Article: Choosing Your Outdoor Furniture
Choosing Your Outdoor Furniture
A guide from Sissonne Outdoor
The right outdoor furniture comes down to four things: how you'll use the space, how much room you have, what your setting is exposed to, and how much care you're happy to give it. Get those right and a good setting will look after you for many summers.
This guide walks through each one, the same way our team does with customers in our Hawthorn and Southport showrooms. It finishes with a checklist you can take with you when you shop.
1. Start with how you'll use the space
Before you look at styles, picture a normal weekend out there. What you'll actually do decides what you need.
| If you mostly... | Look for | Think about |
|---|---|---|
| Host long lunches and dinners | A dining table and dining chairs | How many you seat most weeks, not once a year. A round table suits 4 to 6 and keeps conversation easy. A long table suits 8 or more. |
| Relax with a book or a drink | A sofa, lounge chairs, coffee and side tables | Deep, low seats for lounging. A swivel chair if you want to turn between the view and the conversation. |
| Spend summer by the pool | Sunloungers, a daybed, side tables | Frames and cushions that cope with wet swimmers and pool chemicals. Our sunlounge buying guide covers the detail. |
| Entertain standing up | A bar table with bar or counter stools | Match stool height to your bench or table (see section 2). |
| Do a bit of everything | A lounge setting plus a smaller dining setting | Zone the space so each area has room to breathe. |
Is it covered or exposed? A covered alfresco area gives you the widest choice. A fully exposed deck or poolside needs the toughest materials and a plan for covers.
Will it be indoors-outdoors? Many of our teak pieces look just as good inside, which helps if your living area opens straight onto the deck.
2. Measure up
Most buying regrets come from size. A setting that looks right in a showroom can swallow a courtyard, and a small one can look lost on a big deck. Measure the space and mark it out with masking tape or garden hose before you buy. For dining specifically, our dining table size guide goes deeper on clearances and shapes.
Rules of thumb
| What | Allow |
|---|---|
| Dining table width per person | About 60cm along the table edge |
| Behind each dining chair | 75 to 90cm, so people can push back and get up |
| Walkways past furniture | At least 80cm |
| Sofa to coffee table | 40 to 45cm, close enough to reach a drink |
| Coffee table length | About two thirds of the sofa length |
| Between sunloungers | 60cm, room for a side table |
| Bar stool seat to bar top | About 25 to 30cm |
Quick table sizes
| Seats | Round | Rectangular |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 120 to 140cm | 150 to 180cm |
| 6 | 140 to 160cm | 200 to 230cm |
| 8 | 160cm+ | 240 to 280cm |
| 10 | 290cm+ |
For example, our Eden Dining Table seats up to ten, and the Byron Pebble Dining Table 230cm seats six with room for a seventh.
Before delivery day, measure your gates, side paths and doorways. Large tables and sofas need a clear path from the street to the space.
3. Materials explained
Every material has a personality. The best choice is the one that suits your setting and how much care you want to give it.
| Material | What it's like | Best for | Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-grade teak | Dense, naturally oily timber that handles sun and rain. Ours comes in Aged Teak or Honey. Left untreated it weathers to a soft silver grey. | Dining tables, lounge frames, sunloungers | Low to medium. Protect it to keep the colour, or let it silver naturally. |
| Powder-coated aluminium | Light, strong and won't rust. Easy to move: a Capri Lounge Chair weighs 9kg. | Lounge chairs, sofas and dining chairs, especially on balconies and rooftops | Low. Wipe down with mild soapy water. |
| Marine-grade rope | Hand-woven, soft to touch, made to handle salt air and sun. | Chair backs and seats, adding texture | Low. Rinse and let it dry in the sun. |
| Synthetic wicker (ECOLENE® and Summergrass) | The look of natural wicker without the cracking, splintering or corrosion, and it copes with temperature swings. | Dining chairs, stools, lounge seats | Low. Hose off and dry. |
| Microcement | Hand-screeded concrete finish, double-sealed for UV and stain protection. Our Byron range comes in Putty and Limestone. | Statement dining, coffee and side tables | Medium. Wipe spills quickly and reseal over time. |
| Outdoor fabrics | Solution-dyed fabric over quick-dry foam; our Designer Series uses Premium Sunproof Olefin. The colour runs through the fibre, so it holds up in the sun, and the foam drains after rain. | Cushions and upholstery | Low to medium. Brush off, spot clean, protect. |
A note on teak finishes: Aged Teak has a deeper, weathered look from day one. Honey is warmer and lighter. Both are the same timber and need the same care.
For the long version of any of these, read the complete teak buyer's guide, what marine-grade actually means and the concrete table guide.
4. Sun, salt and weather
Australian conditions are tougher on furniture than almost anywhere. Think about what your space is exposed to most.
| Your setting | Watch for | Good choices |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal (within a few kilometres of the sea) | Salt air on metal, faster greying of timber | Teak, marine-grade rope, powder-coated aluminium, synthetic wicker. Our coastal homes guide goes deeper. |
| Full sun (north or west facing, no cover) | Fading fabrics, hot surfaces | Solution-dyed fabrics, lighter colours, covers when not in use |
| Poolside | Wet swimmers, chlorine or salt water, sunscreen | Quick-dry foam, rope or wicker seats that drain, wipe-clean surfaces |
| Windy (rooftops, balconies, open decks) | Light chairs moving or tipping | Heavier teak or concrete pieces. Store cushions in strong wind. |
| Covered alfresco | Very little | The widest choice, including our microcement Byron tables and lighter fabrics |
Whatever your setting, a fitted cover is the simplest way to add years to your furniture. Fitted covers are made for a number of our ranges, including the Capri and Kirra lounge chairs and sofas.
5. Comfort
Comfort is personal, so the best test is to sit in it. These numbers help you compare pieces online.
| What | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Dining seat height | 45 to 47cm | Pairs with a standard 74 to 76cm table. Our Airlie Dining Chair sits at 46cm. |
| Lounge seat height | 36 to 42cm | Lower feels more relaxed, higher is easier to get in and out of. The Capri Lounge Chair sits at 38cm. |
| Seat depth | 50 to 55cm upright, 60cm+ for lounging | Deeper seats suit tall people and tucking your legs up. Add scatter cushions if you're shorter. |
| Cushion thickness | 10 to 15cm | Thicker means softer. Look for quick-dry foam so cushions drain after rain. |
| Arm height | Around 60cm on lounge pieces | Check it lines up with your coffee or side table so a drink is within reach. |
Swivel chairs let you turn between the view and the conversation. Armchairs or side chairs? Arms are more comfortable for long dinners, but armless chairs fit more people around a table.
6. Care and protection
A few minutes a season keeps your furniture looking the way it did on delivery day. The most important time is the first week. The complete care guide has the method for every material in the catalogue.
When it arrives
- Wipe everything down with a soft cloth and mild soapy water, then let it dry.
- Apply the right protector to clean, dry surfaces (see below).
- Find a dry spot to store cushions when you're away or a storm is coming.
Our protector kits
$43.95 each. One kit covers a full setting.
| Kit | For | Reapply |
|---|---|---|
| Teak Protector Kit | Teak frames and tables. Shields against moisture, stains and greying. | Every 6 to 12 months |
| Fabric Protector Kit | Cushions and upholstery. Helps repel water, resist stains and hold colour. | Every 6 to 12 months |
| Stone Protector Kit | Microcement and stone tables. Guards against wine, coffee, sunscreen and rain. | Every 12 months |
A complimentary Teak, Fabric or Stone Protector Kit is included with qualifying furniture orders.
Through the year
- Brush off leaves and hose down rope and wicker every few weeks.
- Wipe spills on microcement straight away.
- Use fitted covers through winter or long trips away.
- Reapply protector in spring before the outdoor season starts, and again in autumn if your setting is exposed or coastal.
7. Checklist before you buy
- ☐ I know what I'll mostly use the space for, and how many people I usually seat
- ☐ I've measured the space and marked it out on the ground
- ☐ I've allowed 75 to 90cm behind dining chairs and 80cm for walkways
- ☐ I've measured gates, side paths and doorways for delivery
- ☐ I know whether my space is coastal, full sun, poolside, windy or covered
- ☐ I've chosen materials that suit those conditions
- ☐ I've checked seat height and depth, or sat in it in a showroom
- ☐ I've seen the fabric and timber colours in person or asked for photos in daylight
- ☐ I've added the right protector kit and a cover if it's exposed
- ☐ I know where cushions will go in bad weather
Come and see it in person
The easiest way to choose is to sit in it, touch the fabrics and see the timber colours in daylight. Walk-ins are always welcome during opening hours.
- Hawthorn, Melbourne: Level 1, 170 Burwood Road, Hawthorn (entry via Abbotts Office Furniture)
- Southport, Gold Coast: Unit 19, 19 Warehouse Road, Southport
Can't make it in? Email us at hello@sissonneoutdoor.com.au with your measurements and a photo of your space, and we'll help you plan it. There is also a free space planning service if you would rather start online.
