Wood is a great natural choice for your patio furniture. Teak and cedar are both weather, rot and insect resistant so they are the most common wood materials used in outdoor furniture. Teak is the more exotic of the two and is often significantly more expensive. Both teak and cedar can be treated with sealers to maintain their original fresh cut wood colors or allowed to age naturally to lighter coloring. Cypress is another wood that has all the right characteristics for outdoor furniture but it isn’t as common as teak or cedar.

Wicker is a common material and it was originally made from natural plant material such as reeds or willow switches. Plastic fibers are also a common material used for outdoor wicker furniture. Wicker is light and sturdy and this allows for it to be easily moved. Cushions often come with the wicker furniture to provide added comfort. Wicker is most often left a natural brown color or white but it can be spray painted to match any color choice.

Aluminum is an interesting choice for a furniture material because manufactures use is for both high end pieces and less expensive ones. The higher quality furniture items are made from cast aluminum and they are very durable, light weight and can be painted any color. The thickness can be any size so they can be very solid pieces. Thin walled aluminum tubing is used on the other end of the spectrum. It is very light weight and it can be used to make foldable chairs for easy storage and portability. The down side to aluminum tubing is that it can be easy to bend the tubing rendering the piece scrap aluminum ready for recycling.

Plastic resin is another material that is used primarily for the low cost end of the market. This material is easy to clean, it is light weight and plastic resin chairs and side tables are often designed to be stackable for easy storage. The negatives of plastic is that it is often made with minimal amounts of material so the pieces aren’t very sturdy and if they take a heavy blow they can bend and end up in the scrap pile in a hurry.

Wrought iron patio furniture is a classic choice and it is a very durably material. Wrought Iron is a general descriptive term that originally referred to the type of low carbon iron that was created prior to steel making. Wrought iron is a fibrous material that has a little bit of a wood grain texture on its surface. Items that are referred to as wrought iron today are most often made of mild steel. Wrought iron patio furniture is strong and durable and takes on color through paint or powder coating. Wrought iron patio furniture is often matched with glass table tops that create an intriguing contrasting look.

With all of the different types of outdoor patio furniture materials there is sure to be an option that will meet your style and budget goals. Once you have a general idea of the type of outdoor patio furniture you are interested in, starting thinking about other additions and add-ons and how well they will match your material choice. The more durable materials choices should last you for many years of outdoor lining enjoyment.

Outdoor patio furniture can come in many styles and arrangements. The best outdoor furniture materials are the ones that are weather resistant, sturdy and good looking. Common outdoor patio furniture materials include:

Cast aluminum patio furniture
Wicker patio furniture
Wrought iron patio furniture
Teak patio furniture

Outdoor Dining Furniture sets typically include a patio dining table, a set of 4 patio chairs and a patio umbrella. Other patio sets can include a love seat and chairs with matching side tables. Outdoor patio bar furniture can also liven up and outdoor space. If you are just getting started with your outdoor patio furniture a single patio bench is a good piece to begin with. Place just right in the yard or patio it can become quite the back yard destination place.

My favorite piece of outdoor patio furniture is my hammock and hammock stand. They are perfect for spending a little time in the shade on a lazy summer day.

Don’t forget outdoor patio cushions to add some of your personal style to your outdoor living space. There are lots of choices when it comes to patio cushions so don’t be shy.

Outdoor patio furniture covers are a good idea to have if you live in a climate where the weather changes often or if you don’t have covered storage for your outdoor patio furniture in the off season.

Patio Sets – the various types

Patio dining sets: Round, oval, square, rectangle or octagon tables with sets of four to six patio chairs. Dining sets may also come with a patio umbrella that slides through the center of the patio table.
Patio bar sets: A table and two or more chairs at bar height (42”).
Conversation sets: Conversations sets contain a pair of patio chairs, a love seat, patio cushions and a coffee table. Some sets also come with a side table.
Folding patio furniture sets: A patio dining set or conversation set where the furniture pieces are designed to fold flat for easy portability and storage.
Patio chair sets: Sets of two to four patio chairs by themselves.
Bistro sets: Smaller patio table and a pair of patio chairs. May also come with a smaller patio umbrella.

Patio Furniture Materials

Aluminum patio furniture: Aluminum furniture sets can be either high end pieces made of cast aluminum or cheaper thin walled aluminum tubing. Cast aluminum is sturdy and strong and comes in a variety of finishes like pewter and bronze.
Plastic patio furniture: Recycled plastic patio furniture has a bad reputation as cheap and flimsy but you can find better quality pieces that are strong, sturdy and almost elegant. Plastic has the great qualities of being less expensive than other materials, weather resistance, light weight, easy to clean, and comes is a variety of color choices.
Wicker patio furniture: Wicker patio sets bring a lot of charm and character to your patio area. Wicker is a woven fiber (organic and plastic) that is formed into a ridged piece of furniture. Wicker is light and sturdy which makes it easy to move.
Teak patio furniture: Teak patio sets are very common, they look great and the stand up to the weather very well. Cedar is another wood that has great weather resistant qualities but it is less common than teak.
Wrought iron and Cast iron patio furniture: Iron furniture sets are very durable and have a classic look to them. They are often pair with glass table tops that make a great contrasting look between the materials. Iron furniture pieces are either painted or powder coated for an even more durable finish.
Glass: Glass table tops for dining tables, coffee tables and side tables are a common feature for patio sets. The glass top make for easy cleanup along with its weather resistance. Tempered glass is a must for safety.

Have an overall plan for how you want your outdoor patio set to evolve and then grow it one piece at a time until you have reached your visions. Once you have chosen your patio furniture set there are many ways to accessorize you new outdoor furniture. One of the first things to add on are patio covers to keep your new furniture clean and inviting. There are also many patio set accessories that can be added to enhance your outdoor experience.