From the salty sea air to the bitter cold, to the soaring heat, selecting outdoor furniture that will survive and maintain its beauty comes down to the choice of materials and the quality. Understanding what the best material for outdoor furniture is for your environment makes it an easy when deciding what pieces you want for your outdoor space.

Before you invest in a new outdoor setting to spend the warm, summery days outsider, here are some things you should consider:

Outdoor Furniture For Balcony living

  • Measure you balcony space and pick pieces that will give you plenty of space on your balcony
  • These outdoor furniture pieces need to be able to withstand the sun, wind and rain. Teak is a great option as it extremely durable and long lasting
  • Avoid plastic and lightweight wicker furniture as these are often not suitable for balcony living, unless in an enclosed and protected area.
  • Select outdoor fabric that will withstand Australia’s climate, like our luxury outdoor fabric range. Stick to neutral colours and textures, especially if they’re consistently in the sun to reduce obvious fading.
  • If your outdoor area lacks shade, remember to consider how hot the furniture may get on a summer’s day. While durable, compact laminate or metal for example, maybe a little too hot to sit on, so stick with materials like teak or mesh.

EcoOutdoor Balcony Living
The Ord® Modular lounge is perfect for this outdoor balcony area

Outdoor Furniture for Coastal air

  • Low-grade metal in coastal conditions can rust and end up corroding, and glued joints may come unstuck. Opt for stainless or powder-coated steel for it’s tough and rust-resistant properties.
  • Cast aluminium is also a hard-wearing metal, however, look out for pieces with a powder-coated finish as this will improve the durability.
  • Teakwood provides qualities like no other timbers and can withstand the climate and suits the coastal aesthetic. It’s wind resistant, rustproof, and handles water well. Leave it to age and patina naturally, or bring it back to its original beauty with these tips. Another advantage of teak is that it doesn’t hold the heat like metal tends to.
  • Woven materials like our Rehau weave and synthetic Batyline mesh are also suited to coastal properties as they’re extremely durable, breathe, and are highly resistant to UV damage and mildew. The furniture can also be easily brushed or hosed down to remove any salt or sand build up.

Best Material Outdoor Furniture Coastal
The Ida chairs and Bronte dining table in the coastal home by Polly Harbison Design

For Rainy Weather & Cold Climate

  • Clever drainage in cushioning and quick dry foams, together with durable fabrics means you no longer need to avoid selecting the more comfortable and luxurious outdoor settings. Our range of outdoor fabrics are mould proof and dry quickly, a perfect garden furniture for wet weather.
  • Most quality outdoor furniture made of stainless steel or aluminium have been crafted with rust-resistant hardware, increasing its durability and is vital for cold, wet, climates.
  • If rain is forecasted for days on end, leaving your upholstered furniture out for the water to pool onto isn’t going to help its lifespan. If there are no sunny days in between to dry up the water, pack soft furnishings away or at the very least, position them so that the water can run off rather than soak into the fabric and foam. Same goes for your wicker or woven chairs and lounges.

 

Best Material Outdoor Furniture
Cooler climates can still enjoy soft, comfortable furniture | Tulloch Lounge and Lounge Chair which features quality outdoor fabric and quick dry foam cushions

Our outdoor furniture has been designed to not only look great but to withstand the unique and harsh Australian environment all day, every day. Ensuring your outdoor setting is manufactured well using quality materials will see last for many years to come.

Browse our collection of modern outdoor furniture or download our 2021/2022 Summer Outdoor furniture Catalogue