Outdoor patio chairs are not just for a drink at the end of the day anymore. In many homes, the patio has become an extension of the house. It is an area that is much like a secondary living room or den, a place where the whole family can sit around, or even have friends over and enjoy the outdoors while still using a comfortable indoor setting.

Unless you have been hiding under a rock over the past few years, you will know that making an outdoor extension to your home is a very hot trend in home décor these days. Here are a few ways to go about it:

• Full Outdoor - In this scheme, you are setting up an outside seating area without any sort of walls or ceiling. In many cases the patio chairs and tables you will use will have umbrellas to offer a little shade at the hottest points of the day. Furniture that is put in this type of a patio environment needs to be of the most durable kind. Not only is it going to have to hold up to the fading effects of the sun, but also it will also not get any protection from rain, snow or other weather elements.

• Screened Patio - Often in the area of a pool of a home, a screened patio seating area also has to have durable patio chairs and tables. While they may not get as much dust, dirt and debris on them, thanks to the screen, they will still have to deal with rain, wind and some smaller particles of dust and dirt that happen to get through the screen, or are brought in by kids who have been out in the yard. Additionally, screen or no screen, the sun will be coming through and can fade any cushions or pieces that are not colorfast.

• Indoor Patio / Sunroom - Some people want the sunshine and beauty of the outside, but also like to be able to enjoy it from the comfort of a climate controlled indoor space. For these people the indoor patio or sunroom is the answer. This is when a whole room is made of glass (often the ceiling too), letting the sunlight in and a clear view of the outside without having to deal with the bugs, heat and other problems that can come with being outdoors. When selecting furniture for this type of a space, there are a few rules to keep in mind. First, you need to remember the sun is still coming in; therefore you should make sure they are items that are not going to fade in the sun. The second tip also refers to the sun. The darker your furniture, the hotter it will be to the touch when the sun shines on it. The same holds true with metal. So you may want to avoid dark fabrics or metals in your patio chairs and tables in this space.

Whether it’s inside or not, having a space filled with patio chairs and tables, watching the natural world go by in your yard is an environment that adds warmth and enjoyment to any home.