Nowadays there are so many options available from teak trellises to teak dining tables, and beyond teak furniture there are a variety of materials available, including aluminum, stainless steel, and all-weather wicker. The variety can be daunting if not confusing. Creating a primer on everything you need to know about buying outdoor furniture would take months and months and hundreds of pages. Since I don’t want to bore you to tears or take up all of the memory on our server, I’ll just give you a helpful hint.

Ask yourself “How do I want to use my outdoor home?” Once you answer that question, you will have a much greater sense of what type of outdoor furniture meets your needs.

“I want a place to eat with family and entertain friends on special occasions.”� Obviously what suits you best is an outdoor dining set. Although a nice little bistro table and two side chairs may suit newlyweds or empty nesters, most families need a 4- or 6-seater (48″� or 60″�). If you entertain friends and relatives as much as you eat with your spouse and children, then an 8- or 10-seat arrangement better fits your lifestyle.

“I am looking for a relaxing setting to chat and enjoy the company of friends.”� Now what you’re talking about is an outdoor living room collection, often referred to as a deep seating or conversation group. This outdoor furniture style is fairly new, and its rise coincided with the vast improvement in outdoor fabrics. Large plush cushions on generous metal, resin, or teak furniture frames make this style ideal for relaxing outdoors. These collections typically consist of a club chair, ottoman, loveseat, sofa, and accent tables.

“I want to create a sanctuary in my garden or yard. A setting that creates a scenic view yet has some practicality.”� Here you’ll want to think about the traditional garden chairs and benches as well as trellises, arbors, and fencing. These pieces (especially the teak furniture versions, in my opinion) can really beautify your garden or yard by breaking up the endless rows of flora with elegant outdoor furniture that also can serve as a nice place to rest on a sunny day or a border to better define your yard or keep out nosy animals (no, I don’t mean your neighbors).

“I just want relax on the porch, read a nice book, and slowly sip a tall glass of lemonade.”� Swings, rockers, and Adirondack chairs are right up your alley. These simple, practical pieces have been around for decades, if not centuries, and are cost-effective ways to create a special place without purchasing an 11-piece outdoor dining set or 6-piece outdoor living room collection. If you simply want an area outside your home to relax alone or with your spouse, one or two rocking chairs will fit the bill nicely.

Don’t let me mislead you though; outdoor furniture today is very versatile. You can just as well buy two deep seating club chairs to relax on the porch rather than a swing or use garden chairs around your pool instead of a steamer. My point is, once you know how you want to live outdoors, you are better able to put everything into context and make the right purchasing decision for your lifestyle.