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Well if not why not? No really- most of us consider patio furniture to mean the dining table or the conversation set, but outdoor bar furniture is another popular type of patio furniture. Bar furniture includes the bar table, seats and accessories. Bars can be portable or fixed and available in traditional and modern styles. Outdoor bar sets include the bar and a number of stools, typically 4. Other combinations may include a bar table and seats much like a pub garden setting. Patio bar furniture can be multipurpose it can be used for outdoor entertaining and drinks, and also for breakfasts.As people usually congregate firstly where there is drink and then food, an outdoor bar makes sense to help with getting the party going.  Having a patio bar set means that guests can sit down, chat whilst you get their drinks;  then comfortably stay and enjoy their drinks with you. It makes for good entertaining.

Outdoor patio bar furniture can be as formal or relaxed as you choose it to be. Teak outdoor patio furniture would be the ultimate bar furniture in terms of quality and longevity. But if you wanted a more modern look then consider having teak and wicker patio bar furniture - it looks so stylish. Teak will generally tend to give a more naturally feel to a bar area, whereas aluminum will be more chic and bamboo bar furniture will make a bar feel more exotic.

An outdoor bar on its own will encourage your guests to have their drinks and move on, patio bar sets with 2 or 4 bar stools will allow them to sit and pass the time. Outdoor bar stools come with or without backs, in fixed or swivel varieties, so there is plenty of choice to get a set up that appeals to you and complements the rest of your outdoor patio furniture. Using a portable patio bar gives you the choice of where to do your entertaining- pool, patio or garden. Another popular place to have the outdoor bar is around the pool, it can even be in the pool if you so desire! Pool furniture is very popular.

Outdoor Patio Bar Furniture

Whatever outdoor patio bar furniture you choose it will add character and charm to your outdoor entertaining area, as well as provide a great place for you and your guests to get the party going. Then the next day the outdoor bar can be used to serve breakfast at - truly multipurpose!

Photo courtesey suethegardengirl

Outdoor Patio Furniture comes in many different materials; there is a style to suit everyone and anyone. For the rustic appeal try wooden outdoor  sets, for modern try glass outdoor sets; it all depends upon what feel you want for your patio area. The basic types of outdoor sets include wooden, aluminum, plastic, wicker,wrought iron and cafe style. All have good and not so good points and it is mostly personal taste that determines which style you prefer.

Wooden Outdoor Patio Furniture

This can be any type of wood; hardwoods are usually preferred as they last longer and look better. Timber furniture can suit just about any style of yard. Timber is very forgiving; it does not damage easily and can withstand the weather well.  Wooden furniture is great for a natural setting.Annual maintenance checks can keep your wooden outside furniture looking good. The most popular in the wooden ranges is teak outdoor patio furniture, chosen for its hardness and the color as it ages.

Aluminum Outdoor Patio Furniture

Aluminum patio furniture has its place, as it is light, it can be easy to put out, and easy to store. Aluminum is treated to improve its ability to withstand the weather. Aluminum furniture is usually modern in design; so sleek lines, often comfortable cushions, generally tables are made with glass tops, giving a feeling of light and spaciousness to the patio area. Aluminum furniture is usually a lot cheaper than timber, but also doesn’t on average last as long.

Plastic Outside Patio Furniture

Probably the cheapest and most commonly available outside furniture sets. Plastic is great for having around children.Plastic or resin furniture is so easy to pack away and store over winter and very  easy to clean. Plastic doesn’t weather very well and will not last as long as timber, but can be very useful for camping and when you are just starting out and would like to enjoy your yard, but have little money to spend initially. You can always upgrade later.

Wicker Outdoor Patio Furniture

Wicker has a timeless feel about it. There is natural wicker which is expensive and not as commonly available and resin wicker, which looks like wicker, but weathers really well. Resin outdoor patio furniture sets come in variety of styles from traditional to modern, and in a range or colors although off white is probably one of the most popular as it looks best after some time outside!

Wrought Iron Outdoor Patio Furniture Sets

Wrought iron is another style that seems to have maintained it popularity through the years. Wrought iron is treated to make it weather resistant and requires regular checks to keep it looking its best. It is so stylish when accessorized with the correct patio furniture cushions. Wrought iron sets can include less common items of modern outdoor furniture such as lover seats which can make a statement in your outdoor area.

Cafe Style Sets

This can be wrought iron, but can also include mosaic designs which look great in cottage gardens, or just as a few pieces of outside furniture on the veranda or porch.

Buying furniture sets means that you purchase a complete seating or dining set up all together. This is good because everything matches and you have all need, just make sure you buy as many chairs to go around the table as you think you will need, it can be hard to get extra seats later. The term sets means the contents can vary, a dining set can include 6 or 8 chairs and a garden set may or may not include a table. Be sure you know what outdoor patio furniture you are buying in your set and enjoy using it.

I love my outside patio set, but it looks so boring just by sitting there, so I started looking at accessories that I can use to brighten it up. There are so many accessories about that I didn’t know where to start. Well deep breath!

First of outdoor patio furniture cushions were a must, they will add a splash of any color or pattern I choose and best of all when I feel like a change of mood I can change them to suit. You do have to consider what fabric they will be made from, and that depends upon whether I will leave them outside all the time or bring them inside every night. Well thinking about it the cushions that get left outside all the time are generally made of a water resistant material such as PVC and whilst they keep the water out they are not the nicest to sit on. The lovely soft cotton cushions are not going to last long in the elements, but if I add some outdoor patio furniture covers then I should be right. There we go first decision done.

Next I started looking at an umbrella or shading the outside patio furniture set - they will add a bold statement, but did I need it. Well I decided that having the shade would be a good idea and I didn’t want a shade cloth, that would obscure the sun, summer and winter,and patio umbrellas can be packed away in winter. I also considered patio awnings, as they can also be packed away, but I haven’t the space for one. So an umbrella in a contrasting color will fit in really well. The umbrella will be good in summer, but to extend the use of the outdoor space in winter we needed some heating. As it happens there a lot of options available for heating your outdoor space - patio heaters, chimeras, chimeneas, space heaters or roman fire stands to name a few. I decided that a chimera would be great – they come in a variety of styles and I can try my hand a cooking on them too.

Thinking about winter made me think about lighting- there are outdoor Christmas lights that can be used all year round – mainly fairy lights and they can look great on summer evenings too. There are number of options when it comes to lighting from candles to fairy lights (and even different types of fairy lights!) Solar lighting can be great on summer evenings as it comes on automatically as the natural light dims.

Other accessories to be considered are insect repellents, sound system, drinks trolleys, rugs, hammocks, outdoor TV, but for now I think I’ll just add some plants in decorative planter boxes around the outside furniture set and sit down and enjoy it all.

Now my outdoor room is a bright, interesting and comfortable space, just the way I like it.