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When the winter weather starts getting to me, I start fantasizing about spring. High on my list is being able to enjoy my family in the backyard, with a beautiful landscape and play area for the kids—and the entire neighborhood.

Planning a fun backyard always includes thinking about what outdoor patio furniture will be most useful. When determining what you really need and how to spread your budget, there are some important things to consider.

Function of Backyard Areas

What will each area be used for? We will have a deck just off the dining room. The deck will include a built-in barbecue and, of course, we'll be looking at the many patio dining sets available to create a wonderful picnic setup. This will be a perfect place for alfresco dining, which not only provide great ambiance, but also makes cleanup a breeze.

Number of Guests for Backyard Living

When you begin looking at outdoor seating and dining, think realistically about how many people will be accommodated. If it's just you and your spouse and an occasional visitor, you probably don't need to get the conference-sized table. But if you entertain large groups frequently, you might want to consider lots of seating that is easily stowed away.

Backyard Furniture – Maintenance

Outdoor furniture generally stays outside all year long. While covers area available, make sure your furniture can either easily withstand your climate or that you have sufficient storage available for off-season.

Also, carefully consider the surfaces on your outdoor furniture. Some fabrics that are marketed for outdoor use, may suffer from sun, rain, or snow…not to mention ketchup spills. You don't want your backyard furniture upkeep to take away your backyard leisure time.

Backyard Furniture Style

Once you have carefully planned the patio tables, chairs, chaises you need, get something beautiful to add color and beauty to your yard. Planning the look of these furnishings just like you do your indoor rooms can make your yard a cohesive, relaxing setting.

Backyard furniture is an essential element in any comfortable yard space. Get the biggest bang for your buck by choosing yours wisely.

Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.