In the world of furniture, chaise lounges are a thing of luxury or comfort. While the economy is in decline and will likely collapse, many people are still going about their lives with a “business as usual mentality” and are still making purchases of what are essentially luxury items. Before buying a chaise lounge, consider if it’s something you really need or whether you can really afford it. It would be wise to get out of debt before things get really bad, and that can mean cutting out things like chaise lounges. If you can afford it or are dead set on getting one regardless of your financial circumstances, read on for more information about all types of chaise lounges.
Outdoor chaise lounges are for outdoor use and can often be found on lawns or as pool chaise lounges next to swimming pools. They are made from plastic, metal, or wood, and price varies accordingly. Plastics may break down under the sun more easily; cheaper plastics tend to get bleached and become brittle. These are a low-cost option that in most cases won’t last that long. You’ll usually find that aluminum chaise lounges are the rule when it comes to metal lounges, as aluminum is lightweight and not too expensive. However, aluminum extraction is a very environmentally destructive practice.
Wood that is suitable for the outdoors can be the best choice, with teak a clear winner in most cases in terms of durability, rot resistance, and ability to withstand the elements. However, most teak is not sustainably harvested and you should choose teak that is. Some research will usually be necessary to determine if teak has been sustainably farmed, though usually the product will make note of this if it is the case. Other wood chaise lounges will probably not be as good for the outdoor as teak, but many woods that are rot resistant will be nearly as good.
One alternative material is wicker, and this is often sustainably produced. It won’t hold up as well as teak chaise lounges, especially in a wet environment, but wicker chaise lounges can make an attractive and comfortable chaise lounge. Resin chaise lounges are often made to look like wicker, and will be more durable for the outdoors. Double chaise lounges are popular for outdoor use.
Patio chaise lounges are usually similar, though resistance to the elements is not as much of an issue if there is a protective roof over the furniture. In both cases, people sometimes choose to put a protective cover over the furniture to make it last longer.
Indoor chaise lounges are a different thing altogether, as they are usually upholstered. These include leather chaise lounges as well as fabric ones. If you get sectional furniture that includes a chaise lounge, this could be cheaper and may be the equivalent of buying discount chaise lounges. As a matter of fact, contemporary chaise lounges often come as part of sectional living room furniture these days and are a good alternative to searching for cheap chaise lounges that sit by themselves.