Outdoor Furniture: Natural Vs. Man-Made

When deciding between natural or man-made outdoor furniture there are many factors that you may want to take into consideration. Where are you going to put your furniture, will it be on the porch protected from the elements or will it be on a deck or patio or on the lawn? Will it be in yard or a garden spot?

Those are some of the questions we considered when we bought our lawn furniture a few years ago. We wanted furniture for our back yard that has an atmosphere of a relaxing garden spot. We did not want to worry about having to find a place to store the furniture every time the weather decided to change or a storm rolled in. We wanted lawn furniture that would be inviting and relaxing while adding to the natural surrounding. Therefore, we chose to go with mostly natural outdoor furniture. Wood furniture is very sturdy and long lasting. It is heavier than most man-made types of lawn furniture, which means we don't have to worry about it blowing around the yard if a storm with heavy wind rolls in.

I leave my lawn furniture out year round and have never had any problem with the natural furniture. As opposed to man-made furniture, which will need some extensive repairs or replacements in a few years. Both the natural and the man-made furniture are the same age.

The natural furniture has not required much care aside from washing it and re-sealing it each year. Whereas the man-made furniture needs almost constant care. If it has cushions you have to take those off and find a place to store them if it storms, otherwise you have to deal with wet cushions. The cushions generally have to be washed a few times a year. If there is a storm with a lot of wind lighter man-made furniture may blow over, which can damage the furniture.

We choose to go with a swing that was made with man-made materials instead of natural because of the price. The plastic on the feet are cracking, the canopy is starting fade and there are a few minor rips. Thankfully, the metal is holding up well. If I were to do it again I would spend the extra and get a natural wood swing for my yard. You can add cushions to a natural wood swing although if you are going with an Adirondack swing it won't be necessary, as they are completely comfortable without the need of cushions.

I personally prefer the look of natural wooden furniture. Because I prefer the look of nature and it blends quite well with the beauty of its surroundings. If you are willing to take the extra care that is needed to take care of your furniture and the man-made furniture suits your personality better than you may prefer the man-made. All lawn furniture has to be taken care of and it really boils down to what you want and what you are willing to do in order to keep your lawn furniture looking its best for years to come.

The one thing I would definitely avoid is cheep flimsy plastic lawn furniture. You know the type not only does it blow over in a storm it blows into the neighbors yard and has been known to spill a person promptly on the ground if they are not careful.

When purchasing outdoor furniture it is wise to go with quality, stability and pick something that you will be happy with for years to come. It may cost a little more initially but in the long run the average cost will be less than if you were to buy and replace cheap furniture.