Wood is so beautiful that many times it’s a shame we paint it, we hide it, we process it until nothing is left of the original look. We even use carpentry byproducts to make laminated floors and light furniture. There is one exception to this wood processing rule: outdoor and patio furniture.

Since outdoor furniture is exposed to bad weather conditions and it has to endure sun rays and heat during the summer, unfinished furniture is the way to go. Solid wood is beautiful anyway and when it is exposed to heavy duty conditions, it gathers a certain patina which makes it very stylish and friendly.

The most used wood essences for outdoor furniture are rattan, wicker and bamboo. Other varieties include the yellow balau, eucalyptus, manni wood, cedar, pine, acacia, ash and oak. As you can see, there’s a wide range of possible choices. The flexibility of these wood types allows manufacturing lots of furniture pieces, from benches to chairs and bar stools, from tables and storage units to armchair recliners or rocking chairs.

photo credit: bfraz

If you don’t like the rough, natural aspect of the wooden furniture, you can stain it or paint it, if the manufacturer doesn’t state something else. Usually, bamboo, rattan and wicker are preferred in the natural look, but there are home owners who choose to paint it in blue or green.

Eucalyptus is very nice, as it has a warm shade of light brown. If it’s too light for your taste, you can darken it a bit by using a Sienna finish. Add a decorative wagon wheel on your house wall and you got a welcoming space in your garden, where you can relax and enjoy life be it by yourself or with your friends and family.

One issue you should pay attention to is the flooring of the space where you want to install your unfinished furniture. If the legs are pointed, they may scratch your floors. This can be easily avoided by buying a set of self-leveling floor protectors. A set of four pieces costs less than $10, so it’s well worth the price.

Rattan furniture is particularly resistant to water. Actually rattan is a wood that loves water. It becomes even more beautiful when getting wet. This is very convenient, especially if you live in a rainy area and you don’t want to spend all your days bringing your outdoor furniture inside and vice-versa.

When you buy your unfinished outdoor or patio furniture online, make sure you have a clause in the contract allowing you to return it in case it arrives damaged. This can be useful sometimes.

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