With summer holidays underway and outdoor living in full swing, now is the perfect time to source pieces that bring style and durability outside.
As summer holidays bring more time spent outdoors with family gatherings, dinner parties, and relaxing, attention naturally shifts to the spaces beyond the walls. And while form and style always matter, when it comes to outdoor furniture, material is where performance begins.
Whether furnishing a shaded patio, pool deck, or an all-weather terrace, the material you specify will shape not only the look and feel of a space, but also how it weathers over time. Here’s a closer look at three foundational materials — teak, wicker, and aluminum — and how they compare across durability, maintenance, and design versatility.
Teak
Featured Vendor: Summer Classics
Timeless, durable, and naturally weather-resistant, teak is one of the most trusted materials for outdoor furniture. Its high natural oil content makes it exceptionally resistant to moisture and insects — ideal for long-term use in a variety of climates.
Summer Classics brings a refined approach to teak, with collections that reimagine traditional silhouettes in solid hardwood. Their outdoor pieces balance elegance and endurance, perfect for patios, garden rooms, and poolside spaces that call for both substance and style.
Teak’s warm tone can be maintained with periodic oiling, or allowed to weather into a soft gray patina — making it adaptable to many design directions.
Ideal for: Classic or transitional outdoor spaces that require lasting materials and timeless design.
Wicker: Laid-Back Texture with Elevated Structure
Featured Vendor: Harbour Collection
Today’s wicker furniture is a far departure from the traditional rattan seen on porches and verandas in decades past. Using high-performance, weather-resistant fibers, modern wicker offers texture, depth, and structure — without the vulnerability to moisture or sun damage.
Harbour Collection takes a refined approach to woven design, blending hand-crafted construction with clean silhouettes. Wicker works particularly well in covered or partially sheltered spaces, where comfort and atmosphere are just as important as durability.
Ideal for: Transitional and relaxed environments that benefit from tactile contrast and softness.
Aluminum: Minimalist Lines. Maximum Performance.
Featured Vendor: Sunset West
Aluminum stands out for its strength-to-weight ratio, rust resistance, and ease of maintenance. Powder-coated finishes protect the surface while allowing for a variety of finishes — from classic matte tones to softer, more weathered neutrals. The material itself is highly adaptable, suiting both modern and traditional forms.
Sunset West’s aluminum collections offer a mix of structural clarity and comfort, making them a practical solution for outdoor areas that need to balance durability with style — especially in high-use or coastal settings.
Ideal for: Sleek, durable outdoor spaces where low maintenance is key.
Why Material Choice Matters
The material you choose sets the foundation for outdoor spaces — shaping not only their visual tone, but how they feel and function throughout the season. With summer in full swing, it’s the right time to evaluate what works best for long, sun-filled days and evening gatherings that move effortlessly outside.
At Coco to the Trade, we partner with trusted vendors who offer thoughtful, design-forward outdoor collections — so you can source pieces that bring both performance and aesthetic value to your projects.
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