Backyard Furniture Taking On Stylish Air

Perhaps, in the not too distant past, when you wanted garden furniture, you bought a plastic table and some chairs and plunked them down in the backyard.

Times have changed.

Today’s garden furniture is sleek, sophisticated and surprisingly comfortable.

“We used to call it ‘patio furniture,’ and it was very simple,” says Phyllis Lorig, buyer for Anaheim Patio and Fireside, which has locations in Irvine, Huntington Beach and Brea.

“Today they call it ‘garden furniture,’ and it has become much more formal and elegant,” she says. “There are many different styles and colors to choose from. It’s even possible to match the exterior of your home with your furniture.”

There is a wide variety of furniture pieces available. Besides tables, chairs and benches, you’ll find love seats, gliders, chaise longues, and chairs that swivel, recline and even rock.

There is also a whole line of accessories such as plastic tableware that resembles glass and coordinating place mats, tablecloths and napkins.

In many ways, outdoor furniture has been influenced by indoor decor, says Loren Lum, vice president of product development for Mainstreet USA Casual Inc., which manufactures Garden Pals, a line of garden furniture.

“Outdoor furniture has become much more stylish and extravagant, and a lot of that has been consumer-driven,” he says. “People are spending more time at home, and they want their outdoors to be as comfortable and attractive as their indoors.”

Nowadays, garden furniture is as much a part of the landscape as the plants and hardscape, agrees landscape designer Jeff Garton, co-owner of Paradise Designs Inc., in San Clemente.

“Furniture that has an artistic look to it is especially appealing,” says Garton. “Using the right furniture in a theme garden, for instance, really pulls the entire look together.”

There is garden furniture that has an antique look, such as the hand-painted umbrellas created by Hedge Row Decorative Outdoors. The Pasadena-based company two years ago began making parasol-type umbrellas that resemble Tiffany lamps. They are attractive outdoor umbrellas that have an optional low-voltage lighting system for night use.

Compared with that of years past, today’s garden furniture is also much more long-lasting. Many high-quality pieces withstand the outdoor elements.

“Unlike the cracking, peeling, splintering and warping that used to occur with wood furniture, new manufacturing and finishing processes have made it possible to create garden furniture that lasts for years outdoors, often with very little if no maintenance,” says Lum.

Choosing High-Quality Furniture

In general, good-quality furniture comes in cast aluminum, teak and wrought iron. If well taken care of, all of these furniture types should last for years.

To choose high-quality furniture, keep the following tips in mind:

* Buy American-made furniture. “Although products coming from other countries may look similar to U.S. products, the quality is generally inferior,” says Lorig. “You get what you pay for. Look for a manufacturer that has been around awhile and takes pride in their furniture.”

A good-quality table and four chairs start at $300 to $400.

* Ask about a warranty, suggests Lum. “If the manufacturer is willing to stand behind the product, that’s a good sign.”

* On wood furniture, look for a powder coat finish. This is three to four times thicker than a paint finish, and much longer-lasting. Paint finish furniture will generally need a new coat of paint or varnish after just one season, whereas powder coat finishes generally need no maintenance.

* Give the furniture a trial run. “Sit in the chairs and love seat,” says Lorig. “See how well a chair swivels and reclines, and that the table is the right height. Make sure you’re absolutely comfortable in the furniture, or you will never use it.”

* Measure your space before you go shopping. Furniture should fit well proportionally into your outdoor space. A table that is too small or too big will detract from your landscape’s overall design.

* Consider multipurpose furniture. Chairs that also recline are a good choice, as well as items like Garden Pals’ potting table that can also be used as a utility cart for arts and crafts and as a barbecue work station.

Care and Maintenance

Although high-quality furniture needs very little care, there are a few things you can do to lengthen the life of your furniture.

“The biggest secret to caring for outdoor furniture is keeping it clean,” says Lorig. “Hosing it off periodically and cleaning any dirty spots with mild soap and water will keep it from staining and make it look like new. Many of today’s seat cushions can be washed.”

If the weather is wet, it’s also a good idea to bring chairs with seat cushions indoors, which will prolong their life. And always close and take down umbrellas during the Santa Ana winds.

Protective covers are also a good idea against rain. Remember that dirt can get under them, however, so inspect furniture periodically for soiling.