Outdoor Wood Furniture: What Lasts in Iran's Dry Climate

Indoor wood furniture sees roughly steady humidity and light; outdoor furniture swings every day between midday heat and cooler nights, and in Isfahan between near-zero summer humidity and occasional autumn rain. Wood that handles that swing poorly will crack within a single season.

Which wood actually suits outdoor use

Oil-rich woods from warm regions, like teak, have good natural resistance to moisture and insects thanks to their high natural oil content, and their honey tone sits well with sunlight; that's also why they cost more than other options. Thermowood, on the other hand, is pine or beech processed with controlled heat (not chemicals) to reduce how much moisture it absorbs; it's a more affordable option than teak for tables and chairs, and the same logic we covered in wooden pergolas — natural wood versus thermowood — applies here too, just for furniture instead of structures. Plain, untreated woods — local raw beech or pine — work fine under a full permanent cover, but under direct all-day sun they lose their color and dry out fast.

• Teak: high natural durability, the priciest option, needs the least annual oiling
• Thermowood: more affordable, needs regular oiling to keep its color even
• Treated eucalyptus: a middle ground on price and durability, common in ready-made patio sets
• Raw, untreated wood: only suitable under full cover, away from rain

The seasonal care that actually matters

Before summer, apply a coat of plant-based oil made for outdoor wood — not varnish or a closed-film paint, since those crack and peel on outdoor furniture. The full oiling process is covered in our thermowood maintenance and oiling guide, and the same method applies to teak as well. Before winter, move the furniture under cover if possible, or wrap it in a waterproof cover; water pooling under the legs is usually where rot starts.

Don't forget termites and insects either

Furniture placed directly on garden soil or grass is more exposed to termites and wood-boring insects than furniture indoors; setting the legs on a stone or metal base instead of direct soil contact is one of the most effective preventive steps. For warning signs and more detailed treatment, see our termite and wood pest prevention guide — the same points apply to outdoor furniture, except seasonal inspection matters even more here since it's watched less closely.

Sources

• راهنمای چوب‌های بیرونی و نگهداری مبلمان باغی در بازار اروپا