This week at Hayneedle, we’ve been talking a lot about “maintenance-free” outdoor furniture. But what does that mean, exactly? The end of telling your chair that it looks nice every time it asks?

If you’re anything like us, you went to drag out the summer furniture at the first hint of warmth. If you’re really like us, the effort was totally premature and your hopes of fun in the sun have already been dashed at least twice. But if you unearthed the ole’ table and chairs to discover a world of rust, dust, and disappointment… there’s a better way. Maintenance-free patio furniture is what’s cookin’ this year, and it look better and lasts longer than you could possibly expect.

Just think about it – nice-looking cushioned chairs that you can blast with the hose or leave in the sun? A dining set you can drench that doesn’t look like the kids table? That’s a seriously relaxing summer in the backyard. To get there, you’ll have to forget about fancy woods and delicate wickers that need treatment, care, and general worry and embrace some new materials.

This stuff is made from aluminum, resin-wicker, and recycled plastic. Each of these materials is unique, but at least one of them is perfect for your yard and your style. Here’s a little background on each -

Aluminum

A super-lightweight metal that never rusts and can be powder-coated to take on the look of just about anything. You’ll find it paired with textilene slings and top-of-the-line outdoor cushions for the look that fits your life. A great choice for furniture that gets moved around or put away often.

Resin-Wicker

You know traditional wicker is comfortable and versatile, but you also know it cracks easier than an egg. Resin wicker never breaks, cracks, or deforms and can be crafted into any number of traditional or modern shapes. It’s good and heavy, making it a perfect solution for high-traffic or high-wind areas.

Recycled Plastic/Poly-Wood

It looks and feels like real wood, but it’s completely waterproof, fadeproof, and never expands or contracts. You’ll find Adirondack chairs, benches, and picnic tables made from recycled plastic. Seriously, we wish houses could be made out of this stuff.

So, as you start dreaming of the dog days and the outdoor fun they bring, consider your outdoor furniture situation. You don’t have to clean  out the hardware store’s supply of Rust-B-Gone every spring, and you don’t have to spend another post-barbecue evening scrubbing down the table. With maintenance-free outdoor furniture, all you have to do is get the hose!

Be sure to check out our sale on all maintenance-free outdoor furniture featuring up to 30% off and free shipping!

Despite the disorienting weather patterns of late, some folks in the know are insisting that spring is finally here.  After the winter we’ve had, could you blame anyone for falling for such a huckster’s promise?

But here’s the thing: the calendars around our office are suggesting that the rumors are true.

A little Internetting adds final proof: spring is scheduled to spring on March 20, 2010, at precisely 1:32 P.M. EDT (though perhaps in many places without its usual torque). That’s tomorrow, folks!

With no fear of stating the obvious, we love spring. Colors come forth, and the world resumes its beckoning inhabitability. There’s no better time to emerge from our four-walled winter fortresses and spend a little time in the room with the highest ceilings.

Yep, we’re talking about your deck or patio. Remember that little slice of outdoor paradise?

It’s time to take it back.

With specialty stores like PatioFurnitureUSA.com, Hammocks.com, PatioUmbrellas.com, and dozens of other outdoor living specialty sites, Hayneedle is the world’s premier seller of patio furniture and outdoor decor products.

Everything you need to furnish your ultimate room with a view is at Hayneedle.com. Come see what we have in store, and get ready to get out more. Spring is in the air!

Similar to the movie Dead Poet’s Society, which upheld the same theme, our Seize the Day Sale has been a hit. We started at 20% off for one day, then each day the percent goes down a point, so it behooves you to be – and shop – in the NOW. Our top sites are participating, and it’s been a lot of fun.

You can save on your order from hammocks.com, patiofurnitureusa.com, porchswings.com, benches.com, Adirondackchairs.com, esoccergoals.com, croquet.com, patioheaterstore.com, and more. There aren’t many days left for the Seize the Day Sale, so get all Eckhart Tolle and use the power of now, yo. After all, yesterday’s history, tomorrow’s a mystery, you’ve only got today. So carpe diem, and you’ll carpe dime! Ok, ok, enough. You get it. Go on with your present self.

While temperatures across most of the continent have settled stubbornly below normal, one undeniable sign of spring shines through. The light at the end of this icy tunnel is daylight itself, and we’re getting more of it by the day. And though it’s still plenty cold out there, we’ll gladly take an accumulation of sunshine over snowfall every day from here till the next solstice.

Winter will recede. The gray landscape will grow green and pop with color. After one of the coldest, snowiest winters on record, it’s fixing to be one epic spring. And since spring really is just a few weeks away, it’s time to start thinking outside those four confining walls.

Your deck or patio may look pretty uninviting at the moment, but we’ve got a simple three-step plan to help you reclaim it:

1. Reserve your seats.

Finding the patio furniture you’d like to sink into won’t be difficult at Hayneedle. With exclusive patio sets, custom fabrics and finishes, and new collections for 2010 already available, now’s the time to order so you don’t miss a day of spring.

2. Keep ‘em warm.

Get out earlier and stay out longer with patio heaters, fire pits, chimineas, and more. Adding heat to your deck or patio is a surefire way to extend the outdoor season.

3. Make it yours.

Choose from an endless variety of outdoor decor and accessories to make the outdoors yours. From planters to wind chimes and bird baths to outdoor rugs, you’ll find everything you need to put a personal touch on your little slice of paradise.

You know when a vision of something sprouts in your brain, and then it becomes a mission for you to find it in real life? Say, for example, the perfect little black dress except in chartreuse and with a kick pleat, or that beige leather sofa except you’d like it in purple and you’re vegan so let’s faux up the leather … we get that.

In fact, we have a couple of buyers on staff who are always fancying new ideas for products, so in typical Hayneedle fashion, they decided to create their visions themselves, and thus was born our exclusive Hayneedle collections. Patio furniture, indoor furniture, kids room essentials … you’ll find Hayneedle exclusives in nearly every category.

With an easy, casual style, the name “Hampton” fits our most popular indoor line. (That’s half the fun, coming up with names. A few of us are huge Grey Gardens fans, so we’re especially fond of Hampton, dahling.) The Hampton Collection features an interesting X design element and sleek lines. It’s just contemporary enough to blend well in practically any room, in any home, and we’re adding a bookcase to the collection in March … be sure to visit us often, as we’ll be adding new pieces, finishes, bells, and whistles to our collections. Plus it’s nice to know you can come back to us and expand your room designs with additional pieces when it makes sense for you.

Our collections for kids are some of our favorites and best sellers, too. From the Classic Playtime storage pieces to activity tables and chairs, we’ve designed kids furniture based on highly scientific findings and feedback – mostly from our own kids, so you know it’s good stuff.

It’s all good at Hayneedle.