It’s always been a lifelong dream of mine to own a house with a big backyard. With the depressed real estate markets, I was able to get a pretty good sized house with a tremendous backyard. So I set out to build a great kitchen in my backyard. A couple of months and $3,000 later, I had a super cool backyard kitchen to grill up anything I could think of.
The last step was finding furniture to put in the backyard. I was really trying to save money, so I was using the cheap plastic chairs and tables for everyone. That lasted about a month. They started breaking, and the ones that didn’t break started to look really, really dirty. So I headed down to Home Depot to see what else was on the market that I could actually afford.
That’s when I came across aluminum patio furniture. It seemed like the sturdiest outdoor furniture they had, wouldn’t need constant cleaning, and was pretty affordable. When I started doing more research, I immediately identified the big selling points:
- It’s way cheaper than wrought iron furniture and looks just as good
- It comes in a whole bunch of different styles to choose from; everything from casual to modern designs
- It’s really low maintenance
With my budget of $1,000, I was able to find a couple of really good aluminum furniture pieces to complement the outdoor kitchen. I got 2 sets of a really cool package: 4 chairs with curved arms and full back and a large round table. That’s 8 chairs and 2 tables for less than $1,000.
Durability
If you plan on using your backyard a lot during the summer months, and don’t want to deal with the hassle of moving the furniture inside at the slightest hint of rain, aluminum furniture is the best choice for you. Plus, since they come in so many styles, you’ll probably find pieces that match your interior furniture. This way, you can keep up a consistent design them and meld the outdoors with the indoors.
Cast Aluminum
If you’re trying to decide exactly which type of aluminum outdoor furniture you want to go with, I would strongly suggest cast aluminum. More than likely, most stores only sell cast aluminum, but there are some that sell other types. So what’s so great about cast aluminum? It’s lightweight and more durable that wrought iron. Plus, it’s super easy to clean; all you need is some mild soap and a brush to remove the oils and dirt that get stuck on the frame. All in all, it’s a great deal for the price.
Get a Good Deal
Most people run to the internet to find a great deal on anything, outdoor furniture included. However, this might be the best way to purchase furniture for your home. Furniture is more than just the price and couple of pictures online. You really need to get a feel and understanding of what the furniture looks like in person; how big it is, the actual design, the feel of the aluminum and the cushions. This will help you get a better sense of what your furniture will look like your actual space. So head down to your local Home Depot or Lowes and see what they have in stock.
Once you local the brand and style that will look best in your home, feel free to go online and find the best possible price. The in-store price will be very similar to the online price, plus they’ll have a guarantee to go along with it. I’m biased to real stores like Home Depot, Lowes, and World Market because you can actually see the furniture you’re going to purchase.
Here are some great brands to choose from:
- Brown Jordan Patio Furniture
- Cast Classics
- Woodward Patio Furniture
- Mallin Patio Furniture
Alternatives: Plastic Patio Furniture
If you’re budget is really limited, I would suggest you save up your money until you can afford aluminum patio furniture. Whatever you do, don’t buy plastic patio furniture, especially if you plan on using your outdoor furniture for years. Most plastic patio furniture is really cheap, flimsy, and gets dirty really easily. Now don’t get me wrong, there are better quality pieces on the market, but they can be a costly. What’s the point of paying a good amount of money of plastic furniture when you can save up for a few more months and buy aluminum furniture. If you’re having a one time event, plastic furniture is a good choice.
Alternatives: Iron Patio Furniture
Now if you have some money to spare and want really “elegant” furniture, then wrought iron patio furniture would probably fit your style. The best thing about wrought iron furniture is that you will probably never have to buy another piece of furniture again. It is incredibly durable and with proper care and maintenance, you could pass it down to your kids.
The one drawback about wrought iron, besides the price, is that it can be incredibly heavy. So make sure if you go with this option, you have someone help you when you want to move the pieces around.
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