How to Find Antique Outdoor Furniture

How to Find Antique Outdoor Furniture

While many people do choose to adorn their homes and patios with chic and modern furniture, others prefer more rustic, natural décor. Antique furniture offers a more country-style look, with a more classic and timeless appeal.

For many interior design enthusiasts the process of searching for antique furniture pieces is a passionate hobby that adds to the experience of decorating the room or house. Antique pieces also come with a story, or a history, that make the piece particularly intriguing.

Antique furniture is made of iron, copper and/ or reliable, sturdy hardwoods like oaks, cedar, walnut and mahogany or a combination of woods and metals. Obviously, Americans in centuries past did not have the technologies that we have today for creating materials, and for furniture to last centuries it must have been made from reliable materials.

For outdoor use many antique enthusiasts accent their antique pieces with elegant stone fountains or other decorations.

Most antique outdoor furniture is made of wrought iron because of the materials’ ability to withstand weather. Wrought iron antique chairs, tables and benches have been used for centuries in the gardens of European nobles and American high society.

The reason wooden antique furniture is typically not used for the outdoors (or the fact that antique wooden outdoor furniture hasn’t lasted) is because wood has a tendency to deteriorate under the stress of weather.

If you choose to use antique wooden pieces outdoors you should consider moving them indoors during winter and rainy seasons. Cleaning outdoor furniture often is crucial to keeping the piece in good condition. To clean simply wipe the piece down with a wet rag dabbed with dish soap.

Weather proofing antique furniture might change the color or affect the value of the piece, so take your future plans for the piece into consideration before applying any stains or protective lacquer.

Antiques can be found in a variety of ways, from searching online, to flea markets and antique stores. If you’re interested in antiquing search online for local antique shops. Look there first and if you don’t find what you’re after ask the owners to point you in the right direction.

Whether you choose to go with wrought iron furniture or wood, take good care of your furniture and it will continue to last with elegance and class.