Furniture - What will work for you?

So what will work for you and what’s best to go for? Well, if you’re busy, busy and short of time like me, carting your garden furniture in and out and having to setup your outside space each time you want to use it is not an option. I want something that is ready to use if the sun does spontaneously poke its head out for 5 minutes, so something that can be left insitu is a must.

Obviously fabrics and cushions need to be brought indoors but I can cope with scattering a few cushions and a table cloth. Nor do I want to spend too many of those valuable, good weather hours, maintaining my outdoor furniture, so weather proof and low maintenance is the order of the day for me.

There is a plethora of products available on the market these days and in a wide range of prices to suit everyone’s budget. You can go to your local DIY store or shop on-line and find very inexpensive pieces that are ready to assemble and will probably last a good few years and give you reasonable wear. Or you can make a longer term, slightly more expensive investment in cast aluminium or wrought iron pieces that will last longer.

Any of the above would ideally need to be brought inside during the winter to achieve longevity, but they're durable enough to stay outside for the summer months. More substantial hardwood furniture pieces made of woods such as teak or redwood will give you many years of service if treated properly. But again, no matter what kind of wood you select, you should store it indoors or at least under cover for the winter months.

You may already have decent garden furniture which just looks a bit tired and weathered. Give it a new lease of life or spruce it up by re-treating it or changing the look and colour completely by re-painting.

If you like the look of wood but don’t want to stretch your budget have a browse round to see what you can find. Junk shops and car boot sales are great places to pick up interesting and unusual pieces which you can transform with a lick of paint and some new soft furnishings without breaking the bank.

Old deckchairs are great for transforming in to modern new pieces with a distressed white paint effect. Don’t worry if you can’t get everything matching in style or shape, you can mix wood and metal, old and new styles. Painting your items in the same colour scheme and co-ordinating the soft furnishings will bring them together as an impressive set.

Metal or wooden furniture can be painted white, cream or pale green (mint is one of the hottest interior colours for the season but sits just as comfortably in its natural

habitat outdoors), or wood can be stripped and limed with wax for a beachy driftwood kind of look.

Nautical is a good look for outdoor furniture as the weathered, sun-bleached look is desirable. Teak oil preserves and adds a rich honey/amber colour tone to wood as well as a fresh, clean, summery smell when first applied.

Get the look for less at Terry's - Fabrics to help you get the look for less

Get the look for less at Terry's

with a massive selection of cushions

Get the look for less at Terry's - Fabrics to help you get the look for less

Get the look for less at Terry's

with a massive selection of cushions

Get the look for less at Terry's - Fabrics to help you get the look for less

Get the look for less at Terry's

with a massive selection of cushions