Choosing furniture can be quite a complex and stressing task, not to mention costly if you choose the wrong one and can’t get a refund. Hopefully my experiences going through this exact task will help you make a better choice and get the furniture that you love.
My first mistake….
The first mistake I made was to try and buy from an online store without doing enough research or even going out to see furniture in stores. Also the delivery costs were ridiculous, it was going to cost $200 to deliver from less than 20km away and we couldn’t try before buying.
Everything looks great in the pictures and they make them look huge but when you actually take the measurements and try them against your couches inside then you can see how big they actually are in real life.
Don’t get pushed into buying online or over the phone either as the sale people can be quite pushy and annoying. Always say you need to think about the price and furniture and then make your decision without them harassing you or waiting for your answer.
Buying furniture online….
I looked at a lot of places online and was getting tired of looking at all these couches but couldn’t tell if they were comfortable and they were really expensive. Online shopping is great for some things but for furniture or beds it’s just not possible as you really need to sit or lie on them before you buy.
Sometimes the best way to find good furniture is to try other peoples and luckily we have a few family members that have some outdoor furniture. They had gone with the wicker style furniture with thin cushions that I did not like at all, not comfortable and I don’t really like the wicker look and feel.
One was from Kogan which was just a simple outdoor set but the chairs were too upright and the cushions way too thin making it super uncomfortable to sit on. Plus the wicker style is so light weight that they will just blow away in the smallest breeze.
Go out and try….
The best way to get an idea of what you like is to go and sit on every outdoor furniture set you can find in a store or multiple stores. This doesn’t mean you have to buy them but simply get an idea of what look and feel you like and then find something that doesn’t cost more than a car!
I went and looked at couches in store and sat on lots of different cushions. It was easier to narrow down the choice after trying out cushions. A lot of couches come with thin cheap cushions or they were hard to sit on, and I knew I wanted a couch that was comfortable and I would be able to lay down on.
I only buy furniture once, I am not someone who changes furniture every couple of years because it is out of date or not in fashion. The furniture I buy is simple and will not date and I look after what I buy.
It’s a good idea to think about where the furniture will go, under a deck, out in direct sunlight, does it rain a lot, is it windy and blow away. Is the fabric waterproof, outdoor weather proof, are there lots of trees/ birds around where it will get stained, is it easy to clean.
Convert to outdoor….
Another option when looking for outdoor furniture is to also consider converting indoor furniture to outdoor depending on how handy you are with tools. If you have a covered outdoor area and the furniture will not get wet, then just spraying the fabric with a scotch guard or waterproof spray would be enough.
I was able to salvage a nice indoor couch from a family member and found a nice spot for it under my verandah, so just spraying with a waterproof spray was enough, and just to make sure I also place a cover over it when it’s not being used.
If you want to fully convert from indoor to outdoor then you will need to take the couch apart, mostly from the bottom so you can waterproof the wood frame. Also waterproofing the feet and then the fabric with a waterproof spray.
To cover or not to cover….
Outdoor furniture is mostly waterproof and can stand up to the elements quite well but unless you want to be removing bird crap or chips from rocks/branches then I really recommend using a cover. Birds can also be annoying and pick at material for their nests or unravel wicker through constant pecking.
If you think it’s easy just to get an outdoor furniture cover, then think again, they are expensive and usually poorly made, they don’t last and easily blow off your furniture. After some research and a little trial an error, I found that car covers are a better fit. They are cheaper and usually better quality if you get an all-weather type, plus they can easily cover most furniture shapes.
Side note, the right camping chair….
As a side note, camping chairs can be quite useful outdoors and around the house, easy to move around as they are so light. They can also be really comfortable if you choose the right one and stay away from the cheap versions. The cheap camping chairs I used to own had worn out so I was looking to buy another pair, again it was best to be in-store trying them out.
I ended up at an Anaconda store sitting on everyone I could find until I came across the Oztent King Goanna Chair. It has a tall back with nice comfortable padding in it and has an adjustable lumbar support with a 200kg weight rating. It has been designed for all shapes, tall, short and any size. The headrest is a storage compartment to store the carry bag the chair comes in so you don’t ever loose the bag. It has well designed insulated drink compartment and pouch It is made of high quality materials
I love finding products that are high quality and well built. For me it was important to have a comfortable camping chair and I wanted a chair that would last and not wear out in a couple of years like the other ones I had bought or were given to me as a gift.
Finally my furniture….
After sitting on almost every outdoor couch in every store I could find, I finally found one that was comfortable, looked good and wasn’t crazy expensive! Look at the picture below and notice the cushions and how large they are, most are not that thick and comfortable. I bought them from Bunnings, they are from Mimosa Outdoor Furniture The Signature Collection. It was perfect, not expensive, comfortable, looks amazing, loved the colour, the cushions are big and soft to sit on and it fits all of my family.
If you liked this post and it helped you choose your outdoor furniture, let me know in the comments below the post.
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