Buying Outdoor Wicker Furniture

Outdoor wicker patio furniture can be really great addition to any home. These are also great pieces to spend quality money on for three reasons.

One: wicker furniture is relatively inexpensive. At most, some of the sets you can get are priced at less than half of what you could normally get for “reasonably priced” hardwood furniture.

Two: wicker furniture is resilient. They can outlast most other hardwood furniture materials, and still remain looking new. These days, with modern vinyl and resin wicker outdoor furniture, furniture of this type are proving to be stronger than natural rattan or wicker wood.

Lastly: wicker is so malleable that it can now be shaped into all forms of shapes, styles and sizes. There are more designs to choose from (such as outdoor wicker rattan furniture) and that is always a good thing from the consumers’ point of view.

So how do you choose your outdoor wicker pieces? Here are some tips.

1. Always check the quality of the work. The quality of the wicker furniture depends on two things: the weaving and the actual materials used. Quality synthetic wicker furniture are usually made from very tight and uniform weaves, and are usually heavier as compared to the cheaper alternatives. You can test out its quality by simply running your hands over the weave. The smoother the surface of the pieces (no snags, no awkward protrusions, no loose knots, etc.) means higher quality.

Natural wicker furniture, on the other hand, is usually made from semi-tight and sometimes irregular weaves – a fact associated with the different dimensions of the natural wood being used. Although very light, quality wicker furniture should be strong and level. It should also not be susceptible to undue rocking motions, wood snags, etc.

2. Always ask for “outdoor” furniture. Wicker can be used as indoor outdoor wicker furniture. However, natural wicker should be treated with moisture repellant chemicals, varnish to make it more resistant to prolonged sunlight exposure, wood-eating insect repellents and the lot. If you are choosing synthetic wicker outdoor furniture, however, try to get the least colored ones, so that the hues do not fade out when exposed to the elements.

3. Buy only the furniture pieces your space needs. Because discount outdoor wicker furniture can be inexpensive, it is fairly easy to go overboard and go on a mad buying spree. But you would not want to litter you garden or patio with too many pieces. If you want to buy an outdoor wicker furniture set, then do so. But if you feel like one wicker rocking chair or lounge chair should suffice for your space, then stick to buying one piece only. This will make the furniture stand out more.