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In the old days, patio furniture was mostly made out of wood, stone or metal. Then synthetic fibers such as plastic came along. But all of these have their advantages and disadvantages and it is often difficult to decide which patio furniture you want for your outdoor area. The fact remains though, that modern patio furniture takes all of the elements that made traditional outdoor furniture great and combines them with modern technology to deal with the problems and the disadvantages.
Different types of modern patio furniture: pros and cons
Stone patio furniture: Highly elegant and also probably the most expensive, this type of patio furniture is most often found as antiques or made to look like antiques and custom made. They are most appropriate for a semi-outdoor area, because they are very heavy and extremely difficult to move. You can find them in covered verandahs, porches and pagodas as well as sun rooms. If you don’t mind too much, you can leave them outdoors as well, but if you live in an area that has extreme differences in temperature (hot in the summer and cold in the winter) they may last for years, but they will erode after a while anyway.
Wooden patio furniture: Modern patio furniture can often be made of wood as well, but again, they are possibly not appropriate for a location that is too exposed to the elements. Wood can warp and bend if left in the sun and rain and especially in the winter you will want to cover them up with a plastic sheet, or move them into a warm area indoors.
Metal patio furniture: Extremely elegant variety of modern patio furniture, but suffers from the disadvantage of being very heavy. Additionally, if they are in the sun they can become very hot and may even result in burns if the sun is shining very brightly. Best used in shaded areas which are protected from the elements.
Wicker patio furniture: While these types of modern patio furniture were made from rattan, wicker and cane plants in the past, nowadays they are mostly made from polyethylene which is extremely durable and sturdy as well as being lightweight. They are shaped onto an aluminum frame which allows them to still be moved around easily while they are sturdy and can support a lot of weight.
Plastic patio furniture: The most inexpensive of all the available modern patio furniture, this type has the disadvantage that it might be necessary to replace them more often as they can break rather easily if the weight on them is too great. But they are a cheap option for outdoor temporary events and can easily be replaced if needed.
What to look for in modern patio furniture
If you’re looking for the best type of modern patio furniture, then the first thing you should look at is whether they are suitable for the environment you are using them in or not. If you are using it in a covered area, or even indoors, you can be flexible about what type of furniture you get and what material it is made of. On the other hand, if you’re using modern patio furniture outdoors then your options may be limited to only certain types that are resistant to the elements such as the sun, rain and even ice and snow in the winter.
Taking care of your modern patio furniture
You need to take care of your modern patio furniture. Depending on what material it is made of, you have a variety of options. You may be able to leave them outside, but if you’re going away for a few days then it might be a good idea to take them indoors. Especially in the winter, you will want to keep them in a sheltered place so they are not damaged by ice, snow and the cold in general.