Elevated deck with cushy outdoor chairs surrounding a firepit.

Choosing the Correct Deck Furniture for Your Outdoor Living Space

Spring is almost here, and if your deck furniture needs replacing, now is the time to start shopping. Before making a final decision, some questions to consider include: What type of material should you purchase? What are the differences in materials? What kinds of furniture would work well?

Below is a breakdown of some of the most popular choices for outdoor furniture.

Wood Deck Furniture

Wood has been the most popular material for outdoor furniture sets for decades, mainly because of its beauty, warmth, and sturdiness. However, not all types of wood are suitable for this purpose. For example, cedar, fir, pine, press-treated pine, and other softwoods do not hold up well to exposure to the elements and, therefore, require significant protection and maintenance. Hardwoods are much better suited to exposure to the elements but will still require some protection and maintenance.

All-Weather Wicker

Natural wicker is created from rattan, seagrass, bamboo, willow, banana leaves, and other organic materials. It creates beautiful pieces but can be very vulnerable to moisture and humidity. All-weather wicker is a synthetic resin that makes it lightweight, easy to clean, and comes in many colors. However, it is not suitable for high-wind areas as it is so light, which means it is not a great choice for Colorado unless you are prepared to put it in storage whenever it gets windy.

Plastic Furniture

Several types of plastic furniture are available on the market today. Each offers unique qualities that work well in outdoor applications. Some types are durable, weather-resistant, and inexpensive, while others are highly resistant to heat and chemical degradation. If you are interested in purchasing plastic furniture, please research the different types available.

Metal Deck Furniture

Metal is one of the most durable materials for outdoor furniture. Its strength allows the manufacturers to be very flexible in the design. And the overall designs continue to improve over the years; some of the outdoor furniture is now made without screws, bolts, or fasteners. This prevents a breakdown due to corrosion at what are traditionally considered the “weaker points” of metal pieces. There are a few drawbacks to using metal – when left in the sun, the surface can get very hot; some types of metal are heavy and difficult to move; and they can be susceptible to rust and corrosion.

Once you have decided on the type of material you wish to use, there are some other features that you should also consider.

Rust-Proof Hardware – On many types of materials, the manufacturers will use hardware. Ensure that the screws, bolts, and other pieces are rust-resistant.

Weather-Resistant Finishes – Given Colorado’s extreme weather conditions, it is suggested that you opt for furniture with weather-resistant finishes and coatings.

Cushions – If your furniture includes cushions, verify they are made of outdoor-grade fabric. This type of fabric is more resistant to fading and mildew.

Storage in the Off-Season – Sometimes, people will buy the furniture of their dreams and then realize they have no way to store it in the off-season. Proper storage can be vital to ensuring that your new deck furniture will last.

Here comes the fun part: Designing the look you wish for your outdoor living space! Below are some photos taken after homeowners decorated their completed decks.

Composite deck creates a beautiful outdoor oasis in Colorado Springs.

These homeowners created this beautiful entertainment area by using metal dining tables and chairs with umbrellas. They also added numerous flowerpots on the floor of the deck, and on the railing, adding life and color to the scene.

Patio cover with tv mounted on cedar half-wall

We built this patio cover (also called a ramada) because the owners wanted to create a relaxing and comfortable area for entertaining outside. The cover was designed to include a mounted TV, ceiling fan, and can lights. The furniture is metal with cushions, and they created two sitting areas. They truly have an amazing oasis to gather and watch a game!

Composite deck with a metal deck railing featuring vertical cables and a drink cap. The owners added a rug and dining area to the deck

Here, we built a gorgeous composite deck with a vertical cable railing. The owners created separate seating areas using outdoor rugs, which add a lot of color to the deck. The table and chairs are made of metal, but the chairs feature wicker backing. They also added cushions made from an outdoor-grade fabric.

These homeowners used different types of material for their furniture to help create distinct sitting areas on their composite deck. They also added a gas fire pit to one area with well-cushioned chairs, resulting in an incredibly relaxing area to enjoy company on a cool Colorado night.

Whatever you decide to use for decking furniture, enjoy making your outdoor living space uniquely yours!

For information on creating your outdoor oasis, call us at 719-440-6966. We can guide you through all the steps involved with building a new outdoor living space.