Now ideal time to create plan for outdoor living

Yes, it's true, Christmas bells are still ringing in our ears and the surrounding mountaintops still have traces of snow, but what better time to get ahead of the curve and start thinking about outdoor furniture than now? Ring in the new year and start laying plans for the outdoor life that we enjoy so much of the time here in Las Vegas.

Virtually all traces of the winter holidays have already disappeared from store shelves and any day now the garden tools and patio furniture will be ubiquitously displayed. I don't think there's ever been a better time to create an outdoor room than now, with preseason sales on the horizon and a host of incredible new designs and fabrics that are simply not to be believed.

Along with the time-honored teak and wrought iron furniture in virtually every style, innovations come along with each new season. So, it's not too early to begin with basic considerations of the kind of outdoor furniture that best suits your budget and design of your home, not to mention your lifestyle.

When purchasing outdoor furniture, there are a number of things to consider that may help guarantee the item(s) you buy will meet your needs. Most fundamental of all is to carefully look at the quality of the materials the furniture is made of and try, if at all possible, to avoid choosing by cost alone. That's never a good idea when it comes to outdoor furniture, where you want to consider above all else the durability and weather resistance of the pieces you choose.

Outdoor furniture needs to hold its own against nature's worst, such as rain and snow, not to mention the searing heat and sun of our fair city. Inferior materials may only last for one season causing you to spend good money after bad.

Along with quality, there are numerous styles and materials to choose from including resin wicker, aluminum and metal or steel which, by the way, are almost all carefree. The better-quality metal furniture has a paint finish that is very similar to that applied to cars and trucks and is very resistant to rust and corrosion from rain and ocean salt spray or from color fading caused by the sun.

You'll find that there's an ever-increasing presence of modern design in the marketplace today. The aforementioned materials are now used to shape free-flowing artistic lines and even abstract shapes due largely to new production methods. It's truly an interesting feeling to sit on an outdoor sofa or chaise that is both comfortable and looks like a piece of sculpture!

Still, there is one material for outdoor furniture that stands out above all the rest and deserves special mention.

Teak, with its very tight grain that makes it so resistant to water damage and insect infestation, continues to be the premier wood used for making outdoor furniture. There are gardens where teak has been outside and in use for 100 years or more. Its wonderful golden-brown color can be sustained throughout its life with yearly coats of an outdoor oil. And, if you choose to let it go untreated, then it will simply age and weather to a soft gray color.

Teak is more expensive than other wood furniture, but in the long run it just may prove to be the last piece of patio furniture you will ever have to buy due to its durability and long life, making it a very wise investment.

Another important factor for you to consider when creating an outdoor living area is the architectural style of your home. Ideally, your outdoor room or patio should be an extension of the home's interior as well as the architecture. I've seen too many cases where the design theme abruptly changes in style and quality from inside to out. And the choice of fabric used for seat cushions and pillows goes a long way to creating the overall look and design of your outdoor space and its relationship to the interior of your home.

The quality and strength of fabrics and seat cushions as well as the colors and patterns made for outdoor furniture has grown exponentially in the past few years. Beginning with the introduction of solution-dyed acrylic fabrics some 15 years ago, coverings are colorfast, soft to the touch and come in a variety of colors and patterns, much the same way as beautiful indoor materials. They now have an increased resistance to sun fade and moisture. Also, the fill that's used (if exterior grade foam) will not soak up water and dries very quickly thus preventing any mold or mildew. Cushions with zippers are a great addition so that the covers can be removed and machine washed.

Begin your outdoor furniture search now and enjoy outdoor living year-round in style and with less worry than ever about the weather and sun ruining your investment. If you consider all of the above when making your choice(s), chances are you'll be sitting comfortably for many years to come.

Stephen Leon is a licensed interior designer and president of Soleil Design International; he has been designing and manufacturing custom furniture and cabinetry for more than 25 years. He has served on the board of directors of the Central California/Nevada Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. Questions can be sent to stephen@soleildesigninter national.com.