But before you leave your new furniture to the elements you need to decide if you want to maintain its golden brown color or let it age to a striking silvery gray patina. You see teak is probably the strongest wood used in outdoor furniture today. Grown in the jungles of Indonesia it is full of natural oils that lend it water and rot resistance. Able to endure fifty years or more in any weather it is often used in ship and bridge building. When it arrives at your house in the shape of a chair or table it will be a shade of warm golden gray that will fade eventually.

In order to maintain its true color you need to treat it right away with teak protector. This will help hold in the wood's natural oils maintaining the golden glow it came with. Every year you will have to retreat your teak patio furniture with the teak protector to ensure it stays a nice warm brown.

Some don't much care about the color and just leave their furniture to deal with Mother Nature unprotected. This is not a problem with teak because of the aforementioned oils. It is almost impervious to rain, sun, sleet or snow. But its color will fade. Most people like the aged look teak gets after a few years, but if you wish you could return it to its original color, you can. Simply treat your teak patio furniture with a teak cleaner to remove the silver gray patina. Once the golden color is back treat it with a teak protector. Again as before, you need to retreat it annually with the protector to keep it that warm golden brown that you reminds you of your vacation in the Caribbean.

Those are really the only two colors your teak patio furniture can be. Most paints will not adhere to teak because of the naturally occurring oils. If you really wanted to paint it you would need to go to a marine or boat store and see if they have anything that will not compromise the innate qualities of your teak furniture.

No matter what shade or look you want your outdoor furniture to have the most important thing is that you will be able to use and enjoy it. Whether that's enjoying the sunrise and a morning cup of java on the deck or sharing your garden's bounty and some good wine with some great friends, is up to you. Teak furniture is an investment in the good life.

Your chairs and tables might be around longer than you are, but as long as you enjoyed their comfort and durability that shouldn't matter. Golden brown or silvery gray teak furniture is the best choice to create a little bit of paradise of your own.