Wood is a great natural choice for your patio furniture. Teak and cedar are both weather, rot and insect resistant so they are the most common wood materials used in outdoor furniture. Teak is the more exotic of the two and is often significantly more expensive. Both teak and cedar can be treated with sealers to maintain their original fresh cut wood colors or allowed to age naturally to lighter coloring. Cypress is another wood that has all the right characteristics for outdoor furniture but it isn’t as common as teak or cedar.

Wicker is a common material and it was originally made from natural plant material such as reeds or willow switches. Plastic fibers are also a common material used for outdoor wicker furniture. Wicker is light and sturdy and this allows for it to be easily moved. Cushions often come with the wicker furniture to provide added comfort. Wicker is most often left a natural brown color or white but it can be spray painted to match any color choice.

Aluminum is an interesting choice for a furniture material because manufactures use is for both high end pieces and less expensive ones. The higher quality furniture items are made from cast aluminum and they are very durable, light weight and can be painted any color. The thickness can be any size so they can be very solid pieces. Thin walled aluminum tubing is used on the other end of the spectrum. It is very light weight and it can be used to make foldable chairs for easy storage and portability. The down side to aluminum tubing is that it can be easy to bend the tubing rendering the piece scrap aluminum ready for recycling.

Plastic resin is another material that is used primarily for the low cost end of the market. This material is easy to clean, it is light weight and plastic resin chairs and side tables are often designed to be stackable for easy storage. The negatives of plastic is that it is often made with minimal amounts of material so the pieces aren’t very sturdy and if they take a heavy blow they can bend and end up in the scrap pile in a hurry.

Wrought iron patio furniture is a classic choice and it is a very durably material. Wrought Iron is a general descriptive term that originally referred to the type of low carbon iron that was created prior to steel making. Wrought iron is a fibrous material that has a little bit of a wood grain texture on its surface. Items that are referred to as wrought iron today are most often made of mild steel. Wrought iron patio furniture is strong and durable and takes on color through paint or powder coating. Wrought iron patio furniture is often matched with glass table tops that create an intriguing contrasting look.

With all of the different types of outdoor patio furniture materials there is sure to be an option that will meet your style and budget goals. Once you have a general idea of the type of outdoor patio furniture you are interested in, starting thinking about other additions and add-ons and how well they will match your material choice. The more durable materials choices should last you for many years of outdoor lining enjoyment.

The answers are not always obvious but most of it will simply be a matter of personal preference. However, one of the most important aspects you will have to look at is the type of material your new furniture is made from.

If you’re buying for your patio, and you know your patio has no protective cover from rain or wind, you will have to think carefully about your choice. Options are plenty and you can never blame the industry for having a lack of imagination. We’ve certainly come a long way from the old days where wood and iron were the only ways to go.

Nowadays you can still go for the old classic look that teak wood brings. Teak is a hard wood that is resistant to the elements and is very good for outdoor furniture. Then there is wicker, which is a woven style from plant or plastic materials which is more an aesthetic choice rather than anything.

But one of the most popular types of purchases for outdoor use is cast aluminum patio furniture. Many people warn against metals that will rust, but you won’t have that problem with cast aluminum. It is a non-rusting material which is also lightweight so it’s easy to move. Perfect then for a patio that is continually changing or if you simply feel it’s time for a new arrangement.

Cast aluminium patio furniture is also durable, with most products powder coated and available in various colours. Powder paint particles stick to the metal pieces using electronic charges. The paint is then applied to the furniture making it strong enough to resist chipping, scratching or flaking.

This type of patio furniture is very popular today because buyers know they are getting quality and longevity for their money. The best thing is that there is such a big range that you can choose to go simple and effective or bold and elegant. The choice is yours! Buy them in patio sets or get creative and assemble your collection one piece at a time.

Anything from dining sets, tables and stools to patio chairs, ottomans and chaise lounges can be found made from cast aluminium. It’s the material for the modern home. Go wild. Go easy. The choice is yours.