Having access to the outdoors in your home is a truly priceless feature. Whether it’s a backyard, a patio, or a little garden out back, it’s a place to gather your family and friends and just talk and have a nice time and it’s wonderful. If you have such a place but you still haven’t converted any of it into a seating area, you should really think about doing it. The benefits it will bring are much more than just fun with friends!

It will definitely have a positive impact on your mental health as spending time outdoors is one recommendation all doctors always have to give when the subject of our mental wellbeing is brought up. It will also offer you a place to just relax and be alone with your thoughts, taking in the wind and the sun and just vibe.

To be able to do all this, though, you’ll need to start by getting some quality outdoor furniture, paying special attention to the chairs. We spend around 6 hours a day sitting down, so it’s logical to invest in quality made outdoor chairs that will give you the proper support and comfort.

When buying outdoor dining chairs, lounge chairs, and just about any other type of outdoor seating arrangement what you really need to pay attention to is what they’re made of. This will prove significant in how long the chairs last, their durability, their support, and so on.

Here are a few pretty common materials that you should definitely consider!

Steel

Ah, good old steel. Used for centuries in the making of various items, steel is still one of the most used metals when it comes to furniture. Giving exceptional toughness and guaranteeing a long lifetime, it’s no surprise that steel-made outdoor furniture is so popular.

One aspect of outdoor dining chairs, or any chair you’re planning on using outside, you need to always take into account is that the material they’re made of needs to be able to withstand the elements, not just the people sitting on it.

Steel is one such material. Heavy enough to not be affected by wind, you can be assured the chairs made of it will definitely stay where you want them to. However, this might be a bit of an issue if you want to rearrange your seating station. Still, what’s better than a bit of teamwork, am I right?

As I said, steel is very much resistant to the elements. It doesn’t rust, isn’t affected by temperature changes, and it will maintain its shape no matter what blows it endures.

It does get hot to the touch when exposed to direct sunlight though, so you might want to put your steel outdoor chairs under a canopy to avoid getting burned.

Another great thing about steel is that it can be shaped into very intricate shapes, so you can get a really interesting-looking set of patio dining chairs made out of this great material!

Aluminium

Another metal that has taken the world by storm, aluminium provides a lot of great perks when it comes to outdoor furniture. It is also one of the most common and most wanted materials when it comes to this kind of furniture.

Aluminium is lightweight, much lighter than steel or iron for example, but that doesn’t mean it’s less tough. In fact, aluminium is often used for products that endure a lot of hits, like skateboards and scooters. Because of the fact that it’s lightweight but tough, it’s perfect for your outdoor seating arrangement.

Still, its lightness can pose an issue in areas with high winds as your chairs might end up rolling around in the yard. This is an issue that is easily manageable though, so it’s nothing compared to the perks aluminium can give.

Moisture-resistant, rust-resistant, water-resistant, and resistant to bending and damage, it guarantees a chair that will last for a long time. It’s also able to withstand quite the weight because of its sturdiness.

As it is a metal it does get hot when exposed to the sun, just like steel, but it is also known to retain some of that heat. Make sure to keep your aluminium-made chairs under a shade to avoid any unpleasantries.

Timber

To wrap up, we have timber. You may be concerned about wood being an outdoor furniture material but just think of all the trees we have in nature that are alive and well and you’ll see what the gist is.

It’s true, wood is more prone to wear-and-tear than metal, but it also is quite sturdy, quite durable, mostly easy to maintain and manage, and it looks just gorgeous. There is nothing like a good wooden chair to set the scenery and make the outdoors feel more like home.

The wood used in outdoor furniture is specially treated to be moisture and water-resistant and also to avoid growing mould and other things you don’t want on your furniture. Woods like teak, eucalyptus, bamboo, and oak can be commonly found within the world of outdoor furniture, as can other hardwoods like mahogany, for example.

All of these timbers have a different density and heaviness to them, making them something to think about and analyze when buying outdoor chairs. For example, mahogany is beautiful, but it does require a bunch of maintenance that not many people are prepared to give.

On the other hand, we have options like bamboo, which aren’t that needy when it comes to maintaining, they resist moisture and water, but can be quite lightweight, which can pose the problem we spoke of earlier with the aluminium chairs.

All in all, the conclusion with timber garden dining chairs would be that you need to make a decision that’s best for you under the circumstances you’re going to use the chairs in and how much time you have to set aside for maintenance and cleaning.

Either way, nothing can really beat the look and feel of wooden furniture, with metal chairs often being made to mimic the look of wood. Whatever you chose, make sure it suits the style of your home and of the space you’re trying to create, just like you would when choosing a couch or kitchen chairs!

Always remember that sturdiness and comfort are among the number one priorities as well, so try the chair out before you purchase it! After all, it’s all about having a nice, cozy time outside!