Outside furniture takes many forms

The deck is built. Summer is here and it's time to start enjoying the outdoors thanks to the new outdoor oasis.

Before you move yourself outside, you will need to consider what furniture will work best for your deck.

Types of chairs available include Adirondack chairs, rocking chairs, porch swings and gliders, chaise lounges and benches. Determining which chair works for you depends upon the mood you want to project in your back yard.

• Adirondack chairs were developed in the early 1900s. The earliest roots can be traced back to Thomas Lee, owner of Westport Mountain Spring, in the Adirondack forest preserve of New York.

According to www.adirondackchairs.com, Lee made each of his chairs using a single pine plank. Wide arm rests were a hallmark of his new seat. Harry Bunnell, a carpenter, later took Lee's idea and secured the patent for what we now know as Adirondack chairs.

• According to Designboom. com, rocking chairs most likely evolved from the rocking motion associated with the cradle and rocking horse. Most of the earliest chairs were made in the early 1700 and 1800s. The phrase "rocking chair" first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1787. While many are made for indoor use, several varieties of rocking chair are made to withstand the outdoor elements.

• Porch swings are considered a piece of Americana by some thanks to the image of courting couples sitting on the porch sharing a soda and the stars.

Porch swings can be suspended from the ceiling of the porch or hung from a frame. Others come freestanding in the form of a glider. Porch swings and gliders come in a variety of shapes, sizes, woods and colors.

• Chaise lounges can be found in history dating back to ancient Egypt. The name comes from the French and means "long chair". Today's chaise lounge chairs can be made from wood, metal or plastic. Seat covers are made to encompass the length of the chairs. Chaise lounge chairs offer individuals a place to relax while staying outdoors.

• Today's benches are popular for everyone. The seats often include backs, arm rests and padded seats. Finding and determining which seating option is best for your home may take some time. It may mean considering what type of style you want to portray and what will help you enjoy your outdoor sanctuary in the best possible way.