How to Choose Outdoor Furniture For Your Garden
Your outdoor space is, in many ways, an extension of your home. Whether you have a large, lush lawn or a cosy patio, it’s important to choose the right furniture to complement your space and make it the perfect place to dine, lounge or play.
At The Bespoke Carpentry Co., we create beautiful, durable outdoor furniture pieces from the highest quality of reclaimed wood. Everything we build is entirely bespoke and handmade, meaning our outdoor furniture can be tailored to your garden.
In this buying guide, we’ll be discussing everything you need to consider when choosing outdoor furniture for your garden to make it both stylish and functional. We’ll also share some outdoor furniture style inspiration and our top tips for keeping your outdoor furniture beautiful for longer.
Why Choose Reclaimed Wood Outdoor Furniture?
It’s Eco-Friendly
About 5 million tonnes of waste wood is generated every year in the UK, and until recently, the majority of that waste wood ended up in landfills. This is where it rots, releasing methane - one of the greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change.
We’re proud to be part of the force which increases the amount of waste wood reclaimed or recycled year on year. 100% of our handmade furniture is made from carefully selected, genuine reclaimed wood. What better way is there to give back to your garden than to choose sustainably-made outdoor furniture?
It’s The Perfect Weight
Gone are the days of the You’ve Been Framed-esque flying plastic chairs: our reclaimed wooden outdoor furniture is heavy enough to withstand wind, staying firmly planted on your patio even in our Great British winters.
However, we know your outdoor space needs to evolve as you do, so our outdoor furniture is still light enough for you to move and rearrange in your space to your heart’s content.
It’s Durable
Wood is a wonderfully durable material, especially when properly finished and maintained. We only use the highest quality wood and a long-lasting finish to ensure your furniture pieces are water resistant, insect proof and highly durable for many years of outdoor fun.
It’s Versatile
Wood is a popular material for outdoor furniture as it lends itself well to a huge variety of styles. Whether you’re creating a contemporary space with clean lines, cool colours and elements of industrial-style furniture, or a country-style, rustic garden with live edges and warm hues, wood is the ideal material to use.
Choose Your Wood
Reclaimed Oak Wood Outdoor Furniture
Oak is a dense hardwood, enabling it to withstand outdoor elements like rain and sun more than its softwood counterparts. Oak’s high density makes it more resistant to the warping that can occur in softer woods when exposed to moisture and humidity: it’s also naturally resistant to rotting and decay. There’s a reason it’s been used throughout history for thousands of years!
Oak also takes well to finishing, allowing us to easily stain it to your liking and properly seal it to further protect your outdoor furniture.
Reclaimed Pine Wood Outdoor Furniture
We often use reclaimed pine to build our furniture as the beautiful wood is cost-effective and takes well to finishing and sealing, significantly improving its durability. Whilst pine is less naturally resistant to the elements than oak, it can be treated with preservatives, sealants and coatings which protect the wood from moisture, UV rays and insects.
To help your pine outdoor furniture last even longer, you can clean, reseal and refinish it to keep it looking beautiful long after metal furniture has rusted and plastic furniture has faded.
Choose Your Style
Rustic Style Outdoor Furniture
Reclaimed wood outdoor furniture is perfect for creating a rustic look in your garden - some of the wood we use is up to 100 years old, and these decades of history are woven right into its grains. In our rustic style outdoor furniture, we emphasise the character of the reclaimed wood instead of sanding it away. Old nail holes, open grains, saw marks and hammer indents are all characteristics which add to the rustic feel of the furniture.
Choosing live-edge wood outdoor furniture further creates a rustic feel in your garden, as well as designs which are thick, strong and sturdy rather than overly ornate or delicate. Combine your furniture with soft furnishings such as cushions, throws and rugs in materials like burlap and linen and earthy tones such as browns, creams, dark oranges and greens.
Farmhouse Style Outdoor Furniture
Farmhouse style outdoor furniture marries rustic elements common in our reclaimed wood with more modern finishes in colours such as grey, white and cream. Consider a large, farmhouse-style dining table with thick planks and pedestal legs. Pair with a matching bench to further embody the farmhouse style and create a cosy, lived-in feel. Don’t be afraid to mix and match your reclaimed wood furniture with other materials, finishes and accessories such as textiles with simple patterns and wicker chairs.
Industrial Style Outdoor Furniture
A lot of our reclaimed wood outdoor furniture is sourced from old factories or other industrial usage, making it perfect for creating an industrial feel in your garden. Incorporate metal accents into the wooden furniture such as in table legs or chair frames, like in this chunky outdoor reclaimed wood dining table with steel X-frame legs. Darker stains like walnut or dark oak will create an even more dramatic ambience, and minimalist accessories such as metal pendant lights and leather cushions will further complement the industrial style.
Choose Your Furniture
We offer a wide range of handmade, bespoke reclaimed wood outdoor furniture, perfect for creating a cosy, comfortable lounging area or a beautiful dining area for those warm summer evenings.
Outdoor Wooden Dining Chairs
Our rattan dining chairs are ergonomically designed to be both comfortable and stylish, with two colours to choose from to match the rest of your garden furniture. Complete with wrought iron legs, these dining chairs are the perfect base for a range of styles including industrial, rustic and farmhouse.
Outdoor Wooden Dining Tables
Our bespoke handmade reclaimed wood dining tables are durable and versatile, ideal for any outdoor dining setting. Your dining table will be made-to-order and customised to your desired measurements so you know it will fit your space, however small or large. You can also choose from a range of finishes as well as a range of table legs made from timber or metal in shapes such as A-frame, X-frame, square and trapezium.
Outdoor Wooden Coffee Tables
Just like our other pieces of wooden outdoor furniture, our wooden coffee table is fully protected against the elements and is the perfect addition to a more casual lounging area. It comes in a range of stains such as Belgium grey, whiskey and walnut, so you can create whatever style you’d like.
How to Clean and Maintain Your Outdoor Furniture
How Often Should I Clean and Maintain my Wooden Outdoor Furniture?
There’s no one rule for how often you should clean and maintain your furniture, as it depends heavily on how exposed to the elements your furniture is, how it’s used, the species of wood and the wood’s finish. You should apply a layer of wax as and when required, which is usually every 6-12 months. During the summer months, you can simply give your furniture a brush and a wipe - after each winter, it will need a more thorough wash.
What Should I Use to Clean and Maintain my Wooden Outdoor Furniture?
Avoid anything abrasive or containing strong chemicals, as this can strip the wood of its finish. To thoroughly wash the wooden furniture, use soapy water followed by a wood cleaner and cloth. You can then apply our hard wax oil and polishing wax to bring your furniture back to life and prepare it for another year in your garden.
Full guide: Cleaning & Maintaining Your Outdoor Wooden Furniture
Ready to Buy Your Outdoor Furniture with The Bespoke Carpentry Co.?
Our experienced carpenters take our hand-selected pieces of genuine reclaimed wood and rework it into stunning pieces of outdoor furniture, perfect for any garden. Each piece is fully customised and made to order, providing you with a piece which fits right into your space.
We balance function with beauty in our outdoor furniture, ensuring each piece is fully protected against outdoor elements such as rain, UV rays and insects to make it last.
To get started, browse our range of wooden outdoor furniture online, give us a call on 01305 849386 or fill out our online contact form.
