Designing outdoor furniture that naturally repels pests is a smart way to enhance your garden’s functionality while reducing reliance on chemicals. Here’s how to achieve it:

1. Incorporate Pest-Repellent Plants

Integrate plants like lavender, citronella, or marigolds into your furniture design. For example, build planters into benches or tables to keep mosquitoes and flies at bay.

2. Choose Natural Materials

Opt for cedar, teak, or eucalyptus wood, which naturally resist insects due to their oils. Avoid treated woods that may harm beneficial insects.

3. Add Protective Features

Design furniture with raised legs or mesh screens to deter crawling pests. A pergola with climbing rosemary or mint can also repel insects while adding shade.

4. Use Essential Oil Finishes

Apply finishes infused with neem or citrus oils to wood surfaces for added pest resistance without toxins.

5. Encourage Beneficial Insects

Include small habitats like bee hotels or ladybug shelters nearby to balance the ecosystem and reduce harmful pests.

By blending aesthetics with nature’s defenses, you can create beautiful, functional outdoor furniture that keeps pests away sustainably.