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Furnishing outdoor spaces

Finding the right furniture to match your outdoor area, be it a deck, patio or pool side lounging area, is essential to making the most of this special area of the home. When shopping for outdoor furniture, consider the following. .

Finding the right furniture to match your outdoor area, be it a deck, patio or pool side lounging area, is essential to making the most of this special area of the home. When shopping for outdoor furniture, consider the following.

. Weight: Unlike furniture inside the home, outdoor furniture will be moved around quite frequently, such as to protect it from inclement weather or changing seasons. As a result, the weight of the furniture bears importance. While you don't want furniture that's too lightweight and will blow away any time a strong gust of wind comes along, it's a good idea to choose furniture that isn't too heavy. This makes it easier to move should a storm suddenly appear and it won't require the entire household to help move the furniture.

. Comfort: The whole idea behind an outdoor entertaining area is to have a relaxing place to spend time outside. So be sure to choose furniture that's comfortable and can handle the elements. Metal furniture, for example, might be durable, but such furniture can also get very hot if out in the sun.

. Protection: When shopping for outdoor furniture, figure out if protective covering is available or if it will need to be custom made. The latter alternative can be quite expensive, so you might want to consider more generic furniture that comes with standard protective coverings to make it more affordable.