Summer Meets Style in Your Backyard – Know Before You Buy! This mybergen.com House & Garden Sponsored Content Blog is provided by Stuart Leventhal, Owner of Down to Earth Living in Pomona, New York.
Spring has sprung, and summer is just around the corner, which means it’s time to head out to your patio or porch and soak in the sun, relax with family, and welcome friends. The options, decisions, and challenges of selecting the right furniture can be daunting. Suppose you purchase outdoor furniture for the first time or replace old furniture. In that case, it’s helpful to consider the patio and porch extensions of your home and your personality.
Stuart Leventhal, founder of Down to Earth Living in Pomona, New York – which offers the area’s most comprehensive and most unique selection of outdoor furniture, home décor, plants, and gardening supplies – has the following recommendations to help ease your task before making your new selection consider the following factors.
COMFORT: I’m a firm believer in the idea that comfort is the most crucial factor when it comes to selecting outdoor furniture, and nothing can substitute for actually sitting in the chair or on the couch you are considering. For many people, the goal is to create their oasis in their backyard, so the comfort level of the chair or couch is critical. Buying from an area retail store provides this opportunity which online purchasing does not. Depending upon the purpose, chairs come in varying heights, depths, and back angles. Chairs for dining should seat you in an upright position, while those designed for lounging should be more relaxed, thus allowing you to lie back or sit open for an extended period of time. Cushioned chairs feel softer and more inviting than solid metal ones. You can always add pads to metal chairs, changing the overall look and style and making them more comfortable.
STYLE: Everyone wants to feel like their backyard looks stylish and inviting. Trust your gut when it comes to color, texture, and design. Select what makes you smile when you see it on the showroom floor. Sit in it to see if it is also comfortable. Be sure to ask what material the frame is made of and the expected lifespan. Ask the same questions about the cushions; will they wear well over two years, five years, or longer? Also, consider the location of the set. Will it be covered most of the time by an overhang or subject to weather changes? Is it under trees or out in the sun? Well-made, good-looking furniture should provide you with many years and even a decade of comfort. Adding décor pieces can elevate and change the style from season to season, so consider what you want to add to the overall look, such as vases, lanterns, potted plants, and more.
VALUE: The value of your new outdoor furniture lies in your appreciation of the style, the expected lifespan, and finally, the price. Be sure to ask your sales associate about the ease of maintenance for the specific furniture material, including the frame and the cushions. How easy is it to keep clean? Choose material that will stand up easily to day-to-day outdoor living. Will storing the furniture during the winter be necessary, or can it be covered? Be sure to also ask about the life expectancy and the manufacturer’s warranty. No one is more qualified than the manufacturer to predict the lifespan of your furniture. Your sales associate should be able to answer your questions directly. If the sales associate doesn’t take an interest in your questions before the sale, they certainly won’t take an interest later on if you have an issue.
Lastly, but importantly, measure your spaces before you shop. Take pictures of the area you will furnish and identify the sun’s direction. This will make your shopping experience easier and more successful.
Down to Earth Living is located at 1040 Route 45, Pomona, New York. The business is a short distance from Bergen County and is an easy trip from Routes 9W and 17, the Palisades Interstate Parkway, and the Garden State Parkway.
Visit www.dteliving.com for special events happening at Down to Earth Living.
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