after many years use. Plus it needs only a quick wash in warm soapy water and rinse to stay looking good. Aluminum furniture generally needs no assembly so it’s great if you lack the skills to put furniture together.  Because it looks great, needs little maintenance and is easy to move it is a favorite for commercial premises. Though it is expensive aluminum patio sets will give many years of trouble-free use.

Plastic  or PVC  (poly-vinyl chloride)

A plastic or PVC  patio set is also lightweight. Tables are easy to assemble (Legs generally slot into the table top). Chairs usually come in one piece and are often stackable which is handy if you are short of space for winter storage. You will find dark green or white patio furniture at very cheap prices in many stores during summer but it’s not the most attractive furniture you can buy reflected in its cheap price. Warm soapy water and a rinse is enough to get plastic or PVC furniture clean but plastic patio furniture sets can be prone to mildew so it’s best to use cleaners with a mildew inhibitor for these.

Wicker and Rattan

Wicker and rattan has a wonderful natural look (think tropical!) and it is durable as well as being lightweight and flexible however most wicker and rattan is not weather resistant so you would not want to leave your furniture out in a downpour and definitely not over winter. It’s available in some great colors and a piece or two of wicker in a great shade toning with your patio cushions can make your “outdoor room scheme” come alive. If you love the look of wicker and don’t want to worry about leaving it outside look for wicker-like plastic woven material – a synthetic wicker which has all the looks of the regular outdoor furniture without all the problems. To keep wicker and rattan looking good dust it regularly and wash when required in mild detergent. Rinse then air dry out of the sun.

Beautiful Wooden Bench

Beautiful Wooden Bench

Wood

Patio sets come in all types of woods such as teak, cedar and pine and styles range from period to modern. All wooden furniture is heavy so it’s not ideal if you want to move larger pieces around your garden. (Some furniture comes on wheels to help with this). The softer woods such as pine lack the durability and beauty of the hard woods – teak being the ideal wood for garden furniture able to withstand all weathers provided it treated with teak oil on a regular basis. The softer woods need regular protection from the elements with preservative or lacquer so maintenance can become an issue. If teak is left outside to the elements it will lose it’s original color and become faded and “weathered” taking on a silver-gray color tone. If you want to maintain the original color of teak, treat it with brightener and oil on a regular basis. Because of the beauty of the wood and the hard-wearing nature of the material which stands up well to all kinds of weather, wooden furniture is very popular but quality does come at a price.

Wrought Iron

Wrought iron patio sets are sturdy and durable. It’s very heavy and will stand up to strong winds but can’t be moved easily by people either! Wrought iron furniture  suits historic homes very well as traditionally a lot of garden furniture was made of this material. It often looks more decorative than it feels comfortable though it is available in a wide range of designs. Maintenance involves using paint to touch up cracks in the coating and applying rust protection (which may just be special metal paint) otherwise warm soapy water is enough.  The painted surface means that wrought iron patio sets come in many different colors and you can repaint to a color of your choice if necessary. Wrought iron furniture is expensive to buy but when you feel the weight and quality of true wrought iron you feel like you got value for money!