Best Garden Decor Ideas

Protecting furniture on the veranda from outside elements such as heat, water and corrosion can be done by using outdoor furniture covers. Aside from the aforementioned elements, a homemaker who wants complete outdoor protection should also watch out for mildew and other unsightly growths because this can cause damage to any equipment left outdoors.

Considerations

In general, when one’s garden decor and furniture are made of plastic or metal, there is less need for protection as compared with those made of wood and ceramic. For instance, if one’s wicker furniture is made of rattan or teak, outdoor wicker furniture covers are necessary to keep them functional and beautiful. If they are made of wrought iron, the need is not as immediate.

Aside from the material that will be covered, it is also important to consider the cost. Furniture is usually bought in sets. Therefore, when buying covers for outdoor furniture, one has to aim for a whole cover set as well. Size is another important factor. It would not do if they are blown away with strong winds. Thus before buying, one has to measure the furniture accurately.

How about resin patio furniture? Resin is a natural or synthetic compound used as finishing for wooden furniture (e.g. teak) and lends it durability. Because resin furniture are very strong and durable, they are also resistant to salt and chlorine, making them ideal for pools and the seaside. It depends on the homeowner whether or not to put covers on this type since they are a lot more resistant, but home owners might want to consider the overall look and design when we add extra accessories like these ones.

Types of Covers

Patio furniture covers, due to being constantly exposed to external challenges, have to be durable and appealing at the same time. Of course, it would not do if the covers do not complement the patio design.  Most of the commercial patio covers are made of waterproof materials.

The commonly used material for covers is polyester. The 12-gauge polyester with waterproof vinyl is recommended for waterproof outdoor furniture covers. Aside from water protection, this material is able to withstand temperature extremes. This top-quality material also prevents mildew formation because moisture does not reach the furniture.

Fabric covers that contain mesh vents are also advisable because these allow ventilation and prevent mildew growth. They may come with cushions and pads which add to the comfort of the user, should the furniture be used without removing the covers. On the other hand, if the homemaker prefers to remove them when guests are around or when the weather does not call for them, a storage room should be easily accessible.

An outdoor patio furniture cover may be available as slip or may have a zipper or snap. The important thing is that they have to be securely held in place. If they are just blown away or easily removed, then the investment would not be worth it.

Where to Find Covers

Through the internet, one can access many shops which have outdoor furniture covers on sale. Lowes and Frontgate are excellent sources. Plow and Hearth and Restoration Hardware are also very good places for finding just the right material for furniture.

Whether one wants custom outdoor furniture covers, dayva covers with discount or at cheap prices, these places are available to cater to the homemaker’s needs.

Photo: by Waleed Alzuhair **Cortesy of flickr.com

When we talk about patio covers we are talking about 1) patio furniture covers and 2) structures built above our patios to protect them. Lets have a look at each one of them:

Structures

If you are planning on building a structure to cover your patio area, make sure it is a solid and durable one that you can enjoy for a long time. Well, we also want it to look attractive, of course. They are good not just for your patio but also for the garden, swimming pool or any particular area you need to cover for protection and an extra “added” look.

Patio covers are great for expanding existent areas and therefore increasing their use. They provide fantastic shade and protect against any sun rays and burns (UV protection). A solid patio cover will make us use the swimming pool or designated area more frequently, they are great for hosting underneath a party or “fiesta” and they also allow children to play outdoors for longer periods of time.

And, they just look cool! Make sure to get sleek designs that enhance the look of your patio or garden decor; as it is important to beautify these areas so we can enjoy them with our friends and family even more.

When looking for at patio covers you normally have a few options: wood, steel, plastic and aluminum, and when talking about styles you can build open patio covers, roofed or enclosed. The open lattice is very popular indeed and also very beautiful. You can grow plants that create a “vineyard” type of look on the roof, which would eventually become a cover for your patio cover! Other options would be the solid lattice, screen rooms and other types of sun rooms (very popular in the UK due to the climate conditions); you can see them especially in garden centers.

Other trendy styles are pergolas, porches, canopies, gazebos and arbors (some of them are permanent, others you can move around your patio or just keep them in storage when not in use). Use your patio cover as an extension of any garden decking you might have outdoors, thus creating a type of “guide” towards certain areas of your garden or patio you want your family and guests to walk and enjoy.

Aluminum patio covers are also a very strong and solid option. Get one with a wooden “finish” so the design blends better with the rest of patio furniture, plants or trees you may have.

Patio covers offer a pleasant alternative to remodeling your home and also don’t forget will help increase the value of your property. Add patio covers in different parts of your outdoor areas to provide additional freshness to your home. Think of corridors, gardens that could almost be maintenance-free thanks to extra shade, cover any sidewalk or even your parking lot as they usually have their own poles to support the structure. As with most things regarding your patio and garden decor, you just have to be creative and willing to spend a little money on the course. You can even build a patio cover to give shade to your dog house in the garden!

Patio Furniture Covers

If we want our outdoor furniture to last, we need to protect it as much as we can. This is where a good patio furniture cover comes in handy. We can usually find these covers in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from oval or round patio table covers to grill, umbrella and patio heater covers, picnic table covers,  outdoor folding chairs, parasols, all sorts of outdoor patio furniture sets and even sofa covers!

Use patio covers for your outdoor furniture

photo credit: Crinklecrankle.com

Outdoor furniture has usually been designed to withstand bad weather without major problems with durable
materials that offer great resistance to the cold or intense sun. Still, most garden stores insist that you protect your furniture with outdoor furniture covers especially when the garden or patio are not being used as a living area due to the weather conditions (or if you go away for long periods of time). Well, lets also not forget you will have to clean your outdoor furniture a lot less if you use your covers pretty often.

Some of these covers come in really good quality materials, made with highly resistant plastic and looking gorgeous with all sorts of decorative patterns to “add” to your garden decor. Weather you are into “looks” or just wanted to protect your outdoor furniture as much as possible, be sure to buy patio covers for all the bits and pieces you usually keep outdoors. It will be well worth it and your furniture will look as good as when you first bought it for a long period of time.