As the weather heats up and summer approaches, we look to spend as much time as possible in our gardens, in an effort to soak up some rays and socialise over a good old-fashioned BBQ.
If your garden has emerged from the winter months looking a little battered and shabby, then it’s time to give it a facelift. One way to do this without breaking the bank is to invest in some stylish oak garden furniture.
Oak Garden Furniture Ideas
Here are some ideas for the types of oak furniture and accessories you could get to makeover your garden.
- Oak Patio Table and Chairs – you can either choose a small intimate set suitable for couples, or a larger size to accommodate an extended family.
- Sociable rustic oak dining table with bench style seating – reminiscent of a German beer drinking hall, oak benches on either side of a rectangle table are great for squeezing an extra couple of heads around your dining table for a busy Sunday lunch or late night drinks beneath the stars.
- Space Saving L-shaped Corner Bench – if you want relaxed seating for all the family but don’t have enough space for more than one bench, then a corner bench is the perfect space-saving solution. Choose from a bespoke right-handed or left-handed corner unit depending on your own requirements.
- Oak swing seat – straight out of a fairy tale, you can relax and unwind on a hot summer’s day in a garden swing. The kids will love it!
- Oak tubs – a chic way to display your potted planters.
- Oak pedestals – display flower arrangements, oversized candles or vintage accessories on huge oak pedestals for an elaborate finishing touch to your garden.
Maintaining your Outdoor Oak Furniture Collection
Traditional oak furniture looks exceptionally classy and when it is maintained correctly, it is extremely durable so long as it is protected from elements such as rain, wind, cold, snow and sunlight in an outdoor environment. Sunlight affects oak by producing a faded silver hue to the wood, whereas rain and damp can cause a blackening effect on the wood as the water reacts with the high natural tannin content found in oak.
For those of you who are already accustomed to treating indoor oak furniture, you’ll need to adjust some of your techniques for caring for outside oak wood and these are dependent on whether or not the oak is pre-treated.
It is often advised to condition untreated indoor oak furniture with linseed oil, but this procedure should be skipped when looking after untreated outdoor oak, as it can lead to damp and mildew problems.
Lemon oil is the preferred alternative. A better idea yet would be to treat the outdoor oak using an oil-based stain which waterproofs and protects the wood. If you need to get rid of any unsightly stains on your oak furniture, then do so by applying some butter to the affected area overnight and remove it with a cloth in the morning.
When summer ends and the colder months begin to set in, it’s wise to cover your oak furniture with garden covers, even if you’re planning on keeping items stored in your shed or garage. Make sure you clean your furniture and remove any insects before covering them. If you ensure that you take the time to look after your oak furniture, then you’ll find that you’ll get many more memorable summers out of these beautiful pieces.
Nick Halls is the co-director of Rustic Oak, which specialises in crafting beautiful bespoke oak furniture.