There is nothing like sitting out in your garden or patio and enjoying the sights and sounds of the outdoors.  As summer comes in with the colors of the leaves and flowers, birds sounds can be heard in the garden; this is the time of the year to sit outside and really enjoy Nature.  For this, your garden and patio should look good, for which you need to go in for some outdoor furniture which is durable as well as elegant.  Tip: http://www.squidoo.com/caring-for-teak-deck-furniture

When you think of outdoor furniture you have to first zero in on the kind of material you need.  Wood is a popular choice and you might look at Amish furniture.  Teak is high on many of the shopping lists mainly because it is a hardwood and its beauty.  The natural oils present in teak wood make it durable and resistant to mildew.  The wood requires a minimum of polishing and paints and it last for a long time.      

The other options for wooden furniture are oak.  There are a number of varieties to choose from, which include Chinese oak, Red oak. You could also consider the Amish oak furniture which would fabulous on your patio.

Another favorite is cedar though the wood is softer than oak.  Cedar looks very good on the patio.  The advantage with cedar is that is light and can be carted around quite easily. Red cedar is quite popular with house owners.  There are products available in the market to treat both these woods, oak and cedar, against mildew, fungus and insects.

Most house guests appreciate a well designed and maintained garden.  So use your creativity and make your patio or courtyard look ritzy.  The Amish furniture which is available will give the outdoors, a slightly more formal look; making it an ideal place to entertain when you want to impress someone.  

If the space is to be utilized for family get-togethers like barbeques and picnics lunches then you would be wiser to choose less expensive furniture, as the heat from the fire could damage the furniture.  There is also the danger of food spills on the covers.   If you have a swimming pool in your garden then make sure that you have high quality plastic furniture.

Keep your décor on the patio simple and as outdoorsy as possible.  You selection of the furniture and lighting should be really good so that these pieces blend in and merge with the foliage and flowers in the garden.  Too much or too big furniture could cause clutter which you should try to avoid.  Similarly if the furniture is too small, that could also look funny. For instance, a large armchair on a small patio would definitely be out of place as would a small stool in a large garden.

An important point to keep in mind, is this, that your outdoors is your personal space and it is best you use it  for your own RR (rest and relaxation).  So keep the positive energy flowing and create a lovely ambience with flowers, foliage and furniture. 

Now that your garden is looking so good, you must have plans for it. But before you go out and buy garden furniture you need to give it some serious thought.   Is it going to be your personal space or are you going to entertain there. If your plans include the latter then there are further questions you have to answer like, do you plan to cook there.  Do you have a theme in mind? 

Once you have answered these basic questions then you have a clearer picture about the kind of furniture you need to buy.  If the garden is a personal space, where you like to read, paint, sunbathe or meditate you could look at comfortable teak and rattan chairs or PVC day loungers, which could be folded away.

If you plan to entertain, then you have to decide whether you need a patio bar or whether you will cook outdoors.  This would help you identify the type of furniture you would need to buy.  In both these cases you have to also plan if the furniture has to be foldable in the off season or a permanent fixture in the garden.

Your research on permanent furniture should be thorough.  It is advisable to go in for hardwood, aluminum or wrought iron which is rust proofed.  In the long term, going in for more durable furniture might prove to be more cost effective.

Wood is very high on the priority lists of many people because it can be beautiful as well as comfortable.  So make sure you go in for a tropical hardwood like teak which has high natural oil content.  Furniture made of teak can be left outdoors for a long time.

One thing you have to check are the joints; do not buy bolts which would corrode.  If you prefer metal joints then ensure that they are rust proof.  The wood used in the garden furniture should be of high quality.

 If the wood is flawed, with knots and cracks, it will not withstand the rigors of the outdoor.  Furniture experts say that the teak used for the outdoors is best kiln dried to maximize the moisture content. Check whether epoxy glue has been used on the teak garden furniture, epoxy resin can withstand rain and frost.  

 Teak garden furniture will last longer if it is maintained regularly.  Wash off mildew and dirt with soap and fresh water.  A little bleach will keep the algae at bay.  Though there are conflicting opinions on the use of teak oil, it’s best you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. 

Another option which you could look at is wrought iron furniture, especially when it has been hand crafted.  A major minus point against wrought iron is that the chairs are not quite as comfortable as wood.  In addition to that, you have to make sure that the furniture is coated to keep it from rusting.

You could also invest in furniture covers which are now available in the market.  This investment is really worth it as it would protect your garden furniture from the vagaries of the weather and your furniture would last longer.

When you are shopping for patio bar furniture, you have options in wood, molded plastic and metal.  Rattan and bamboo is also used in outdoor bars.   Most patio bar furniture is easy to maintain and can be kept clean by washing with a mild detergent.   

The secret to making your furniture last is to select good quality material.

So, you want to give your backyard a makeover? How about giving it a Balinese design which has become so popular all over the world?

Balinese garden designs include a number of elements besides the regular foliage and flowers. The design incorporates water, teak furniture, lanterns and Balinese embellishments like statues, vases, pottery, gates and ceremonial umbrellas.

Remember the entire theme is Asian, so the foliage should be lush and green replicating the tropical jungles (in a more civilized way, of course).  The plants which can be used are cordylines, palms and ferns, that is, plants with large leaves and long stalks to create the structure in the garden. 

Once these plants are set in the framework, then fill the gaps with smaller plants with brightly colored leaves.  The idea is to have varying heights and different kinds of leaves. The flowers you could plant should be large and ornate. Some of the more popular ones are hibiscus, lotus, oleander, torch ginger, lantana and orchids.  You could ask at your local garden center to what is available in your area.

Water is an important part of a Balinese garden and will add to the beauty greatly.  It could be a small plug in fountain, a mist maker, bowls with floating flower or candles or a rock garden water fall.  A word of advice, fountains are not essentially Balinese, so if you want to be really authentic you should go for water sprouts which are available in intricate designs.

If you have enough space in your backyard you could also incorporate a pond with water lilies.  Running water in a setting of lush green foliage would recreate a typical Balinese garden.

Artifacts and statues will go a long way in creating the ethnic Balinese feel.  The statues you can choose range from animals and birds to those of gods and goddesses.  When you do select a statue of a god or goddesses, do a bit of research before you set it in your garden. You could put it in a wall niche or in a corner or amid the foliage.   

A Balinese garden is a good place to entertain, so you have to plan your lighting well.   Make sure that the lighting showcases your artifacts.  You could light some lamps and floating candles, especially if you have a statue of a god or goddess.  Lanterns are also a good idea to light up the garden.  There are two types of lanterns to choose from, the thumb rule is to go with what pleases you best.

Above all, the garden should be colorful and bright.  The colors to use are red, orange, indigo and gold.  So go in for embellishments like candles, cushions and pots in these colors. 

If there is a covered area in your garden, where you could place some furniture go in for rattan chairs.  You can also invest in a teak divan or a day bed.  Cushions and throws could make the area very colorful.

Teak nowadays tends to become black because of the pollutants in the air.  This can be a problem if you want your teak furniture or your boat to look attractive.  Just scrubbing it will not help.  The natural grains of the wood will show only with oil, sealers and varnish.
The first step towards caring for teak furniture is to get it clean.  Use only the mildest of cleaners. A mix of detergent like Wisk and chlorine bleach in a 75:25 ratio with a pinch of trisodium phosphate could be applied on the wood in the direction of the grain.  After a few minutes when the mix has done the work, wash it thoroughly.
You could use a cleaner with oxalic acid if the stains are stubborn. Apply the cleaner evenly with scotchbrite or with a wool pad and leave it on for a few minutes.  Then scrub the wood to remove the stains.  Never use steel wool as it would leave marks on the wood.  Keep the surrounding areas free of the cleaner.  After the wood is washed, let it dry.

When all other methods have failed and the wood is still stained, you could go in for two part teak cleaners which are acidic in nature. Once again wet the wood and clean with a nylon brush.
Oil helps to bring back the colors and the grains on the wood.  It also helps to restore the natural oil and resins in the wood.  But this is something that you can’t use too often as the teak will not last long.  In fact, the teak would last longer if you don’t oil it.  Oiling teak does not protect it but it will bring back the golden color you so love.
The two oils used on teak is general linseed or tung oil. Though tung oil is more water resistant than linseed, there is not much difference after a few months, especially in the case of boats.   This is because both the oils carbonize and become dark.  Some of the branded products in the market address these issues.  So ask the other boat owners around you before you make your final selection.
Sealers are also popular with boat owners, mainly because it makes the teak more durable and because it is easy to use.

The products seal the moisture and dirt out while keeping the natural oils and resins in.  Sometimes, the wood has already lost all the natural oil, so restore the natural oil with teak oil after you have cleaned and bleached it.  After a couple of weeks apply the sealer.
Make sure that the surface is oil free before you apply the sealer.  Apply the sealer just like you did the oil, unless the instructions say otherwise.  Wipe away all the extra sealer with a rag and apply more coats till you get the matte finish.

The best protection for the wood comes from varnish as this would keep it from drying out and splitting. Once the wood is varnished it would be protected from stains.  However, the varnish does not protect the wood from the sun.  Some of the products in the market now come with ultraviolet inhibitors-sun screens.
The varnish is likely to last longer if applied right. Remember you might have to apply at least six coats. Even if you don’t get the perfect finish on the first attempt it will still look good. 
ends