SHOPTALK : Good Buys Abound in Outdoor Furniture : There’s a big selection of items for back-yard living and entertaining, and much of it is modestly priced.
We Southern Californians love to do everything outside. Work. Play. Read. Eat. Entertain. So now that spring has sprung, it’s time to ready your back yard or patio for use. With a little planning, you can create an environment you and your family will love.
The good news about outdoor furnishings is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money. Target, K mart and secondhand shops all have great stuff available. If you insist on only the finest, that’s available, too.
Before you shop, be sure to consider the space you have and how you want to use it. If family barbecues are what come to mind, then a table and chairs should be your first purchase. If afternoon naps are what you crave, then a chaise lounge might be the ticket.
At Target, we saw a three-piece cafe patio set ($99.88) perfect for a morning cup of joe. The table had a tempered glass top and a forest green aluminum frame. The two chairs are simple, armless and have floral seat cushions. This is a good set for a small area. Also at Target, for just under $300, an American Cedar patio set caught our eye. An oval table, two armchairs and two benches are included. A matching “market umbrella” costs an additional $89.88. This set belongs in a big back yard.
Check out secondhand stores and thrift shops if you are on a tight budget. We’ve seen lots of old wrought iron and aluminum sets for very little money. Most of the used outdoor furniture just needs a touch of paint or new cushions to be useful again. Our favorite outdoor cafe has an eclectic group of chairs and tables--all from thrift shops. They look great because they’re surrounded by a lush garden.
If you already have a table and chairs, but are planning big parties, extra chairs can be found for very little money. At Target, our favorite stacking chairs were the low-back armchairs by Grosfillex for $9.88. Rubbermaid also had a “Villa” classic armchair for $14.88. K mart had stacking chairs for as little as $5.99. Most of these chairs are made of resin and are a good choice for extra seating. Resin is lightweight and easy to care for. And if the chairs stack, they’ll be easy to store when you don’t need them.
For serious sunbathers, Target has a “resort grade” strap chaise lounge for $79.88. If you’re a member of the Price Club, you can buy the “commercial chaise” for $49.99. K mart has a four-position chaise for $59.99, and a multiposition recliner for $25.99. Both were in resin by “Festival.” Be sure to buy plenty of sun block!
We loved browsing through Zender’s Superstore in Thousand Oaks. This store has all the top designer outdoor furniture--most of it priced 30% below list. It’s a great place just to get ideas or maybe make a splurge on one of their specials.
We fell madly in love with a set called “Ramsgate” by Woodard. The 48-inch table and four chairs were priced at $1,080 from the list price of $1,545. Hey, we’ll put it in the dining room.
