Furnish my roof deck
October 14, 2019 7:03 AM Subscribe
We recently acquired a roof deck, yay! Alas, so many options for outdoor furniture... what are the best value for quality items I can buy?
I think we prefer the rattan wicker look, something like this. I'd love to make sure it's comfortable, but all of the in-store options are 3x the price!
We are ultimately looking for a sectional, a dining table, some sort of umbrella or gazebo, and a hammock. We'd prefer items that can stay out year-round, as storage would be in the basement and it's a schlep. Also, no metal - we have a fiberglass roof, and have been told that metal can scrape it and cause leaks.
Basically, I've been looking online and in stores, and am just completely overwhelmed. I know nothing about outdoor furniture, and as it will be a chunk of change to buy all this, would like to be getting a good deal for something that will have longevity and we'll still like in 5 years. I figured we'd get some good clearance deals now that summer's over, am I wrong?
And, importantly, we are not looking to spend a lot of money on this as we have other rooms to furnish and need to budget wisely.
I think we prefer the rattan wicker look, something like this. I'd love to make sure it's comfortable, but all of the in-store options are 3x the price!
We are ultimately looking for a sectional, a dining table, some sort of umbrella or gazebo, and a hammock. We'd prefer items that can stay out year-round, as storage would be in the basement and it's a schlep. Also, no metal - we have a fiberglass roof, and have been told that metal can scrape it and cause leaks.
Basically, I've been looking online and in stores, and am just completely overwhelmed. I know nothing about outdoor furniture, and as it will be a chunk of change to buy all this, would like to be getting a good deal for something that will have longevity and we'll still like in 5 years. I figured we'd get some good clearance deals now that summer's over, am I wrong?
And, importantly, we are not looking to spend a lot of money on this as we have other rooms to furnish and need to budget wisely.
I've had this hammock for 5 years, some years I've brought it inside in the winter and some I haven't. Highly recommended - comfortable and strong.
Seconding IKEA for umbrellas and tables, also try Cost Plus World Market. We got our sectional on Craigslist - it's not a bad choice, especially for furniture that's going to live outside year round.
posted by true at 7:27 AM on October 14, 2019
Seconding IKEA for umbrellas and tables, also try Cost Plus World Market. We got our sectional on Craigslist - it's not a bad choice, especially for furniture that's going to live outside year round.
posted by true at 7:27 AM on October 14, 2019
Response by poster: Any chance you could wait til spring or acquire slowly?
I really want to get something up there so when we have people over for a housewarming in a month they can check it out / we can go up on a nice evening. But if we're going to get better deals in the spring, then absolutely we'll wait for the majority of items.
posted by DoubleLune at 7:29 AM on October 14, 2019
I really want to get something up there so when we have people over for a housewarming in a month they can check it out / we can go up on a nice evening. But if we're going to get better deals in the spring, then absolutely we'll wait for the majority of items.
posted by DoubleLune at 7:29 AM on October 14, 2019
I think you might be able to find something on sale right now, but you are going to have to look around. Try some big box stores - you'll probably have to visit in person to see what they have on clearance. I think you'll have better selection in the spring, but I don't think you'll get any deals. Yes, also check Craigslist.
posted by sarajane at 7:35 AM on October 14, 2019
posted by sarajane at 7:35 AM on October 14, 2019
We got a set from Ohana because the frame is aluminum instead of steel (like your wayfair link), making them lightweight and rust-proof. I think they came with a cover, and it's a good idea to keep them covered when not in use so they fade less/stay dry. Even a 4" cushion isn't super plush by itself, so we also use a 3" deep sheet of foam under the seats.
We use them pretty heavily during the season for it, and they have held up great so far for 3 years.
posted by Drosera at 7:36 AM on October 14, 2019
We use them pretty heavily during the season for it, and they have held up great so far for 3 years.
posted by Drosera at 7:36 AM on October 14, 2019
Oh, one more thing; if you get something with water-resistant cushions, make sure the cushion covers are removable. If the cushions get soaked, the covers prevent them from drying out and they can get dank.
posted by Drosera at 7:41 AM on October 14, 2019
posted by Drosera at 7:41 AM on October 14, 2019
I have director's chairs on my deck. They last several years then fall apart. If I folded them up regularly and had indoor winter storage, they'd last longer. They are very comfortable, more so than any other affordable outdoor furniture I've tried. My umbrella tables were craigslist freebies; 1 is large-ish, 1 is small. 2 umbrellas on the deck keep the living room much cooler. They fade, and sometimes get chewed up by squirrels in winter, so I get a new one from time to time. Someone will have a good sale in spring, or clearance about now. Make sure you close them in any wind; I have had to replace the glass-topped table because the wind caught the open umbrella and knocked it over.
posted by theora55 at 7:46 AM on October 14, 2019
posted by theora55 at 7:46 AM on October 14, 2019
I don’t know that you’ll get better deals in the spring, but there might be more selection. Though online stores should have this stuff year-round. Sales for patio furniture happen around August. Halloween stuff started replacing summer stuff in August.
You can also get a storage bench for outside so you can keep things like cushions protected.
I’d also be worried that anything I bought online might be uncomfortable. Maybe try Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist if you’re in the US?
posted by bluedaisy at 8:33 AM on October 14, 2019
You can also get a storage bench for outside so you can keep things like cushions protected.
I’d also be worried that anything I bought online might be uncomfortable. Maybe try Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist if you’re in the US?
posted by bluedaisy at 8:33 AM on October 14, 2019
I work in a city with nice 4-story brick and brownstone town homes many with nice roof decks.
In high winds last week a plastic chair blew off a roof and landed on the sidewalk 20’ from me.
Consider tethering and weighting things so they don’t blow away.
A polymer plastic deck box to store cushions is a good idea and the box can be weighted with cinder blocks.
posted by sol at 9:27 AM on October 14, 2019 [3 favorites]
In high winds last week a plastic chair blew off a roof and landed on the sidewalk 20’ from me.
Consider tethering and weighting things so they don’t blow away.
A polymer plastic deck box to store cushions is a good idea and the box can be weighted with cinder blocks.
posted by sol at 9:27 AM on October 14, 2019 [3 favorites]
Depending on your feelings toward Facebook, the Marketplace section of the site is very user-friendly. It feels so much safer than Craigslist; I furnished my whole deck and have many items in my home from estate sale finds. (While people are typically selling things from anywhere from 25%-75% off of retail, don’t be afraid to politely barter. I have gotten some amazing deals this way.)
posted by WaspEnterprises at 10:51 AM on October 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by WaspEnterprises at 10:51 AM on October 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
Shop Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for good deals on used stuff near you. This might be a good time of year for it, actually, as people might prefer to get rid of it at the end of the season rather than store it.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 1:28 PM on October 14, 2019
posted by rabbitrabbit at 1:28 PM on October 14, 2019
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Five years is reasonable but you’ll want to store cushions or anything fabric inside if you live someplace rainy. Could you possibly get a synthetic outdoor rug and put metal stuff on top of it?
This isn’t a great time of year to buy this stuff in the northern hemisphere. Any chance you could wait til spring or acquire slowly?
posted by bluedaisy at 7:18 AM on October 14, 2019 [2 favorites]