ShowUhow Blog

Selecting Great Furniture for Your Outdoor Great Room

Tips for getting, keeping and maintaining the best outdoor furniture:

1)     Think Quality, Not Quantity

Quality outdoor furniture pays for itself in the long run because it is more durable and requires less maintenance.  Buying quality furniture provides enjoyment all year round, for years to come.  Opposed to cheaper sets, which need replacement after the first rain storm.

2)     Location, Location, Location

Do you plan to keep your furniture outdoors year round?  Do you live in sunny San Diego or Fargo, North Dakota?  If you live in harsher climates and plan to keep your patio furniture outdoors all year long, purchase strong, durable furniture constructed from hardwood, cement and iron, which are the most weather resistant.  Regardless of where you live, and how much time your furniture spends outside, regular maintenance is the secret to keeping your furniture looking great and capitalizing on your investment.  (Check out our article Patio Furniture Maintenance, for maintenance tips)

3)     Party of Five

Quality furniture will be a part of your garden landscape for a while, so make sure it fits.  Invest in pieces that reflect not only your style, but also meet your outdoor patio furniture needs.  Do you entertain large parties often?  Maybe getting a larger table or more chairs makes sense for you.  Do you use your back patio for quiet relaxation?  Maybe adding a swing or a hammock is better suited for you.

4)     Lost in Translation

High prices don’t necessarily mean high quality!  Choose high quality items by making sure your furniture comes from trustworthy manufacturers and is made with top quality materials and finishes. 

5)     Pieces of Flair

Be sure to top off your secret garden with your own pieces of flair.  Accessories add your own unique style to your patio.  Try matching the color of your cushions to the garden flowers.  Or, if that is a little too Martha Stewart for you, just choose cushions and accessories that reflect your style.  And remember, cushions are easily replaceable, which is a great tip for those who are just looking for an easy way to refresh and update your patio.

6)     Enjoy!

Now that you have created your own secret garden, go outside and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Summer fun is just around the corner

Can you believe that it’s already June?  Summer is less that three weeks away and it’s time to get ready!  Both kids and adults have summer on the brain.  It’s time to make vacation plans, figure out a summer schedule, and devise a plan to keep yourself and the kids busy!  Summer camps are taking registrations and starting to fill up, as our reservations for our favorite summer activity, camping!  

Get your summer gear out and assess if it’s fit for another year—things like goggles, pool rafts and beach toys need to be taken from the back of the garage and moved to the front.  Clean off the patio furniture and the barbecue grill and check to see if it needs repair, or even replacement.   This year everyone’s talking about planting gardens, and seeds are flying off the store shelves.  It’s time to plant your summer tomatoes, and other garden veggies, too!  You can even have your kids plant their own garden (like the Obama’s).  They can have a great time picking what to grow and tending the garden—and are more likely to eat vegetables they had a hand in growing! There are a lot of summer activities you can do from home to maximize fun and keep costs down.