How to Go Green with Your Outdoor Furniture

When the weather gets warmer, and spring begins to bud forth, the first thing on our agenda is getting some outdoor furniture; enjoying and relaxing in the munificent bounty of the great outdoors and nature.

The important thing when opting to go green with your outdoor furniture is to remember your three Rs; and I'm not talking about reading, writing and arithmetic. I am talking about the green three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle; an important component to to keep in mind when choosing your outdoor furniture.

These tips will help you in choosing the right eco-friendly outdoor furniture for your yard and patio.

1. 'Reuse' will come into play if you decide to keep your old outdoor furniture and give it a face-lift with a coat of low/no VOC paint. While you are at it, you can make new cushion covers. Just remember to use a natural fiber when choosing your fabric.

If you don't have any outdoor furniture, or if you want a different set; consider buying a good, second-hand set. Springtime is an excellent time to find different sets for sale in the classified section of your local newspaper.

2. All three of the three R's come into play when you purchase outdoor furniture constructed of Polywood. Polywood is a material made primarily from recycled milk jugs. The polymers are extracted at high temperature, the different colors are injected into the mixture, and then the molten product is molded into forms that replicate lumber; hence the name Polywood.

Outdoor furniture made from Polywood can look as if it has been made from a high quality wood that has been painted. And it is so easy to clean, that a quick hose off or a little soap and warm water will get the cleaning job done in no time. To learn more about the company that makes this unique material, and the outdoor furniture made from it, you can go online to http://greenfrogoutdoorfurniture.com/.

3. For those of you who prefer to have more of a natural look in their outdoor furniture might consider going with wicker, or rattan. This type of furniture is quite elegant, and can give your yard a look of the tropics. Wicker outdoor furniture is made from a renewable resource, so it is definitely eco-friendly.

What a lot of people might not realize is, Wicker is not a plant; it is a weaving process, and it is this process that gives it its elegant and tropical look. The way this furniture is made is, a solid frame is put together, and then reeds or young cane is then woven around the frame; making a beautiful piece of furniture that can be rivaled by no other. You can find out more about this furniture and where to buy it at http://www.wickerwarehouse.com/showpage.asp?t=what_is_wicker.htm.

Shopping for eco-friendly outdoor and patio can be a lot of fun, and it is much easier than one might think because there are so many green choices to choose from.

As you can tell, there are many options open to the consumer who is looking to buy eco-friendly outdoor and patio furniture. Don't spend too much time choosing though. Summer is almost here, and you'll need it quite soon.