As the weather warms up and long summer days with warmer evenings approach, it is likely that you are looking to spruce up your outdoor area as a well-planned outdoor space can significantly increase your business capacity and customer numbers. Innkeepers can increase average spend per head, entice new customers in and keep customers returning simply by creating an inviting and well maintained outdoor space. To many, the exterior of a pub reflects what they might find inside and also what kind of service they can expect so it’s an excellent an opportunity to promote your pub and the kind of business you run to passing trade and regular customers alike!
A key consideration in designing an outdoor area is what type of furniture you will fill the space with. It needs to be visually appealing as well as functional and durable. Choosing furniture purely on price isn’t always a good move and there are other factors to take account of if you want a purchase of furniture to be an investment rather than an expense season after season, year upon year!
If you are considering how you can maximise the potential of our outdoor area then the handy Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide will help you to avoid making expensive and time consuming mistakes in the transformation of your pub garden!
Material
Choose wisely when it comes to what your furniture is made of. There are a number of options when it comes to outdoor tables and chairs but which is right for you?
Wood
Who doesn’t love the look of wood with its unique grains and markings but it often isn’t practical due to requiring lots of maintenance to keep it looking beautiful. There’s nothing worse than having to treat and oil wood or year after year, sand and re-stain or even worse, purchase expensive furniture covers that take valuable time and energy to fit and remove between uses. If you like the look of wood but want furniture that won’t weather, rot and crack like real hardwood furniture will over time then choose synthetic timber furniture that offer the look of wood but require little to no maintenance. Trent Furniture offer a wood effect outdoor chair that features synthetic timber slats and is weather and water resistant for maximum longevity as well as been stackable for convenient storage during the harsher winter months.
[Wood Effect Monaco Range]
Metal
If you want to create a modern look then metal is a good choice and being available in such a wide choice of shapes, sizes and finishes makes it all the more popular with owners, landlords and customers throughout the industry-Just make sure any metal furniture you purchase is weather resistant and treated to resist rust and weathering. Bright silver such as aluminium can be combined with bold colours or natural textures such as wood, slate or brick so it’s a very versatile material for outdoor furniture and can be used in any setting from grassed areas to patios, terraces and decking. Not to mention that as well as strong and sturdy, aluminium is still one of the most light-weight materials for outdoor furniture making it easy to move around and store.
Synthetic Rattan
Synthetic rattan, wicker or resin weave have the unique selling point of being virtually maintenance free and had truly revolutionised the outdoor furniture market. It may be the newest material to make an appearance but it’s hugely popular partly down to the contemporary designs, vast choice of colours and resilience to weather which means they can be used all year round. Use synthetic rattan or wicker furniture to introduce colour to an area or opt for dark greys and blacks for a contemporary twist that looks stylish and sophisticated in any outdoor setting.
Maintenance and Storage
Another key consideration when purchasing outdoor furniture that is linked closely to the material you choose, is maintenance. Minimal maintenance is key, look for simple shapes that are easy to clean and allow excess water to drain off easily in the wetter weather to maximise longevity of your outdoor furniture. Although all materials will be weather resistant, furniture will stay looking its best if it can be stored away during particularly cold and wet months when it would otherwise be exposed to long periods of harsh weather.
Smaller pieces and individual chairs are much easier to move and store than larger bulkier items such as benches and multiple seat suites. Choosing stacking furniture means storage requires less room and is much more convenient when it comes to finding space to stash your outdoor tables and chairs. Placing in a shed or garage is a great way of prolonging furniture life expectancy-just be sure to fully dry down and clean your furniture pre-storage to avoid mould forming, decay of metal and rotten wood.
The Monaco range of chairs from Trent Furniture are all stackable, lightweight and available in wood effect, aluminium or wicker with prices starting from just £22.90! The Monaco Outdoor Chairs are specifically designed for contract use and have a construction superior to those you might find for domestic use so will remain sturdy and stylish for years to come.
[Plaza Stacking Furniture Range]
Colours
Colour is important when it comes to outdoor furniture. Brightly coloured furniture adds interest to an area whilst bright silvers such as stainless steel and aluminium are really on trend right now, adding a contemporary style to pub gardens and patios of all shapes and sizes.
Dark colours including grey and black are a classic choice and an investment that won’t date so consider this option when investing in new outdoor furniture-just make sure that it is UV resistant to ensure they don’t become faded in sunlight.
Be warned when it comes to white outdoor furniture, especially tops which can create glare in direct sunlight and make for an uncomfortable experience for your customers. White furniture can be troublesome and high maintenance attracting dust, dirt and grime from the natural environment such as weather, the sea or traffic. The last thing you need is to be constantly cleaning down your outdoor furniture to keep it looking presentable when your time and effort could be focussed elsewhere on making sure business is thriving!
Design
There are a few vital things to look for in the design of your outdoor furniture to ensure not only will it look great but that it will perform well. Trent Furniture advise to look for items following design features;
Adjustable feet- Let’s face it, you find plenty of uneven floor surfaces inside never mind outside! This is especially true of older buildings and renovations that feature beautiful stone floors or traditional tiling so it’s no surprise that adjustable feet on outdoor furniture are high on a list of priorities. Adjustable feet on tables can provide the perfect solution to floors that are not level, put an end to those irritating wobbly legs and avoid those pesky folded beer mats under legs!
Drainage Holes- As your furniture will spend a lot of time being subjected to the unpredictable Great British weather, it is important that it is deigned to let excess water drain to allow them to dry off quickly and keep them looking fresh and new. After all no one wants to sit on a mouldy chair that’s seen better days, nor are they inclined to step any further to see what you have on offer inside! As plastic is non-porous, if you are opting for a solid seat as opposed to wicker, rattan or slated design then make sure it has adequate drainage holes; without these, water can sit on the surface and leave unattractive watermarks from the muddy puddles of water that linger.
Rust Resistant-Even if you pack up your beer garden furniture and store your outdoor furniture indoors during the harshest winter months, it is inevitable that eventually your furniture will get wet and weathered over time no matter what you do- particularly if you opt for aluminium, stainless steel or other metal finishes, choose a high grade to help resist corrosion and keep it looking it’s best. Look for stainless steel tops that have ‘post-forming’ where the metal continues over the edges of the tops to prevent water reaching the core as these will last much longer and prevent warping and inner rust developing.
So there you have it a comprehensive guide to buying outdoor furniture. Shop online at Trent Furniture for a huge range of outdoor furniture designed for contract use and specifically created for pubs, inns and bars in mind. Don’t wait any longer to maximise the potential of your outdoor space and the warmer summer months!