More and more people are adding a patio bar to their outdoor living experience. Are you thinking about adding a patio bar set to your yard? It is a great idea for entertaining or relaxing outdoors on beautiful summer evening. Picking the right set is really a matter of personal preference and protection from the summer elements. Obviously, you want it to look nice, something that compliments your home and garden. However, you also should consider practical ideas as well. How will it stand up to the weather? Is it durable and long lasting? Does it require a lot of maintenance?

The least expensive barstool material is molded plastic. Molded plastic is weather proof but not particularly attractive or fashionable. A tip about plastic molded chairs; make sure they are sturdy enough for your larger guests because the chair legs could warp and even collapse.

Another option for your patio bar set is metal. Do not skimp on metal patio furniture. Long-term exposure to moisture can corrode most kinds of metal. Your best choices for metal are wrought iron, stainless steel or aluminum. Try to choose a folding table and bar stools for easy storage during the colder months, it is much more convenient than taking up a lot of storage space with a patio set that does not fold up easily.

Another choice of material for your outdoor patio bar is wood. Different types of wood used include cedar, pine and teak. Cedar is an attractive wood and likely your cheapest option when dealing with wood patio bar furniture. Cedar can be water proofed to make it last outdoors. Pressure treated pine is another popular choice but it is not as attractive as cedar. Teak wood is by far the most expensive but due to its natural oils, it is both durable and beautiful. The natural oils protect the wood from insects and the elements.

Rattan and bamboo are both durable and strong. They also give your outdoor patio bar the perfect atmosphere for a Hawaiian luau! Add some tiki torches on a warm summer night, and all you will need is the sound of the ocean waves.

Now most of these different types of patio bar furniture are very easy to clean. All you need to do is wash them down with a garden hose and wipe them off with a rag. If your patio bar furniture is rather delicate then choose a pail of water with a mild soap to keep it clean over the summer months. If your outdoor patio bar furniture is a little more delicate, or if you want your furniture to last longer, you might consider using a bucket of water and mild detergent to clean it.

You will likely be spending a better part of your summer outdoors in your yard so it makes sense to do some research on the type of outdoor patio bar furniture you will need. Take some time and think about what you really want in a patio bar set.