If word on the grapevine is anything to go by, garden furniture has been eagerly sought after since the Christmas decorations were packed away. Last year taught us that we definitely need outdoor spaces to meet family and friends in, and since that’s likely to continue, everyone’s looking to make them more comfortable.
I usually advise my clients to choose garden furniture that can be left outside all year round if at all possible, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, you never know in Ireland when the good weather’s going to arrive – you can get an hour or two of summer in February or indeed in November – and those precious minutes spent outside, surrounded by nature, are wasted if you have to pull your garden seats out of storage and dust them down. Much handier to have somewhere ready to spend half an hour with a cuppa when the mood, or the sunshine, strikes. Secondly, your furniture’s a significant element in the overall garden picture and an inviting seat and maybe table, as well as forming part of the garden picture, will encourage you to be outside that bit more often.
With this in mind then, what are the materials to look for when garden furniture shopping?
Cast aluminium, although light so not suitable for a very windy spot, doesn’t rust, making it ideal for year-round use in a rainy climate. You’ll find dining chairs, tables and benches in classic styles, reminiscent of older, wrought iron furniture – go for bronze or grey finishes, as the cream ones can show rust stains from the screws.
If you prefer timber, consider investing in hardwood such as oak or teak – just make sure it’s responsibly sourced timber and some unfortunate rainforest tribe hasn’t been left homeless so you can have a few beers around the barbecue! Hardwoods will weather to a silvery grey over time and don’t need to be treated with woodstain.
For a more contemporary look, woven polyrattan and polyrope are weather-resistant, comfortable and come in lots of colours to give your outdoor space the perfect finishing touch.
Anne’s Tip of the Week:
Look for showerproof outdoor cushions to make your garden furniture more comfortable – you’ll need to take them inside in winter but a few light rain showers won’t do them any harm and your garden seats will always look inviting and be ready to use.
Anne Byrne Garden Design provides easy to follow Garden Plans that you can implement right away or in stages. Anne’s design flair and passion for plants brings a touch of magic to gardens of all sizes.
Anne Byrne Garden Design – Creative Ideas – Practical Solutions – Stunning Gardens
T: 086 683 8098 E: [email protected] www.annebyrnegardendesign.com
