Restaurant Furniture Blog

You might think that the end of the summer means fewer people sitting on your outside patio. That’s not necessarily the case. In some parts of the country you’ll still see people sitting on the patio late into fall. What kind of furniture do you have for them?

Myself, personally, I’ve always been partial to wicker furniture.

Wicker is one of those materials that is soft enough to provide a good cushion, but hard enough that you won’t fall through. That’s what makes it so desirable for outdoor uses. And, unlike metal or aluminum, it doesn’t get hot under the sun. As a fiber, wicker has a natural “airy” feel - it can breathe.

While your patrons aren’t coming to sit on your patio for the furniture, they will stick around longer if the furniture is comfortable. If they stick around longer, they’ll order more drinks. Plus, if the furniture provides a comfortable enough seating atmosphere then those customers will come back and visit you more often.

Wicker does need to be maintained, however. While it looks good - inside our outside - some basic care and maintenance should be observed to keep it looking good. Here are a few tips to help you care for your wicker outdoor patio furniture:

• Dust the wicker every day
• Wax the wicker with furniture wax about once a week
• Add a padded chair cushion to the seat to make the wicker last longer
• In dry seasons, wipe the wicker with a damp sponge to keep it from getting too dry and brittle
• In wet seasons, clean the wicker with bleach and water to prevent mildew
• Treat the wicker with weather-resistant resin for longer lasting fiber
• Rotate the furniture indoors during the winter and exchange the wicker for something else for your patrons to sit on if they use your outdoor patio

Wicker outdoor patio restaurant furniture is great for outdoor use, but only if you take the best care of it can you expect it to last a long time.