Patio furniture is a popular addition to most homes that have a secluded backyard. To furnish this area, homeowners can let their imagination run wild as long as they make sure their furniture and other additions like umbrella, cushions and rugs are all durable and weather-resistant. Make sure, your patio also has an outdoor heater that will let you enjoy chilly evenings in relative comfort.

If the patio has no kind of cover, then all-plastic or treated metal furniture is the best option as they are resistant to all kinds of weather – heavy downpours, snow and hot sunshine. Molded plastic chairs and tables are less expensive and come in attractive colors. Tubular metal furniture is even more durable and weather-resistant. Wrought iron patio furniture is expensive and needs to be painted periodically to last long. You get more varieties of chairs and love seats in wrought iron. Creative homeowners may have hammock stands, gliders or swings with overhead protection that look attractive.

Wicker patio furniture is ideal for patios that are covered. These look lovely in their natural beige color or you can have them spray painted with decorative colors. A connoisseur of furniture with cash to spend will go in for wood patio furniture. The types of wood usually used to make patio furniture are: yew, rosewood, ebony, redwood mahogany and teak. Teak is the most resistant of all types of woods to the elements. It can withstand chipping or splintering in summer, the silica content in teak makes it quite water resistant and it has good resistance to fungal attacks.

Combining wood with metal frames gives them a classy look. For example, a coffee table can have legs made of wood with a glass top. Patio chairs can have metal frames with the back, seat and armrests made of wood. When buying your patio furniture, makes sure you find out how to take care of them so they will last long. Since patio furniture is exposed to all the elements, heat and dust, they can corrode or stain easily.

While buying patio cushions is the easy option, someone with tailoring skills can easily make them. This will be extremely satisfying, save money and you can make cushions to suit your style. The right color, pattern and depth of patio cushions can add comfort and look appealing. You can even jazz up old furniture with some new, bright cushions. Making your own patio cushions is similar to sewing a pillow. The difference is to select the right material. Patio cushions must be made from material that can resist mildew and damp as well as heat and light.

To stitch patio cushions, follow a few simple steps:

measure the width and length of the chairs or use old cushions for measurement
buy foam for the cushions
decide on the pattern
buy the necessary fabric
cut the fabric and create a pattern using pattern paper
sew the fabric inside out along with the zipper in the appropriate place
turn over and stuff the foam
add ties to keep cushions in place during rough weather

So, you see, for the creative homeowner, making your own patio cushions can be a fun and satisfying experience.

No patio will look complete without a patio umbrella. They add a festive look to your backyard and are a wonderful place to relax and have a cool drink after a strenuous game of tennis or a swim. Choosing a patio umbrella is entirely an individual decision and will depend on the color and style of the house and patio furniture. A few practical considerations should be thought of when getting a patio umbrella. The diameter should suit the table it will be shading. Durable, rip and mildew resistant material that has an ultraviolet protective coating is ideal. In windy areas, get a patio umbrella that is flexible and made of fiberglass rather than metal or wood.

For ultimate comfort and to enjoy your patio during cooler climate, add a patio heater. The two commonly used fuel for patio heaters are propane and natural gas. A gas outdoor heater is a cost effective choice since most homes will already be using gas heating. The only constraint is that the location is restricted since it has to be near a gas outlet. While there are several designs of heaters to select from, practicality and location should be the main consideration. A patio heater with internal thermostat is a wise choice since you can adjust it to maintain a specific temperature.