10 Best Patio Conversation Sets and Buying Guide
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Patios are places you can relax, have a lovely conversation and enjoy a warm beverage. As the name implies, patio conversation sets are pieces of furniture that make these experiences fun and relaxing for you and your loved ones. With these, you can comfortably have long conversations or even take a nap on your patio.
What other great space to hold small family gatherings than a well-furnished and comfortable patio space. Here you can host birthday parties, holidays and other essential celebrations. While doing this, you get to save more on renting rooms for small events.
Other than the primary reason for having a place to relax and have a lovely family gathering, outdoor patio furniture improves the aesthetics of your home in general. That is a good reason why many homeowners invest in having a well-furnished outdoor space. That is probably why many homeowners cannot go without having this set up.
Also, if you plan on selling your house later down the line, having a furnished patio can help boost the price of your home. This does not mean you have to sell it with the house. However, statistics have shown sellers could get up to a 10% increase in price when the house features staged furniture. It is all about just the proper positioning.
Are you thinking of setting up your own elegant outdoor patio space? Great! You need to know some things before setting out on this mission. Here are some details you want to note before buying that patio furniture. Let’s go.
Patio conversation sets come in various shapes and sizes. When considering a particular piece, one thing that comes to mind is how many people this is for. This will give you an idea of the seating types to opt for. There exist various seating types and configurations you can consider for your patio conversation set. Here are some of them.
They are meant for conversations. So, why not get a set that helps you achieve just that. Chair conversation sets are designed for a household of at most two. So, if you just got married and moved into your new house with your spouse, getting this set would get the conversation going. They come in a variety of sizes and styles. The great thing about them is that you can easily add more chairs as the household population increases. You can also add other accessories like a table to bring it all together.
This set is more suited for bigger groups of people. If you have ample space, the sectional patio set is an excellent option. They are made to allow for easy rearrangement and convenient movement. You can redecorate the area to look slightly different for each gathering. Most sectional patio set also comes with in-build storage options where you get to keep pillows, blankets, and even books.
Here is a configuration that allows for some heat, literally and figuratively. They are an excellent choice for families that do lots of entertaining. You get regular patio chairs or sofas with comfortable seating arrangements and a centerpiece with the fire pit built into it. Usually, this centerpiece serves as a table to hold food items and other accessories. Besides its aesthetics, a fire pit conversation patio set will keep the family warm on a cold winter night.
Precisely as the name points out, these pieces are designed for homes with limited space. So, if you are strapped for it, this choice is the best for you. Each set usually includes a loveseat sofa and a centerpiece. They are designed to give you enough sitting space yet take as little space as needed.
Here is perhaps the most essential information you need. You have to consider just how much space you have and what makes up this space. You do not want to purchase a piece of furniture that would end up too big or, on the other hand, too small for the intended space.
Think of the space you have available for your furniture. You need to know precisely how ample your outdoor space is. This will help determine if you need large or relatively smaller patio furniture. Depending on how large a conversation area you are looking at, you might need about 10 x 10-foot space. Give some thought to the traffic flow of the site involved. If you have lots of people moving around often, you want to ensure you give enough room for this. If you have minimal space, you might want to consider smaller pieces and more conservative-shaped ones.
If there are many of you at home, get large garden furniture that can accommodate the whole family. Fix your choice on sets consisting of large chairs and corner sofas. The high or low table is not left out.
There are sets designed for groups of 2 to 12 people and even more for some exceptional models. In general, this includes a corner sofa or many built-in armchairs. Obviously, the price increases with the number of pieces of furniture and size. If, for example, you are only looking to create a space to relax alone as a couple, a simple set consisting of two chairs and a low side garden table will suffice, especially if you only have a small balcony.
With a large 10 to 12-piece patio furniture, you can also accommodate several guests at home. It will be especially useful for family reunions, barbecues with friends or aperitif evenings with a few work colleagues.
Another critical factor to note is the climate condition of your area. This, in particular, will influence your decision on the type of material you’d choose for your patio conversation set. Questions like how often does it rain? How hot does it get? What is the weather like during winter? Do you experience high winds? They are all essential.
The main materials used for making these sets are wood (teak), steel, aluminum, synthetic rattan, natural rattan, and plastic. They all have different properties, and some will be more suitable depending on the climate, weather patterns where you live, and your aesthetic preferences.
For instance, if your home is situated by the ocean or close to a water body, you generally want to avoid furniture made of metal. They easily rust and might not last long in such an environment. A much better choice will be wood or plastic material which will undoubtedly resist the weather for a more extended period.
Hot weather requires furniture that doesn’t heat up quickly and rarely fades under the sun. You certainly do not want to come home to sit on heated patio furniture. Hence, you want to go for pieces made of lighter wood. Considering this climate, it is also good advice to put canopies or umbrellas into your budget as these will better help protect these furniture sets.
Here is another major factor influencing your decision to set up that lovely patio.
You have more leverage to construct on a property you own than on a rented one. Considering you might have to move anytime, it might not be best to invest in expensive, immobile outdoor furniture. You certainly would want to take your patio sets with you when moving out. Hence, it would help if you considered lighter patio furniture that would be easier to pack when that day comes.
Also, you have to consider that this furniture may not be the best fit for your new home, prompting the need to sell them. You would want to invest in a table you can sell at a reasonable price even after years of usage.
You would also have to check in with your landlord before ripping the place apart for your intended outdoor design. Some landlords don’t want any new improvements on their properties, while some might have restrictions on the type of furniture or colors allowed.
However, if you own the property, you can decide just how far you are willing to go with this project. You get to choose designs and materials that suit your taste. Note: some HOA restrictions in your neighborhood might bind you.
Maintenance is a substantial part of everything you own, including your body. You have to consider this before making your purchase. These sets are meant for outdoor spaces. Hence they would require even more maintenance. How often would you have time to clean and polish your patio furniture. Would you need to scrub with soap, or will regular wiping with a soft cloth?
It would be best to consider getting conversation sets made with scratch-resistant material to protect them from these constant cleaning and other intrusive contacts. Some wood material needs occasional oiling to keep its color. Consider how replaceable parts of the set are. You can easily save costs by simply replacing a damaged component instead of having to get a whole new piece.
Having figured out how much space you need to set up the patio conversation sets, choosing one shouldn’t be much hassle. The most important is that you consider the seating capacity needed, the construction material according to your climate, and your patio layout. Metal sets are not recommended for places with high atmospheric moisture such as places close to the ocean. Two to six seating capacity is enough for couples or a few guests while you have a choice of up to 12 pieces of furniture for a large conversational gathering or aperitif.
This post was last modified on July 19, 2022 6:43 am