Your outdoor space is a great way to entertain family and friends, relax, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Whether you’ve purchased a new home or are looking to spruce up the outdoor area of your existing home, outdoor furniture can completely transform your space. When considering the right furniture for your space, always think about what you’ll need and how it will fit into both design goals and practicality. Here are four important factors to consider to help you pick the best outdoor furniture for your home so you can relax and enjoy your private oasis.

The environment of the furniture

outdoor furniture set by the pool

Before choosing the right outdoor furniture for your home, considering the environment is a huge factor. Here are some questions to help get you started.

  • Will your outdoor furniture be exposed to the elements or in a covered area like a lanai? 
  • Will it be near water, poolside, or dockside? 
  • Will the furniture be placed on soft ground, grass, or a hard surface like a deck or pavers? 

Perhaps you want in-pool seating so you can lounge in the water. It’s essential to choose furniture that will hold up well in the environment where it’s placed.

The furniture material

outdoor chair by the pool-outdoor decor

The material furniture is made from has a lot to do with how long it will last. Because Florida is a humid environment with harsh weather, even if your furniture is in a covered area, it will still be exposed to moisture. You’ll want to choose materials that can withstand the elements. Cast iron is not a good choice due to rust. And softwoods don’t hold up near water since the moisture deteriorates them, so we recommend something like teak or ipe wood, resin woven wicker, marine-grade polymer (MGP), or powder coated, UV-resistant aluminum. We carry all these types of furniture, and we also have an assortment of outdoor, high-performance fabrics like Sunbrella, Bella Dura, Bliss, and Sunbelievable.

Style and function of the space

beautiful outdoor patio furniture_fort myers_sarasota_naples

It’s important to choose pieces that match your style and preferences and go with your home’s interior look. But it’s even more important that your outdoor furniture is functional. What are you trying to achieve with the space? Will it be used for entertaining? If so, consider how many guests you think you’ll have at one time to determine how much seating you need and which type would work best. For example, conversation sets usually consist of four lounge chairs around a low table or fire pit, and they’re perfect for hosting four people for drinks and appetizers. If you plan to have dinner parties where guests eat outdoors, you’ll want a big dining set to accommodate everyone. Perhaps your outdoor space will be used more for lounging. If so, consider deep-seated sofas, swivel chairs, or lounge chairs, and if you have a pool, poolside chaise loungers are a popular choice. If your space isn’t covered, you might want a pergola, cabana, or an umbrella for shade.

The size of your space

outdoor dining room set by outdoor fire

The size of your outdoor space will determine how much furniture you can fit and what the layout should be. A good general rule of thumb is to allow three feet of clearance around furniture. You’ll also want to leave about four to five feet of space around unusable areas, so furniture doesn’t look too crowded. And you wouldn’t want chairs too close to the pool’s edge! Measure the areas of your space that will allow for furniture placement, and keep in mind that a small-to-medium furniture set will take up about 100 to 150 square feet of space. Whether it’s round or square, a table for four will need an area of at least 10 by 10 feet. If you have a firepit or other conversation piece, let that be the space’s focal point.

Shop at Elegant Outdoor Living

Whatever your outdoor furniture needs are, Elegant Outdoor Living can help! We carry a wide variety of beautiful, high-quality outdoor furniture and accessories, in stock and ready to deliver, at the lowest prices guaranteed. Stop by any of our locations in Southwest Florida including Sarasota, Naples, and Bonita Springs, and let us know what you’re looking for. We would be happy to assist you in picking out the right outdoor furniture for your home. If you have any questions about picking the right outdoor pieces for your home, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.