The last piece of the puzzle

Demand for outdoor furniture is booming in the region. COD takes a look at the role outdoor furnishings play in creating impressive exteriors.

The outdoor furniture market in the region is in strong shape at the moment powered by the double demand coming from the residential and the commercial sector. With the number of the hotels in the region rapidly growing, there is a steady demand for outdoor furniture for terraces, swimming pool areas, and other exterior spaces in hotels.

This is topped by a rise in requests for outdoor furnishings from the residential sector as more people start to invest in properties following a change in legislation facilitating the purchase of properties by foreigners.

The right fit

When buying outdoor furniture for commercial purposes, a number of considerations need to be taken into account. How the furniture will be used is one of the most important.

"Hotel clients are looking for materials or products that are very easy to maintain, that support hard wear and tear, and that are easy to move around, particularly with pool furniture and restaurants," notes David Willis, managing director of outdoor product distributor Outdoor Concepts.

"The material that seems to live up to this, and that can withstand the conditions here and the sun, is manmade weaves, which tend to be used on a lot of furniture. It can be washed down after a sandstorm, is very practical, easy to maintain and is very light."

Outdoor furniture should always suit the purpose for which it was purchased. A dining set, for example, should have a large enough table for diners, while loungers and day beds near to a pool need to be comfortable. Furniture that will be used in parks, such as benches, on the other hand, needs to be robust and durable and is typically made from cast iron, with treated timber used for the seating area.

The right material

Selecting the right material is particularly important when it comes to choosing outdoor furniture, given the hot and humid climate in the summer months. UV stabilised synthetic wicker is perfectly suited to the Middle East, says Angela McGlinchey, general manager of Global Furniture Solutions, distributor of furniture brand Classique. "It's water resistant, mould resistant, fade resistant, easily washed and virtually maintenance free."

McGlinchey advises against investing in timber, however. "New timber furniture looks fantastic and is still a favourite with many residential purchasers, however to keep that look it has to be regularly and properly maintained. For commercial clients with hundreds of pieces of furniture, this can be a constant process all year round," she points out.

For a customer wanting a wooden look, teak is the best option, says Howard Barnett, joint managing director of furniture supplier Bridgman. "Teak will always be recognised as the finest of outdoor timbers because of the natural oils within the timber itself so it can withstand the movements of heat and cold and dryness and wet.

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