The right outdoor furniture can make your PVC deck stylish, comfortable, and unique. With so many things to consider and options to choose from, putting together the right mix of deck furniture can be quite daunting. Planning ahead and doing your research can make this process much easier.

The best place to start when selecting deck furniture is to make a list of all the activities you’d like to use your deck for and use that to determine what furniture you’ll need. Be sure you know your deck’s dimensions, have an idea of how much space each piece will use, and decide how many people you wish to accommodate. Consider leaving space for extra items such as grills and outdoor speakers.  If the furniture needs to be stored away for the off-season, assess the amount of storage space you’ll need.

Iron furniture on a Gossen London Grey Passport deck

Once you’ve determined which pieces you’re looking for, you’ll need to select the proper furniture material. Metal furniture, with the exception of aluminum, is very durable and its weight prevents it from being moved in the wind. In addition, it comes in a wide variety of styles to suit your individual taste. However, metal will heat up in the summer and may be susceptible to rust.

Plastic furniture and aluminum furniture are lower cost options. They are typically stackable, making for easy storage. Plastic in particular is excellent for use near water. The light weight of plastic and aluminum makes it easy to rearrange furniture, but the furniture may also be easily displaced by wind.

Wood furniture can have a great, natural look that matches your deck. However, wood can be more vulnerable to fading and damage from the elements, so it may require regular maintenance and treatment applications. The quality, price, and potential longevity of wooden outdoor furniture depend heavily on the type of wood used.  Teak is a popular type of wood that has a high mineral and oil content that helps prevent bug and water damage.  Teak will weather to a grey color, but can be returned to its original color through sanding or kept its original color with regular applications of teak oil. While considered one of the most durable woods (it can even be kept outdoors during the off-season), it is also one of the most expensive.

Cedar is another popular wood used for outdoor furniture. Less expensive than teak and other exotic woods, cedar still resists moisture and insects naturally. Its light weight makes cedar easy to move, Regular maintenance is needed to make sure cedar lasts.

Redwood is another common choice in outdoor furniture.  Like its name implies, redwood boasts a deep red color, but without proper treatment it is susceptible to fading and staining light colored clothes. Although it is more expensive than cedar, redwood shares both cedar’s weather resistance and its vulnerability to scratches and dents.

These are only a few of the most popular woods used in outdoor furniture, so don’t hesitate to explore the vast array of other options when considering wooden deck furniture.