A byproduct of being a Texan is the weather-induced mania we endure. In a twenty-four-hour span, we can have all four seasons wreak havoc on our day — just ask my potted plants in the backyard. While we long for our outdoor spaces to be an extension of our living and entertaining, we don’t have the luxury of California’s sunny, 75-degree disposition. 

Texas weather can make buying outdoor furniture impossible. When I work with my clients to design their exteriors, the first order of business we discuss is an unsexy word — durability. All of us envision our backyards to look as if they were plucked directly from a Restoration Hardware catalog or could be mistaken for Martha Stewart’s garden. Bringing clients back down to reality is the worst part of the job. I want them to have everything they dream of, but I also want it to be made of impeccably durable materials that are constructed to last while remaining tasteful. 

To be frank, quality is becoming harder in today’s furniture manufacturing, even for the luxury pieces, although good luck finding any affordable outdoor furnishings currently. If my clients have a patio that is element-protected, the range of furnishings increases significantly. We can incorporate natural woods such as teak and oak. If their outdoor space is exposed, we tend to lean on metals and composite materials — think Polywood. For those of us with uncovered patios, it doesn’t mean that if we love decorative textiles such as soft cushions and throw pillows, there is no hope. It simply requires a few extra steps and a little more diligence. Surprisingly, Amazon has chic cushion storage options if covering furniture feels like torture. 

I had two projects in Lakewood that required work on their outdoor spaces. In one, the previous owners left their woven RH set and weather-worn natural tables. There was so much character in the pieces that we after-market revived the entire set with new custom cushions and used an exterior restoration company for the wood. In the other project, they bought new exterior furniture for their recently constructed house, but they tried to make their outdoor sectional fit from another house. Sometimes, it’s better to know when to bid a good thing adieu. We had to have a gentle conversation about how great that piece was for the time and space, but it was holding back the brand-new, beautiful set they had purchased. 

The bottom line that no one says is that outdoor furniture has a shelf life — buy it smart, make it chic, enjoy it while it lasts, revive it when it’s worth it, cut your losses when it’s time to part, and don’t sleep on the surrounding elements. Happy patio season to all those who celebrate. Enjoy the two weeks of perfect Texas weather!