Do you have an outdoor space you’re wanting to furnish? You’ve come to the right place!
Outdoor areas require special furniture as not all materials can be used satisfactorily outside. Here at Minesite Furniture we know these materials inside and out and we know what will be best for your outdoor area.
Whether you’re looking to furnish an outdoor dining area, or an outdoor pub/bar or an outdoor lounge area, the same sort of rules apply. You want furniture made of the right materials. You also want to consider where you are placing them and if other elements, such as wind, might be a problem you’ll need to think of. And finally, you’ll want to think of space and style.
Outdoor furniture materials
Furniture that is placed outdoors is hit the hardest by the harsh Australia elements. Whether that is wind, rain, sun or even snow. Furniture made from materials that disintegrates, warps, cracks, or fades, is not best to be used in outdoor settings.
Any furniture made from solid timber products isn’t best used outdoors. Chairs and solid table tops can crack and warp under the hot Australian sun. The sun heats the timber and causes it to expand, and then as the timber cools and contracts, it leaves a crack along the surface. Timber is a natural product and is therefore always moving, which can mean it will crack anyway – all a part of its rustic charm! However, if a solid timber top or chair is place in direct sunlight, you are more likely to see it warp and crack. Having said that, there are timber products that can be used outside. If the timber is slatted and oiled, rather than solid and coated, it can be used outdoors. However, it should be maintained to keep up its brilliance.
Any furniture that is upholstered in a leather or vinyl also shouldn’t be used outside. The material is likely to crack and fade under the sunlight. However, if you are looking to have outdoor lounges or upholstered cushions, there are certain materials made to be used in outdoor settings. Our recommendation would be to use lighter colours as they tend to stay cooler in the sun.
Speaking of staying cool, using chairs and table tops that are lighter colours in the direct sunlight will mean that they won’t soak up as much of the sun’s heat. In the hotter parts of Australia, this is important as days reach upwards of 40⁰C and black or dark colours tend to soak up the heat much more than lighter colours.
The most popular material found in use for outdoor furniture is polypropylene. Polypropylene is strong, durable and lasts out in the elements. It is light and easy to move around and stack away. Polypropylene chairs also come in lots of different colours to bring some colour and vibrancy to your outdoor spaces. However, when you are buying your polypropylene chairs, please ensure that they are UV stable. Polypropylene chairs that aren’t UV stable will fade and become brittle in the sun. All the polypropylene chairs that we sell at Minesite Furniture are UV stable and great options for outdoor use.
Outdoor elements vs furniture
The Australian climate varies vastly from state to state, and even from region to region. North WA experiences far hotter, drier climates than Southern WA, and South Australia and Victoria have a much windier and wetter climate than Northern Territory and Queensland. Having said that, wind can be an issue all across Australia, especially if your accommodation camp is based outside of a desert.
When it comes to choosing your outdoor furniture, you’ll want to think about your location and what elements are your biggest problems. Do you battle most with the hot sun? Or perhaps your biggest element enemy is the wind. Or maybe it’s the rain that you’re most worried about. These should all be considered when you are buying your outdoor furniture.
If your biggest problem is the sun, you’ll want to consider furniture of lighter colours with UV stable properties. The sun can be so harsh and the last thing you want is your employees burning themselves on steel tables or black chairs that have been sitting out in the sun all day long. We would recommend any furniture placed in direct sunlight is made from materials and colours that are least likely to absorb the heat.
If your biggest problem is wind, you may want to consider tables that can bolt down and chairs that have gaps and holes all through them that allow the wind to pass through them without any barrier. For example, the Air Chair is a great solution to this as the holes all over the chair allow the wind to whip through them without picking them up and blowing them away. If your camp site is prone to cyclones or forceful winds, tables that can be moved and picked up easily may not be the best idea.
If the rain bothers you the most, polypropylene is your best friend. You’ll want furniture that takes the water like a pro and can be easily dried down and ready to use as soon as the sun comes back out. If you’re at risk of flooding, you may want to consider furniture that is bolted down to stop it from floating away and causing damage elsewhere.
Considering the weather where you are should most definitely be a large part of your decision-making process when it comes time to look for new outdoor furniture. Another large part of the process should include space and style.
Stylish outdoor furniture that works in your space
Its no big secret that style plays a large part in the design of your outdoor areas. Space is also another factor. When it comes to designing your area, you want to ensure you are using the space to your best advantage. The best way to ensure you’re doing this is to map out the area and create a floorplan of where you’ll place the furniture and the quantities you’re going to need. By creating the floorplan, you can ensure that you are including all the elements you want to and need to without overcrowding or underestimating the space.
The furniture should also be stylish and comfortable to encourage your employees to relax and take a seat while they enjoy their meal or download with their mates. Adding a touch of style with your furniture bring life and atmosphere to the space, which boosts the morale of your employees and encourages them to unwind and leave the day behind. Ensuring that the furniture is comfortable means that your employees will be enjoying themselves while they take the time away from their work.
Style doesn’t mean that you need to compromise on quality though. Style and quality can come hand in hand, and it is very important that the furniture you choose for your outdoor areas is both stylish and good quality. Your outdoor furniture will get a good beating from your employees as well as the weather, and therefore it must be quality to withstand the harsh treatment. At Minesite Furniture we trust all our furniture to be the quality you need and therefore we back it up with a minimum 5-year warranty.
If you’re unsure where to start with your new outdoor space, give us a call. We’d love to chat!