It's summertime, the sun is shining brightly, the birds are chirping in the garden, and you feel like sitting out and enjoying the ambience. But wait! You have no outdoor furniture set. And we all realize that good furniture sets can be expensive.
No, you don't want those plastic things because they don't last long and might not fit into your patio the way you'd like. So what do you do? Perhaps you'd like to build yours. It's not complicated; we'll share tips for making your outdoor furniture set.
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Tips on Making Outdoor Furniture Set
Choose Suitable Materials
Outdoor furniture will be exposed to the elements, so it's only wise to source materials that can withstand the weather's effect. Certain fabrics do better in the sun than others, so you must consider that. You also should consider dust, rain, and snow, as all these can adversely affect your furniture. Get fabrics for the outdoors that are built to withstand these.
Besides your fabrics, your structural pieces should be put into consideration. Therefore, look at the wood or metal you want to use if that's your choice. Remember that wood rots and iron rusts, so you want to choose your material wisely.
However, this doesn't mean wood and metal are deal breakers for making outdoor furniture. They are even the leading furniture materials. You can treat these materials with anti-weathering chemicals, such as lacquers or paint, to protect them from the environment's harsh effects. This will help prolong their useful life.
Choose the Right Size and Shape
Space is important, so you'd want to measure your patio space before building your furniture. You want to ensure you are utilizing the space to suit your furniture size. This way, your furniture will fit right in with your space.
Make sure there's enough space for other activities in your backyard. For example, you want to provide space for kids to play, hold parties, and move around.
This also brings to mind the shape of your furniture. The shape of your outdoor area should also determine the shape of your furniture and its placement. This will take some patience as you might have to tinker with several designs before you find something that works beautifully for your space. How to set up your outdoor furniture?
Comfort and Quality
Why do we spend time outside? We do so for several reasons, including lounging, enjoying the weather, and more. But comfort is of utmost importance in this endeavour.
There's no need to have a set of furniture that no one will be comfortable sitting on or using.
So consider the cushions, mattress, style, and build of your furniture to make it comfortable.
You shouldn't forget about quality because of comfort. High-quality pieces are enjoyed longer, eliminating the need to replace them. Your fabric pieces, cushions, and other structural pieces should be high quality to the degree you can afford.
Also, arm Placements, leg room, backrest shape, and height of chairs and tables will contribute to the comfort and quality of the furniture pieces.
Consider the Design and Overall House Decor
There are different furniture styles, such as lounge chairs and outdoor dining sets. Your house style, the amount of space you have, and your interior and exterior decor should play a part in the kind of outdoor furniture to build. You want to have something that fits right and compliments your home style.
You don't want a piece of furniture that looks out of place in your home.
Functionality over Aesthetics
We love aesthetically pleasing items, but let's not get carried away with looks that we forget functionality. Why are you building an outdoor furniture set in the first place? What's your purpose for it? Are you looking to just lounge around the pool? Perhaps you want something that can serve as a table and yet can be used to grill, keeping you warm in the cold weather.
Perhaps you'd like to host parties in your garden and want enough furniture to seat your guests.
Think of your purpose for having outdoor furniture, then build something that would suit that purpose.
Storage Facilities
When the weather turns awry, where do you store your pieces? Would you have enough space for them? Can they even be moved? You might want to add wheels for easy movement if the pieces are heavy.
The important question is, do you have storage space, especially for the winter months? Although you can invest in tarp and nylons, they might not protect your pieces fully.
If you don't have storage space, you might want to consider making your furniture in a foldable style for easier storage. Or you could make a piece that works with the furniture in the house.
Budget
The good book says no man goes to war without first counting the cost. Hence, you want to know if you can afford the kind of outdoor furniture you want to make.
Can you easily source your materials and tools, and if you hit a snag, is there a place or someone to bail you out?
You don't want unfinished projects lying all around.
If you can't afford what you want, what are the alternatives? What can be cheaper yet still be of high quality? Can you substitute your material for something else if your budget cannot afford the one you've chosen?
These are some questions you need to ask yourself. In the end, you can't get what you can't afford.
Related Reading: Tips For Choosing Outdoor Furniture.
Don't be Afraid to Ask for Help
If this is the first time you are building furniture or doing woodwork, generally, it's not unusual to hit a snag or get to a place you don't know what to do. Well, don't be afraid to ask for help. There are online forums, YouTube, and other places where you can ask questions. Professional woodworkers in your area will be willing to help if you ask.
Conclusion
It is great that you'd like to build your furniture yourself. Perhaps you'd have fun with your family while at it, and it might even bring everyone closer. With the tips you've learned from this article, you are not good to go and build the outdoor furniture of your choice.