Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Outdoor Wicker Patio Furniture – Maintenance and Buying Tips


Wicker is no longer just grandma’s furniture. Wicker has changed dramatically from the old country kitchen look of your grandmother’s day. Today, outdoor wicker patio furniture comes in a vast variety of styles from traditional to outright trendy, and in every color imaginable. With the right care, high quality wicker patio furniture can provide comfortable seating and outdoor enjoyment for many years.

As you are choosing the furniture for your patio, there are things you should consider carefully and keep in mind including:

  • Is your patio large, small, or average?
  • Will your furniture been subject to heavy duty use?
  • How do you plan to use the furniture?
  • What furniture style do you prefer?

After you answer these questions it will be easier to narrow down the choices available to the wicker set that is just right for your patio. If you have a large patio, you should avoid the smaller sized sets as they will look lost in so much space. Similarly, you shouldn’t buy a large set for a small patio or it will overwhelm the space and look crowded and uncomfortable. Selecting the furnishings that are the right size for your space is equally as important as picking the right style and color.

It is also extremely important to choose wicker furniture sets that are constructed of high quality materials for regular outdoor use. Higher quality material can hold up better to the weather over time than poorer quality materials will. You should simply avoid any outdoor wicker patio furniture made from paper fibers. This material cannot handle either outdoor conditions or regular usage. For long-term use outdoors, natural wicker furniture sets constructed of rattan or bamboo are your best bets

Choose a wicker set for your patio that has a heavy-duty aluminum frame. These are more durable and will hold up better under regular use. Finally, carefully inspect the wicker weave. High quality furniture items will feature tightly woven weaves that prevent you from seeing the actual frame. If there are gaps or loose threads in the weave of your furniture, they will simply get bigger over time, compromising your furniture’s appearance and comfort level.

Your wicker furniture must be sealed for protection from the elements no matter where you live. Options for sealing the wicker include painting it or applying a resin sealant. The sealant will show off the natural beauty of your wicker furniture. At least annually you will need to clean your wicker furniture well using warm water and soap. You can use a hose to rinse the soap off the furniture and then allow it to dry thoroughly. You will also most likely need to refinish the wicker with a varnish or clear lacquer from time to time.

Outdoor wicker patio furniture comes in shapes, styles, colors and sizes to fit every décor. You can find modern lounge chairs and couches to create attractive patio seating areas. Wicker bistro and dining sets are available for outdoor meals and entertaining. And if you loved Grandma’s old white country kitchen look chair, you can get that, too, only in a much higher quality.

You may develop quite a case of sticker shock from the prices of wicker furniture, but good quality does cost money. But don’t let the price tag keep you from have a beautiful wicker patio set. You can often save money by shopping during clearance sales at the end of the summer. You will have to store the furniture for the winter, but when you’re enjoying your gorgeous patio all summer you won’t regret it.

Eliminate the confusion of buying patio furniture with advice from the experts. Select the perfect patio furniture for your home. Visit patio furniture for tips, tricks, and advice on making wicker furniture a beautiful part of your home.

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