Investing in an outdoor furniture set really can enhance your backyard. Simply having a backyard or garden offers a lot of scope - and all you need is a little imagination. You can turn any decent sized outdoor space into another room: literally a ‘garden room’.

Many don’t realise the effect this can have on your home: it can and will fetch a higher price if/when you decide to sell your home – and move on.

Outdoor Furniture Set

If you're considering a new outdoor furniture set then it's a given that you have the required space. Most of us do have some measure of external space – and how you use it can be of great advantage - not just in terms of increasing the overall value of your home but as a personal escape for you, your family and friends. A garden ‘haven’ is not to be sniffed at.

Simply by purchasing an outdoor furniture set, you’ll be well on your way to altering the look and feel of your backyard – the only problem is: which? There are so many types to choose from it’s almost bewildering. One thing’s for sure – the buying part is easy: there’s more online and regular outdoor furniture outlets than you can shake a stick at.

Outdoor Furniture Set - Wood

As a rule, an outdoor furniture set tends to be made from wood. Then again, wooden furniture is broken down even further by the type of wood. The following list is an overview of the various kinds of wooden sets:

• Rattan
• Wicker
• Teak
• Oak
• Pine
• Maple
• Alder
• Ash

The three most commonly used woods used in the manufacture of an outdoor furniture set (in consecutive order) are: pine, oak and alder. Pine is a softwood and the most popular choice for many buyers – easy to treat, stain and maintain. Oak is one of the hardwood varieties: more expensive but it does possess a beautiful grain therefore its appearance is more pleasing.

Alder is also a hardwood variety, is cheaper in comparison to oak but possesses much of the same appearance as oak furniture - regarding the grain.

The pros and cons of wooden outdoor furniture sets are:

Pros:

• Can be reasonable pricewise
• Easy to maintain
• Durable
• Aesthetic
• Long-lasting

Cons:

• The hardwood types can be expensive
• They will require staining/waxing

• Can be heavy if you wish to relocate the furniture

Outdoor Furniture Set - Metal

Metal is the alternative material from which an outdoor furniture set is frequently made. Generally, there are three kinds: aluminum, wrought iron and stainless steel. Of the three, wrought iron is by far the most expensive – not to mention the heaviest – but it is a very popular choice.

The most popular metal for outdoor furniture is aluminum. This is because it’s lightweight but sturdy and cheaper to buy – though it tends to be bought for pool-side areas.

That said, wrought iron furniture, due to its weight, is ideal for naturally windy areas and from a visual aspect, it is very beautiful. It’s certainly a popular choice and you only have to look at a set that’s designed with intricate scroll-work to appreciate its appearance and overall look.

Pros:

• Very durable
• Easy to clean
• Easy to maintain

Cons:

• Can be expenisve - especially the wroght iron sets
• The lighter metals can be a bit too light

• Equally - wrough iron can be incredibly heavy

Outdoor Furniture Set Considerations

There's many an outdoor furniture set to choose from – in both wood and metal. Which material to choose from is of course the choice of the individual. What I will add is the fact that four years ago, I purchased a wooden outdoor furniture set made from teak. Despite the fact that it needs waxing from time to time, it was a great investment.

It gets a lot of use, copes with all the knocks it receives and still looks as beautiful today as it did when it was bought. And even better, it’s incredibly easy to clean – all you need is water (a garden hose is perfect) some soap and a small handled brush.

So do your research, consider your backyard and what would look best, factor in your budget and give your backyard an instant make-over.