With school back in session, summer is officially winding down—for most of the country anyway. Not us, though, thanks to Florida’s balmy subtropical climate. We never have to start thinking about winterizing our outdoor living rooms. As a matter of fact, fall is a great time to consider replacing your patio furniture.
Partly, because no matter when you purchase new outdoor furniture, you’re going to have ample opportunity to use it here. Moreover, though, stores start offering big sales around Labor Day because they want to get rid of summer inventory. We’re talking markdowns of around 25% at least. However, if you wait to make your purchase, eventually, you’ll enjoy savings up to 70% off the original price!
Granted, your selection is more than likely going to be limited, but with worldwide shopping at your fingertips, a little patience is sure to work to your advantage.
Shopping out of season
Frugal shoppers know that waiting to buy out of season is a good idea because when something is in peak demand—as in patio furniture during pool season—the price is at its highest.
In addition to the fact that the price of goods goes down along with demand, there are three other factors that play a part in when patio furniture goes on sale.
They are:
- Individual stores offer sales on their merchandise according to the inventory left in stock.
- The weather plays a part when shopping locally and in-person because as long as the summer weather holds in place, storeowner’s are likely to wait to put outdoor furniture on sale hoping for that last-minute full-price sale.
- The calendar—people expect sales to coordinate with holidays.
If you find something you like, keep your eye on the price and, hopefully, no one else scoops it up before you decide it’s time to buy. The odds that there will be a second set waiting in the back are pretty slim. A heavily discounted item usually means that it’s the last one available. Odds are there isn’t going to be any restocking until spring… and it’s coming out on the floor with the “in season” price firmly attached.
It wouldn’t hurt to determine what your bottom dollar will be when it comes to purchasing your new furniture. When you see something that you like go on sale, ask to speak to management and try to strike a deal. They might take you up on your offer. After all, the sooner they get the furniture out the door, the sooner they get to haul out their winter merchandise.
Choosing the right patio furniture
Taking time to design the look that you want to achieve in your outdoor living room is the best way to know that you’re looking for furniture that will positively accentuate your space. Your overall goal is to create a space that is inviting you to spend time outside. A little thoughtful planning will help you make your backyard the new favorite hangout for you and your family.
List your needs
Will you be dining outdoors or creating a conversation nook? If your family is more into game nights than they are dining al fresco, cozy seating areas accompanied with a small table appropriate for game playing would make more sense than having an actual dining table stretched across the room taking up space.
Make a list of activities that you plan to enjoy in your outside living room and then envision the furniture that makes you the most comfortable while doing them.
Try before you buy
Don’t buy any furniture until you’ve tried it out. If you hope to spend a lot of time lounging on your new furniture, make sure it’s comfortable! Your patio furniture shouldn’t just look good… it should feel good too. Take a seat, stretch out and kick back a minute—
If you begin to doze off, you know you’re on the right track.
Look for low maintenance materials
Don’t wind up spending more time on furniture upkeep than you do getting to relax while enjoying your time outdoors. Of course, salt accumulation is going to be an issue because it’s constantly in the air. Like everything else that we have outside, you’ll want to wash your patio furniture at least twice a year to get rid of it.
As far as material choices, there are three that work best in our subtropical climate.
- Aluminum resists moisture damage and rust better than other metals. It does well in extreme temperatures, and it’s lightweight and durable too.
- Resin wicker is a weather-resistant synthetic fiber weave that is wrapped over a metal frame. High-end resin wicker is more expensive because it’s treated with UV-resistant materials that keep it from fading in the harsh Florida sun.
- Teak, when well-maintained, lasts up to 50 years so it makes a perfect option for a furniture choice if you’re looking for wooden furniture. It’s physically strong and aesthetically pleasing, but it requires the most upkeep of the three options given here.
Accessorize with natural colors
When it comes time to purchase pillows, throws, outdoor rugs, and other accessories pull colors from the surrounding environment. You’re sure to be pleased with the end result.
Choose materials for pillows and throws that can be easily thrown into the washer and dryer for easy maintenance.
The beauty of off-season shopping
With savings of up to 70% off the normal price of patio furniture, waiting until September, or even October, to buy will do wonders for your budget. So much so, in fact, that you will be able to afford to accessorize.
Maybe a water feature would be a nice touch. Consider all your options. This could be an opportune time to completely redesign your outdoor living room.
And, why not?
We’ve got a lot of nights spent outdoors to enjoy while we wait for spring to arrive. Designing a new environment to spend them in is the perfect way to create some new memories sure to last a lifetime.