How to Choose Outdoor Furniture that Works for Your Home
Choosing the right outdoor furniture for your home can be complicated - particularly if you live in an area with extreme weather or if your outdoor space is cramped. There is so much to consider - from the materials that best suit your area’s climate and weather to the size and shape that best suits your family’s lifestyle. For instance, you might determine that a glass patio table is poorly suited to your high-wind area. Alternatively, you might decide that delicate rattan or wicker lounge chairs might not stand up against the changing humidity and temperature in your region. Homeowners must also ask themselves if they want their outdoor furniture to blend with the interior design of their home or if they would rather create an entirely distinct space. Lastly, one must consider the size and versatility of their outdoor furniture. Homeowners in areas of the country with intense winters and heavy snows will likely need to store their patio furniture in a shed or other structure after Fall. Homes with backyards short on square-footage will need to consider alternative types of furniture designed for small spaces rather than opting for full sectionals and large dining sets. Follow below for all you need to know about choosing outdoor furniture that works for your home - plus three of our favorite outdoor furniture trends for 2024.
Answering Your FAQs About Buying Patio Furniture for Your Outdoor Space
#1 Is Wicker Patio Furniture Durable?
In his article What You Should Know Before Buying Wicker Furniture” for The Spruce, Abe Abbas outlines the pros and cons of purchasing wicker pieces. The first thing to understand about the trendy style is that wicker furniture is not confined to natural materials but can be made from any natural or man-made material that is pliable and durable enough to be woven into furniture.” Wicker is popular for both indoor and outdoor furniture - particularly in homes with a Bohemian or vintage design scheme. Indoor wicker furniture is more commonly made from a variety of organic materials including “vines, grasses, and plants.” Outdoor space furniture, however, is more commonly made from “synthetic vinyl and resins” rather than from delicate natural materials.
Abbas explains that these manmade materials are chosen by manufacturers for patio furniture because “the demands that are placed on it are tougher… and it needs to withstand the elements such as moisture, the sun and extreme dryness depending on the climate.” Though textural and beautiful, natural grass wicker is not well-suited for outdoor space furniture - even in arid regions - because it can be difficult to clean and care for. The “aluminum and the synthetic vinyl and resins” weather wicker chosen by patio furniture manufacturers - however - “keep the wicker look, but are much more hardy and will last longer outdoors despite sunlight and moisture.” As such, homeowners can choose weather wicker patio furniture made from high-quality synthetic materials without concern over their durability or weather-resistance.
#2 What Are the Best Outdoor Furniture Brands?
Before purchasing outdoor furniture, buyers should always do their homework on specific brands and products - reading reviews from confirmed consumers and dissecting the materials used in each piece. We recommend combing through expert reviews like those from editors at Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens and New York Magazine’s The Strategist.
Safavieh
One brand that repeatedly pops up in patio furniture buying guides and review articles is Safavieh. In her article “The Best Patio Chairs, According to Interior Designers” for The Strategist, Lauren Ro included two sets by the brand, raving about their quality and small-space design. For cramped patios, decks or side yards, Ro recommends Safavieh’s set of two Safavieh French Cafe Patio Chairs. Quoting Amy Azzarito - author of The Elements of a Home: Curious Histories Behind Everyday Household Objects, From Pillows to Forks -, Ro writes that “if you’re looking to bring a European feel to your patio...this pair of French-café-style chairs” are one of your best bets. Boasting natural rattan and adorable black and white seats, these chairs are also stackable for your outdoor space.
Passing along advice from designer Sarah Ramirez - of Decorist and Found + Collected Design -, Ro also recommends Safavieh’s Laguna Outdoor Director Chairs. According to Sarah Ramirez, “the fabric seats on these foldable chairs add softness” and color. This set also “‘folds up and tucks away,’” making them a “‘a great option for an outdoor space that needs to be multifunctional.’”
Tommy Bahama
Legendary designer Kathy Kuo heaps praise upon Tommy Bahama outdoor furniture in her blog post “Get the Tommy Bahama Home Tropical Touch.” Kuo’s team notes that “with its elevated take on island living, Tommy Bahama Home delivers effortlessly chic decor for every room from bedroom to den to your outdoor space.” Tommy Bahama’s designs “marry natural materials with luxurious finishes for an altogether exotic, rich, and eclectic furniture collection” at home indoors or out in your backyard.
Ashley Furniture
Ashley outdoor furniture is both affordable and high-quality - often topping “Best of” lists. Though better known for indoor furniture than backyard or patio furniture, the company’s outdoor designs are durable and stylish. Best of all, Ashley furniture is often easily accessible - both from a price-point perspective and from an availability perspective. In her article “The 11 Best Furniture Stores” Brigitt Earley names Ashley Furniture as her top pick. Earley writes that the chain has “more than 800 locations worldwide, with over 680 in the United States alone” in addition to the many companies that carry the brand’s patio furniture in their stores as well.
#3 What Are the Best Materials for Outdoor Furniture?
In their article “How to Buy Patio Furniture (And Sets We Like for Under $800)” for The New York Times’ publication Wirecutter, Gregory Han and Kalee Thompson outline the types of materials commonly used in outdoor furniture and which are best for various climates. Han and Thompson write that not all patio furniture requires the same care commitment and that “some materials—like wood—require annual maintenance to keep them looking good, while others can weather the elements for years without any upkeep.” Arid regions with little rainfall or snow will not damage natural materials as quickly or as significantly, but “colder and wetter regions introduce issues of rot and rust, making resin-wicker and plastic-resin construction the more prudent options unless you’re committed to the regular care required of wood and metal."
#4 Which Patio Furniture Should I Choose for a Small Backyard?
Skinny balconies, miniature backyards and petite porches are all incredibly common - particularly in dense urban areas. In recent years, many designers around the country have taken notice and produced pieces that work well for small-space homes. From bistro tables to collapsible lounges and from floor poufs to loveseats, there are dozens of small-space outdoor furniture designs available. In her article “16 Best Outdoor Furniture Pieces for Small Spaces: Because style can be large even when the space is not” for Elle Decor, Frances Bailey offers a number of suggestions to the renter or homeowner with little square footage to work with.
Among Bailey’s recommendations are choosing a bar table instead of a full dining table, opting for sling chairs instead of chaise lounges and picking c-shaped end tables instead of bulkier versions. Marisa Spyker offers a bit of additional advice in her article “The Best Outdoor Furniture for Small Spaces” for Southern Living. Spyker suggests searching for foldable options, endorsing the Kerman Outdoor Dining Set by Savafieh. She notes that this “chic five-piece set in a teak finish condenses down into one small package, with director-style chairs that tuck underneath the table when folded.” Other great options for small-space yards and decks include patio chat sets - which typically involve a small table and two armchairs, storage benches with seating, stacking or nesting tables, loveseats and egg chairs.
Outdoor Furniture Trends for 2024
#1 Cozy Comfort
Deep-seated outdoor furniture with an emphasis on comfort and coziness is expected to dominate backyard design in 2024 - even through the summer months. In her article “The Interior Designer-Approved Trend That's Going To Be On Every Patio In 2021” for The Zoe Report, Anna Buckman names maximized comfort as a major design trend for this year. Quoting Wendy Youds - the VP of Product and Merchandising for furniture company Article - Buckman explains that “‘with people spending more time at home, we’ve seen a larger focus placed on creating a relaxing and serene environment outdoors.’” As such, Youds believes “keeping comfort and relaxation top of mind is key” for furniture brands this year. Anna Buckman writes that every outdoor furniture company appears poised to jump on this emerging focus, with even “on-trend textiles...getting an upgrade to help maximize both comfort and style.”
#2 Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Living
One of the biggest outdoor furniture trends for 2024 is creating a more seamless transition between the interior of the home to the exterior. Homeowners are looking for ways in which to blur the separation between their living rooms and backyards to increase the amount of entertaining space and to make the interior feel fresher and more open.
#3 Fully Functional Furniture
Fully functional furniture that can adapt to any situation is very much in for 2024. Consumers are looking for durable, hardy pieces that can transform right before their eyes - offering tons of storage space and lots of different layouts. Multi-purpose furniture has gained momentum because Americans are spending more time outdoors - investing in outdoor kitchens, outdoor home tech and other new features. In her article “7 Outdoor Living Trends That Will Be Huge” for Better Homes & Gardens, Kristina McGuirk explains why the trend is growing nationwide. McGuirk writes that the pandemic had a bit to do with the need for furniture that can “accommodate both everyday living and anticipated social gatherings.”
Quoting Sandra Smith-Fitzgerald - Senior VP of Merchandising for Frontgate -, McGuirk writes that "designing furniture is not just about style—it is about how you live." As such, “pieces designed to perform multiple functions, often with hidden features, and made them versatile enough to use in nearly any space you choose” are becoming much more popular. Both McGuirk and Smith-Fitzgeral “expect outdoor furniture items that are convertible, like modular tables that can be pulled apart to accommodate seating” to continue coming to market.
By following the tips from our buying guide above and considering the trends we have outlined, you can be sure to choose the proper patio furniture for your home - no matter where you live, what the weather is like or what your design style is.
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