Purchasing your first home is arguably one of the most exciting milestones any young adult can take. If you’re lucky enough to purchase your first home with a garden or outdoor space of some sort, picking out garden furniture and designing it from scratch can be just as exciting.
Before you rush out and start making impulse purchases based on excitement, you need to take the time to plan, decide on a budget and figure out what pieces are going to work well together, and which ones won’t. Shopping on impulse can lead to expensive and unnecessary errors that can take a lot of time and effort to correct! Trust us, we’ve witnessed this first hand.
This is why we’ve decided to put this blog together on our top five mistakes to avoid when shopping for your outdoor furniture.
- Cheap isn’t always better
One of the first things you may notice when looking around for garden furniture is the considerable variability in prices. Don’t get us wrong it can be enticing to go for the cheap options, especially when marketed well! You must be careful though, especially when shopping online. Shopping online limits, you from being able to feel the product yourself and get a good sense of the product as you aren’t able to test it out.
Opting or the cheapest option may leave you with lightweight and flimsy furniture that will easily blow away with the slightest wind. By no means is all cheap furniture going to turn out this way. However, we would suggest shopping in-store, which allows you to test out the product yourself and give you an idea of the quality of the product.
- Skinny chair legs don’t always work
Another important tip when looking for outdoor furniture is to consider the space you have to work with. For example, if you’ve got a wooden deck, opting for chairs with skinny legs is not the smartest move. Skinny chair legs paired with a wooden deck means they can easily sink into the gaps between the wooden planks. Consequently, you’d have to be constantly checking the chairs are placed correctly and not on the verge of slipping into a crack. Doesn’t make for a relaxing lunch with friends!
- Don’t go for just any material you’re drawn to
Our next tip is to consider the environment you live in. All material types have their downfalls and advantages which make them ideal for certain environments and outdoor situations and not for others. For example, if you live in an area which consistently experiences high winds, outdoor furniture made up of aluminium is probably not going to be your first choice. While stainless steel is sturdy and low maintenance, it can reach high temperatures when left in the sun for long periods of time, so probably isn’t your ideal choice if you tend to leave your furniture out.
Teak is a common material used for outdoor furniture and is well-known for its durable and “all-weather” hardwood. However, keep in mind that if you live in a particularly wet climate, you will have to be digilant with the upkeep and maintenance of your furniture. It will need to be treated at least once a year to prevent cracking and warping.
We could go on forever about all the pros and cons of different outdoor furniture materials, but the point is to do your research thoroughly. It’s important that the material you opt for suits your particular environment well and can outlast the impacts the weather may have on your furniture.
- Don’t forget to plan for wet days
A common mistake we see is that people assume because it’s labelled ‘outdoor furniture’ that it will be fine in the rain. For the most part, this is true, but don’t forget about all the cushions you have on your sofas, chairs and daybeds!
Medium to heavy rain can cause serious damage to your cushions. If left in the rain, your cushions will become wet and heavy and will develop mould and mildew. Leaving you to have to replace them all. A costly mistake that can be easily prevented!
Firstly, if you know it’s going to rain, ensure that you bring all the cushions inside or place them in an outdoor storage box.
- Don’t forget to check your surroundings before placing your outdoor furniture
Have you ever been to a friend’s place and noticed bird poop all over their nice outdoor cushions? Or perhaps you’ve had previous furniture placed underneath a large tree and consistently had fallen leaves or whatnot on your couch. Basically, our point is this, look upwards and consider your surroundings.
We hope this blog has been helpful in your journey to creating the outdoor space of your dreams.
Blog 2
Guide to Teak Furniture <H1>
Teak furniture has always been a popular material in outdoor living situations; most known by its honey colour. Some people like the encapture and extend the brightness of this youthful honey colour in the wood by vanishing it with teak oil. But after a while and multiple applications you may find that your furniture isn’t as warm and honey coloured as it used to be.
You may be surprised to find out that the protective properties of teak oil are limited. It may even be aiding to the damage of your teak wood furniture. Today we’ll be going over everything you need to know about teak oil and your teak furniture.
What is Teak <H2>
Teak is one of the most durable hardwoods available, which is why it’s been such a huge hit for outdoor furnishings. Teak wood is heavy and dense, and is resistant against insects and moisture. The reason teak wood is so durable is all thanks to the natural oils found within mature teak trees.
This naturally occurring oil is not the same thing as teak oil that you’d find in your local hardware and timber store. This teak oil that you’d find in store is actually derived from flax seed. Flax, also known as linseed, is great for adding omega-3 to your diet but not to the durability of your hardwood furniture. While some may think it can protect your wood from the wind, rain and sunlight it isn’t as effective as some may believe. If you like to use teak oil to revive the look and last of your furniture you may actually be doing more bad than good.
Teak Oil and Outdoor Furniture <H2>
Looking at your hardwood furniture structurally you don’t actually need to be applying teak oil for your wood to last for decades. By applying this teak oil you can make the material dependent on these re-applications.
This is because the teak oil you’re using is really made up of mostly linseed oil and solvents. When applied the wood wil have a nice colour, but the solvents will actually be decreasing and reducing the amount of natural oil originally found in the wood. This is the oil that naturally repels insects and protects itself from the elements. Your store bought teak oil will dry out and fade, meaning you’ll have to reapply more oil in an endless cycle to be able to keep the natural honey tone of the wood.
Teak furniture that is regularly oiled is also more likely to develop mildew and problems of uneven colouring as it ages. The chance of these issues will become more noticable if you’re not careful to wipe up all the extra oil from the wood surface after the application of each coat.
If you want to preserve the natural honey glow of your teak furniture there are other ways that won’t damage the protective nature of this hardwood.
Does Teak Oil Preserve Teak Wood Colour? <H2>
Like most natural materials when left exposed to the elements the colour of your furniture will fade. Teak wood will change from a warm honey colour to a silver grey. This process of natural fading can begin from up to a few weeks after the wood is put outside and exposed to the natural elements. This is caused by the evaporation and oxidization of the natural oil from the wood at the level of the exposed surface.
During this weathering you may notice some uneven colouring and even slight cracks in its woodwork. This is a completely normal process and should even out overtime, it’s a simple process that occurs from the expansion and contraction of the wood because of changes in its environment and weather. Eventually your teak furniture will become a silvery gray color, which some may find dull while others may love as a neutral furnishing to their outdoor space.
This graying process is one that only affects your furniture’s appearance. It won’t change the lifespan or durability of your wood natural fibres. Teak oil has become so popular because people prefer the golden honey colour of youthful teak wood in comparison to its silver adult look. And while this visual revival may be more important to some people than others it’ll drastically diminish the lifespan of your furniture, the honey coating leaving within a few weeks of application. This process goes round and round each time taking a big toll and damage to your teak furniture.
To find the best teak furniture for your outdoor entertaining space visit your nearest Cosh Living showroom in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne. We have an experienced garden furniture team who can help guide you in the right direction and find the perfect pieces for your outdoor space.
