Most common materials used for constructing patio furniture are simple plastics, wicker, metals such as aluminum and wrought iron, and woods such as teak, cedar or pine. Factors such as quality of construction figure largely into the cost, while other issues like the brand name can make two seemingly similar products diverge greatly in expense.

Before deciding on the right material, it’s prudent to realistically assess what you can afford to spend on your outdoor furniture. Though we would all love to have the resources to spend thousands of dollars on the finest furniture available, this is often not the case. In most situations, cost is one of the main deciding factors in which furniture you end up purchasing.

For those on a budget who simply want a place to sit down outside and enjoy the fresh air, plastic chairs and tables are a fine option. You can often get an entire set of plastic outdoor furniture for the cost of a single wooden chair. Furthermore, with plastic there is virtually nothing to do in terms of maintenance to keep it looking brand new aside from occasionally hosing the furniture down.

Once you have a good idea of what you want your patio or deck to look like and what materials you have in mind, you can begin looking at prices and availability. Obviously, common outdoor furniture materials such as plastic will be widely available and inexpensive while more unique and elegant materials such as teak may be more difficult to find and have more variance in price.