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Garden Furniture Buying Guide
Your garden is the perfect place to relax, so it’s only right you want to get the perfect garden furniture for those summer evenings and weekends. There are plenty of things you need to think about when buying garden furniture, so at Cotswold Teak we’ve put together the ultimate garden furniture buying guide.
Read on to find out everything you need to know when buying furniture for your garden.
Is there enough space for garden furniture?
Before you start browsing through our range of garden furniture, it’s important to work out how much space you have for furniture in your garden. We recommend measuring your garden to work out the square footage before making any purchases.
There’s nothing worse than buying something, only to get it home and realise it doesn’t quite fit!
Alternatively, there are lots of space saving garden furniture items on the market. Here at Cotswold Teak we’ve got a wide selection of extending tables, folding tables, folding chairs and folding steam loungers. Having the option to make something bigger, or fold away when not in use is a massive help for anyone.
If you’re looking to buy a garden heater as well as garden furniture, but you’re short on space, there are some novel space-saving heaters available. Take this one for example, which doubles as a BBQ and heater in one unit!
(Pictured: Wenlock Solid Teak Folding Side Chair).
How will you store your garden furniture?
Storage of your garden furniture is another thing to consider before you make any purchases.
Do you have a shed or summer house where you can store your garden sets in the winter? If you do, then fantastic! If not, then don’t worry, as our teak furniture can be left outside all year round and will remain in great condition.
Why? Because teak is a hardwood which is filled with natural oils. This makes it durable and long lasting. However, if you are going to leave teak furniture outside, there’s an important point to note; as the seasons change, so will the colour of your wood. Without proper maintenance and care your teak garden furniture will turn a grey silver colour.
How much maintenance will your garden furniture need?
When choosing your garden furniture, it’s important to factor in maintenance requirements.
Do you want low maintenance garden furniture? Or do you not mind giving your garden furniture some TLC on a periodic basis? Depending on how you answer those questions will influence what type of garden furniture is best for you.
Ultimately, you are buying garden furniture so you can enjoy your garden even more. If you buy garden furniture which turns out to require a lot of maintenance, you may end up regretting your purchase.
To help you in your decision, let’s take a look at the different materials that are used for garden furniture.
What are the garden furniture materials?
Garden furniture is very diverse; available in wood, metal and rattan. We’ve explained each one below:
> Rattan: this is a type of woven material that can be made from natural or synthetic materials. Synthetic rattan is often more environmentally friendly and durable than the natural weave.
> Metal: metal furniture is sturdy and hard-wearing, but can also be prone to corrosion, especially when left outside.
> Wood: for a classic and natural option, wood is the best choice. The three most common types of wood furniture are Acacia, Eucalyptus and Teak - the latter being our speciality.
What exactly is teak furniture?
Teak is a dense wood with a higher oil content than other woods. Teak is much more water-resistant, so it won’t rot, even in the dampest, wettest conditions - making it ideal outdoor furniture. To give you an idea of just how water-resistant teak is, it’s been used in boat building for centuries.
Teak is native to south and southeast Asia, with nearly half of the world’s naturally occurring teak being found in Myanmar. At Cotswold Teak we realise the importance of ethically sourcing our teak, with all of our furniture made from FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) licenced timber.
Teak maintenance tips
Brand new, freshly manufactured teak furniture has a beautiful golden-brown colour. If you want to keep it that way you should set aside some time once each year to sand it down and apply a wood treatment.
If that sounds like too much work, you can leave your teak furniture alone. Although, over time, that golden brown colour will turn to a silvery grey which is just as beautiful.
What are the different types of garden furniture?
Because gardens come in all shapes and sizes there are a huge variety of different types of garden furniture to choose from. The different types of garden furniture include:
> Furniture Sets.
> Benches.
> Tables Sets & Patio Tables.
> Chairs.
> Loungers.
Furniture & Dining Sets
Furniture or dining sets are perfect for eating al fresco, either with your family or if you are hosting large groups for get-togethers and barbeques. You can buy furniture sets that can seat more than 10 people with plenty of space. Our range offers a variety of options, including a choice of table size and finish, seating design and layout - such as benches.
Benches
If you’re looking for somewhere to perch while you enjoy the view or relax after gardening with a cup of tea, nothing quite beats a beautiful garden bench. You can choose between timeless classic designs or contemporary options. We offer benches with back and armrests, as well as backless benches, two-seaters and benches with accompanying tables.
Table Sets & Patio Tables
Table sets and patio tables - sometimes called ‘bistro sets’ - are designed for two people to use and enjoy. These are a great choice for balconies, decking and smaller gardens where space is at a premium. Our range of patio tables includes both fixed and extendable tables, so you can adapt to the number of people joining you outside.
Chairs
If you’ve got a patio table, you’ll need some chairs to go with it or simply for sitting out in the garden to enjoy the tranquility of nature. Individual chairs are great for any and every space or to match with other furniture. Our range includes fixed chairs, stacking chairs and folding chairs for easier storage. We also have incredibly relaxing wooden rocking chairs.
Loungers
For the most laid back and relaxing choice, you have sun loungers so you can soak up the sunshine in your back garden. The other benefits of loungers, of course, is that they can lay flat, providing an alternative seating option. Our range includes traditional wooden sun loungers, with a pull out drinks/book slide and ‘steamer’ chairs that are more upright.
Garden Heating
As well as furniture so you can sit and dine outside, you may also want to consider investing in outdoor heating so you can spend time in your garden all year round. Our range includes gas patio heaters and garden fire pits.
Parasols
On the other end of the scale from garden heaters are parasols. For when those scorching hot summer days return you may want to invest in a parasol to provide some nice refreshing shade. Our range of parasols feature the highest standards of construction with solid teak poles, stretchers and ribs, whilst the parasol material is a specially treated weatherproof polyester fabric with UPF sun protection level 50.
Think about quality
Buying quality garden furniture will pay off (literally!). We live in a society where a lot of products aren’t made to last; everything seems disposable. So, it’s important to think about what type of investment you want to make in your garden furniture.
Will you be using your garden furniture a lot? Do you want garden furniture that will last for years? If you’re only going to be using your garden furniture a few times a year and you’re not bothered about re-purchasing garden furniture every few years, then investing in quality teak furniture might not be for you.
However, if you’re looking for solid, quality furniture that’s made to last year on year then teak is the way forward. All of our solid teak furniture is built to last for years and years. Plus, all of our teak furniture is made with minimal maintenance required.
We hope you’ve found our garden furniture buying guide useful. But, if you still have any questions contact us and our expert team will be happy to help.