When it comes to spending time outdoors, it’s easy to assume that attention to your furniture isn’t so important, and that’s where many fall short. Anyone looking to curate an inviting outdoor space must pay attention to common details people often ignore so as not to miss out on important experiences along the way. Making mistakes during your furniture selection process can equally expose you to various forms of domestic and leave you regretting purchasing them in the first place.
What are the mistakes to avoid when selecting outdoor furniture?
Certain mistakes are easily reversible when it comes to home décor generally. If you used a coat of paint that gives your space an awkward tone, it’s easy to apply a fresh one. However, if you purchase a cheap lounger and fall off it because it gave way under pressure, that can be devasting. You may lose your money or, worse, end up nursing an injury. That’s why it’s important to avoid the following mistakes with your outdoor furniture for your sanity and safety.
Settling for cheap:
You may have a thousand and one reasons why you think you can’t afford to spend more, but when it’s at the expense of durability and comfort, there’s no excuse. It’s quite common to see people work with a lesser budget for their outdoor space because they feel they already did on indoor decor, and there’s no need to go all out since it’s outdoors. Others may even think that, since they’re not likely to spend so much time outdoors, there’s no need to go all out.
But here’s what you need to know; if it’s worth spending on in the first place, then it’s worth spending what it’s worth.
Indoors or outdoors, you want your home spaces teeming with comfort and easing all of the day’s stress away. Settling for cheap furniture would mean that you may be sacrificing every chance to feel relaxed and comfy in your outdoor space. What’s more, you may end up losing interest in spending time outdoors with family and guests—if they don’t stop coming due to the discomfort.
Cheap furniture pieces are often packed with cheap materials designed to function in the short term. So that means if you put pressure on it beyond its capacity or use it longer than intended, it’s bound to give way. Another risk involved with cheap furniture is that it’s a potential domestic hazard waiting to happen to you, your guest, or even your kids. Now that’s pretty dangerous, so don’t make this mistake.
Buying without measuring:
Every seller knows the importance of dimensions and measurement, and that’s why such information is considered critical in the buying process. If you as a buyer do not pay attention to the dimensions of the furniture or measure the space you have available to be sure it would fit in, then a major problem is looming.
While some may be lucky to purchase the best fit, you can’t always depend on luck. Why leave it to luck when you can as well measure the furniture and take note of the dimensions of the furniture you’re purchasing? Doing this gives you an edge to picture how the furniture will comfortably fit into your space. Once you’re clear on that, you also have to ensure factor in enough space to move around between the furniture pieces. Smaller pieces like patio rocking chairs will often fit in most spaces without hassle. You don’t want to purchase furniture that’s cramped up into your space and leaves no room for movement.
No attention to material:
It’s easy to get carried away with finding the perfect furniture that reflects your taste and style that you forget to purchase something durable enough to stay outdoors in the region you live in. A variety of furniture is suited for different climes, and if you don’t want to deal with moving the furniture around with each change of the season, it’s important to take your regional weather into account.
Fine, the furniture you like may be pretty and would look gorgeous on your patio, but have you thought about the materials used in its design? Is it suitable for your space or will it soon become a pain point on your patio? It’s best to take account of what your regional weather is like at each change of season and decide to settle for something that can withstand the weather condition; except if you don’t mind the occasional run around to save your furniture each season.
Not preparing for protection:
You probably like the feeling of spending time outdoors, but before you purchase that furniture, you ought to think about how you’re going to care for it once it sits on your patio. Different materials require different care routines, and it would be important to familiarize yourself with them before deciding to buy one.
Purchasing a patio set with fire pit with high UV resistance is great if the radiation from the sun is often intense. Additionally, you may consider setting up an umbrella, pergola, or gazebo for shade. If you don’t factor this in, you might find it difficult to enjoy your time outdoors.
Some furniture types may need to be fully covered up with furniture covers when it’s not in use. Not taking how much care each piece of furniture requires before purchasing it, can set you up for a routine you never planned for. To avoid this, ensure to be on the lookout.
Cramming in too many furniture pieces:
Don’t decide to buy too many furniture pieces because you think you’ll figure out how to combine them along the way. Some people make the mistake of buying all kinds of furniture without prioritizing what’s important and how they’ll be using them. This is often an offshoot of a lack of proper space planning.
When you plan your space, you should have an idea of how many furniture pieces it can take and be able to determine what to prioritize. There’s no reason to cram a small space with a lounge chaise, dining set, coffee table, and patio sectional all in the same space. When this happens and the pieces do not blend in smoothly, you may find yourself staying away from your patio because of the imbalance. Making all of these purchases without planning will only leave you stuck and wondering what to do with all of those extra furniture pieces.
Choosing the wrong furniture:
A common mistake many make is buying a piece of furniture because it looks good instead of considering how functional it is for their space. Going ahead to purchase a couch that’s more suited for indoor use for your outdoor space, can get you to face challenges you’re not ready for. Indoor furniture purchased for outdoor use may have you dealing with unnecessary care and maintenance routines. There’s also a risk of ruining the couch due to outdoor exposure.
Some furniture pieces may look out of place on a patio due to the configuration of the patio. Having long narrow furniture on a round patio will always look awkward on your patio, no matter how pretty the furniture is.
Not taking body count:
When buying furniture, some may make the mistake of buying furniture that’s often too small to accommodate everyone. A person with or large family or who frequently receives guests will be faced with the problem of insufficient seats if you don’t take this factor seriously. Rarely, some may buy a set that offers extra seating than they need because they have ample space for it. It may only look awkward when there are more empty chairs than are occupied.
But what’s more common is finding homes with seating areas that cannot conveniently accommodate everyone. If you’re budget constrained and will like to accommodate more people without spending so much, think of seating options like the modular sofa set or even benches that can seat more people.
Not paying attention to comfort:
You’re as comfortable in your space as the degree of comfort you get from your furniture items. Focusing on how to optimize your space with the dainty-looking furniture alone can leave you discovering that you left out comfort when it’s already too late. Regardless of how you’re purchasing—physical store or online, there are ways to measure comfortability in furniture.
The first thing would be to pay attention to the materials and the details of the design. Did the manufacturer pay attention to details like ergonomics, how thick is the cushioned seat, and what’s the elbow-to-table distance? These and more are questions to guide you in this regard.
Once settled, check out for testimonials and reviews of existing customers and draw on their experience to make a decision. That way, you’re more likely to avoid this mistake.
Conclusion
Purchasing outdoor furniture can be fun if done right or can become a nightmare if done otherwise. To help you avoid the latter, it’s important to avoid these mistakes. Simple efforts like paying extra for quality, and paying attention to comfort and material, amongst other things, can help you achieve a perfect outdoor space.