Whether you’re looking to create a cosy outdoor nook to enjoy admiring your garden in peace, a social space to invite friends and family over to drinks, or even an al fresco dining space, you’re going to need the right furniture. When you’re choosing outdoor furniture, however, your criteria need to be a little different from when you’re picking pieces for the interior. Here are a few considerations you should keep in mind.

Comfort

If you’re looking to bring that fun holiday vibe to your garden or simply to have a place to relax, you want comfort to be a factor. Painted metal chairs might be super durable and long-lasting outdoors, but cushion softness, back support, and ergonomic design matter just as much when you’re trying to spend any given amount of time out there. If people aren’t comfortable, they’re going to want to head indoors before too long.

Practicality

Of course, the furniture should suit whatever purpose you have for the garden. If you’re looking to entertain guests, then you might want to invest in a fully-equipped patio conversation set. If you’re looking to lie back and relax, alone or with a partner, then an outdoor daybed might be the better option instead. Whatever the case, make sure that your furniture is purpose-fit. This can include modular or lightweight, easily arranged furniture if you want the space to be more versatile.

Size

You have limited space to work with. Even if your garden is big, your patio, decking, or actual usable space is likely to be only a portion of that. As such, avoid choosing furniture that’s too big and likely to make the space feel cramped. You can make use of patio planning tools that make it a lot easier to see how much space you have to work with, and how specific furniture might work within that space.

Suitability

Naturally, your furniture is going to be no good if it’s unusable after being outside in a drizzle. Durability and weather resistance are both crucial qualities. This can depend on your climate and what kind of weather you’re most likely ot face, but the best outdoor furniture materials tend to be pretty good at withstanding everything from rain to snow to strong direct sunlight. That said, you can also get furniture covers for a little added protection if you’re expecting harsh weather.

Budget

Given the added work needed to make furniture weather-resistant and durable enough to withstand the conditions of being outdoors, those higher-end pieces can quickly get quite expensive indeed. That said, you don’t want to pick the cheapest option, as they will wear more easily and need to be replaced sooner. You need to be able to strike the right balance for your budget.

The right outdoor furniture can make all the difference in the appeal, functionality, and even the value of your exterior spaces. Make sure that you have a clear idea of what kind of space you want to make before you start choosing.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.