Must-Ask Questions Before Buying Outdoor Patio Furniture

With today’s advancement in furniture designs, one doesn’t need to sacrifice quality for a certain design, or vice-versa. A new set of outdoor patio furniture should make you feel good, relax more with convenience, and make your patio look good as well.

1. Function and How To use? Will it be used for your own personal relaxing time, is it perfect for dining, how many people can use it comfortably, what other features it has, and how to use them are basic questions to ask before choosing a patio furniture.

2. Are the materials or finish all-weather ready? Outdoor furniture should not only bring design and functionality, but durability as well. Make sure to ask if your furniture can withstand all weather (or common weather in your area), and how long it is built to last. Knowing such information will help you with your decision – and help give you a wise one.

3. Is the fabric build for longevity? Fabric that contains UV stabilizers are highly recommended as they help resist fading, due to sunlight exposure. The UV stabilizers also protect if from liquid stains and acts as water repellents – while offering quick dry features as well.

4. Is it high maintenance furniture? Knowing if a furniture is easy to clean, or if it will last longer than some is relatively important. Materials that have materials colored through and through will last longer than those that have been coated.

5. What other features does it carry? Other similar furniture carries distinctive features that carry many useful advantages. It is very important to ask about these features – and how it makes things easier. This will help you determine which furniture will give you what you want and need, and what suits your preferences.

Outdoor Wedding Ideas for Folding Patio Side Table

Give your outdoor wedding reception a personal touch with candles, flowers, and nature-inspired décor items right on your folding tables. Using a folding patio side table is a great choice because setting them up is easy and, once the wedding is over, you can easily fold them up and store them away. Here are a few love folding tables that would work well in weddings.

• Octagon Folding Outdoor Dining Table by All Things Cedar. This 8-sided table has a fold-away design and an umbrella hole. It has brass fittings and mortise and tenon joinery for strength.

• Butterfly 47″ Octagonal Folding Table by Anderson Teak. Offering convenience in any occasion, this table can be fold half-octagonal, folded completely, or opened in full.

• Forza Square Folding Table 31 inch White by Compamia. This table is made from resin with anodized aluminum legs that fold up for easy storage. This folding table is perfect for cafes and hotels because it is easy to clean and maintenance free.

No matter what your decorating budget is, you can create a wedding-worthy look with these tables. To save money, make your own crafts or re-purpose everyday items into unique décor.

Vibrant flowers. Choose flowers that reflect your wedding colors for a coordinated look. If your wedding colors are white and red, decorate the tables with crystal vases filled with red and white roses. If you want something more rustic, fill tin watering cans with red and white wildflowers or daisies. You can also guest favors that work double duty as a table décor. Set a bud vase filled with a single sweetheart rose next to each guest’s place setting.

Romantic candles. Decorating with candles is a charming way to infuse a reception table with a warm glow, especially if the festivities are taking place in the wedding, candles also lend a romantic vibe. As a simple yet chic option, fill tall glass hurricane vases with white pillar candles and line them up down the center of the tables. Surround the candles with a handful of real or faux rose petals for a romantic look. You can also use wine glasses to hold tea lights.

Re-purposed items. Get creative by turning everyday or vintage pieces into reception table décor. If the reception takes place during the summer or in a tropical location, design fresh-looking table centerpieces by filling glass pedestal bowls with vibrant oranges and lemons. Fill vintage white wire birdcages with candles, flowers or poetry books and use them as garden-inspired table décor.

Edible centerpieces. Edible centerpieces are cost-effective décor because they can double as desserts or snacks for the guests. Create a fruit bouquet by sliding pieces of fresh fruit onto skewers and displaying in the middle of the table. As a sweet treat, fill glass apothecary jars with colorful candies, like candy rings, jelly beans or gumdrops that will not melt under the outdoor sun. If you are on the beach, use colorful plastic sand buckets in place of the jars.

Craft Ideas for Outdoor Patio Side Tables with Resin

Resin with let you create outdoor patio side tables that will not only serve as a conversation piece, but will also last for many years. Use a professional grade resin for clarity and hardness so you do not end up with a yellowish sheen on your work. The sky is the limit when it comes to creating with resin. Allow plenty of time for the resin to dry, and protect yourself from noxious fumes by ventilating your work area.

Maps. Use a map for your project. It can be a map of your city, a country you have visited or a cool topographical map. Add photos, gas receipts from a road trip and anything else that further personalizes your map. If you are commemorating a trip, draw your route on the map before you pour the resin. A map table can become an excellent visual memoir or everyday instructional tool for kids.

Driftwood. Consider using resin to make a table out of driftwood. Use the holes naturally found in driftwood to enclose objects like old coins, seashells and other items. Resin looks especially nice on driftwood, and let you see the rough surface of the wood while the table is perfectly smooth. Resin used to create a driftwood table should be given plenty of time to cure because of the large amount used.

Poem. Celebrate the written word by immortalizing a poem on resin. A table decorated with a poem makes an inspirational writing desk. Consider making two small end tables like the Teak Outdoor End Table by All Things Cedar decorated with different poems by the same author. Vinyl adhesive latters work well for this project. You can pour a layer of resin and float a delicate sheet of paper (with the poem written on it) by adding an additional layer of resin after the paper.

Children’s Art. What better way commemorate children’s artwork by enclosing it permanently in a table like the Brianna 20-inch Round Side Table by Anderson Teak with resin? You will make a piece that can be passed down for generations. These tables will bring smiles to a child’s face when used a play table for children’s projects, and your respect for your kid’s art will continue to inspire them.

Fiber. Resin is an attractive medium for showcasing different colors and textures of fiber. Pour resin over fiber art that has already been create, or make a spontaneous mixed-media piece by pouring resin and layering different pieces of yarn and material as you go. This table will be an excellent addition to a craft room or anywhere you would like to showcase a conversation piece.

Mural. If you will pour resin over a long table, such as the St. Bart Single Extension Dining Table by Arbora Teak, consider creating a mural. You can use a photograph of a landscape for inspiration in making a traditional mural, or try your hand at graffiti art for a cutting edge look. Once enclosed in resin, the gritty look of graffiti will take on a decidedly modern sheen.

The Best Fabric Cover for Patio Dining Table and Chairs

Being outdoors is a wonderful place to spend time with friends and family during temperate weather. Investing in quality furniture that will last for years is definitely worth it. You can protect your investments by making covers to put over your patio dining table and chairs, and other furniture pieces, including your grill. Covers will keep everything clean and protected from the elements. The most important qualities to look for in an outdoor fabric covering is durability and breathability. You want your fabric coverings to last for several years. Also, you want the coverings to be colorfast so they look nice for many more years to come. Compare the prices of the different fabrics and what they will cover before you make a purchase.

Canvas

Use canvas as a heavy-duty protector for many items that stay outside all year-round. Canvas like the Patio Table and Chair Set Cover – Rectangle – Up to 104L x 84″W by Duck Covers protects from rain and sun, and is also heavy enough to not blow away every time there is a little bit of wind. The downside of canvas is that if you need a very large piece of it, it can be heavy to move, especially when it gets wet. Spray the canvas with water repellent before you use it as extra protection against all kinds of precipitation.

Vinyl

Vinyl is great for covering outside items that might be on a porch with a roof. It protects from moisture and is very lightweight and inexpensive. Use vinyl like the Outdoor Patio Fireplace Vinyl Cover by Well Traveled Living or the Premium Black Vinyl Cover – Cart 36″ Gas Grill by Outdoor Greatroom Company to cover patio furniture. Make sure that your fireplace or grill is not too warm before you cover it as it might damage the material. Vinyl is washable and resistant to mildew and mold. Add lead weights to the corners of the vinyl covers to help it stay down in case of wind.

Crypton

Crypton is a relatively new fabric on the market. It is a little more expensive than canvas or vinyl, but it also has more options in textures and patterns. The manufacturer guarantees Crypton against bacteria and stains, making it a great choice for outdoor coverings. It is water resistant, but it also resists mold and stains. Crypton has a moisture barrier to protect your outdoor furniture from getting wet, but it also allows air to flow through. Crypton is very durable and washable; it will not lose its color or its water resistant qualities. It comes in suede, woven and textured fabrics.

To prevent the covers from blowing off the furniture in high winds, look for covers that have attached straps that tie at the bottom of the furniture, so no matter how intense the storm is, your furniture will be protected. Investing in quality outdoor furniture covers made from waterproof and durable materials will give sustaining protection during every season and keep your outdoor investments look just as luxurious as when you first bought it.

Make Your Very Own Expandable Patio Dining Table

There are all kinds of expanding tables with a variety of flip-up, pull-apart and leaf designs, from round to square and everything in between. Building your own expandable patio dining table can be as complex a process as you want and need it to be. This expanding table can be built using a minimum of tools, and it gives a good return on your investment of time. It can be built using any kind of wood, but is best made with hardwood for durability and stability.

1. Cut four matching leg pieces from your hardwood, and style them using a router any way you like.

2. Cut four 1-foot wide base boards that are three-quarters the width and length of the table top you are building, and attach all four legs at the right angles to these base boards. What you will have will look like a standing table with a hole in the middle.

3. Cut your table top to the total width you want the table to be.

4. Center it on the table base and legs assembly, and carefully measure every side to assure that the base and legs are directly in the center of the large table top.

5. Mark of 1/8 of the length and width of the table on each side, and cut this section off using a table saw. Do the longer sections first, then the shorter sections, so it does not cut off any corner pieces.

6. Secure the table top to the legs and base. Make sure that your accurately measure once again.

7. Reattach the smaller 1/8 size pieces to the table top, using strong hinges under the table top. You can now move these 1/8 size pieces up and down on the hinge.

8. Attach small wooden latches underneath the table using one screw just behind the cut. Swivel these latches around to secure the table in the upright position, or allow the leaves to be lowered.

Indeed, you can very well make an expandable patio table on your own, with the right materials and instructions. But if you are not good with DIY projects, consider just buying one. There are many stylish choices out there that do not cost a fortune.

Teak Butterfly Extension Table by All Things Cedar

The Teak Butterfly Extension Table by All Things Cedar is manufactured from genuine Java Teak. It is crafted by skilled Indonesian Artisans using mortise and tenon joinery, solid brass hardware, and is finished with a light rub of natural teak oil.

Geneva Oval Double Extension Dining Table by Arbora Teak

Crafted from Grade A solid teak from plantation grown in Indonesia, the Geneva Oval Double Extension Dining Table has two extension leafs that can be easily folded and stored underneath each of the table leaflets. This dining table can easily seat 10-12 people comfortably.

Teakwood Hamilton Extended Dining Table by Lanza

The elegantly and gracefully designed Teakwood Hamilton Extended Dining Table by Lanza is durable and sturdy. Its mortise and tenon construction reinforced by dowel joints is the most rugged and long-lasting. It is an ideal addition to your deck, patio, lawn and garden.