Every good house deserves a comfortable outdoor space—somewhere to enjoy the summer afternoons with a glass of ice tea and a good book. Finding furniture that’s comfortable, functional and fashionable can be quite tricky though; thankfully, there are plenty of experts willing to share their tips and tricks. Outdoor styling has never been more fun.
There are so many options to choose from, with online stores and department stores offering a wide range of products and design ideas. It’s no wonder that the outdoor furniture market is booming, bringing in over 18 billion USD in 2019 alone. Consumer habits suggest that the annual grow rate will rise by 4.8% between 2020 and 2026. Everyone wants the best for their home—to buy the right furniture for their specific lifestyle and space. Gone are the days of old rickety deck chairs or your grandma’s white wicker-covered patio; you can now find the most beautiful outdoor furniture available, for both comfort and functionality. (1)
So, where do you begin? Luckily for you, we have compiled a list of things that you should consider before choosing furniture for your outdoor space:
The Space
The First thing to consider is the outdoor space itself. How big is it, and what kind of furniture could best utilize the space? If you have a small patio, picking large items will make it feel even smaller. In this case, sticking to items such as side tables, small coffee tables, and single chairs is probably the best option. Larger areas can fit larger items.
You can also set up two separate areas for dining and relaxing, but you still want to make sure that you don’t overcrowd the space, which brings us to the next point.
Functionality
Your furniture should look good, yes, but it should also work on a logical level. You want to create a flow, have space to move around, and—as mentioned before—utilize the space to the best of your ability. Finding furniture that doubles as storage is a great idea; this offers a place to store your gardening tools, barbeque utensils, and couch cushions during wet weather.
The trick to buying any kind of furniture is to consider the number of people in your home who are going to be using the space. Make sure that you have enough seats for each family member, plus extras in case of visitors. That said, the last thing that you want is to fill the area with a bunch of seats, leaving no room to walk or to do anything. Keep it simple, and allow for good traffic flow between areas. If you have to sacrifice a seat or two for functionality, so be it. (2)
Comfortability
You want furniture that’s going to be comfortable. There is little-to-no point in buying something online that looks nice but is too hard or bulky. This is why it’s always a good idea to buy furniture from a physical store, so that you can see it in person, feel the texture of cushions, get a good idea of the color, and test to see how comfortable it is.
Remember, your outdoor area is not just for show; you want to be able to enjoy it, and use it as much as possible. Opting for comfortable outdoor living furniture that works well in your space is more practical than buying a trendy or fashionable item that no one wants to use.
Color
An important thing to remember is that the house is the most essential part of your outdoor area when it comes to style and design. When choosing your furniture, keep in mind the color of your house, and the color scheme that you have inside. Make sure that the colors complement each other and keep in-line with the style of your home’s exterior.
An example would be if you lived in a white weather-board home, and your living room had a dark blue sofa with a yellow throw rug; you might buy cream or white colored furniture to match the house, then style the area with a few yellow and blue cushions, or pot plants. You don’t have to shy away from bright colors, either; gone are the days of neutral-colored furniture being your only option. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the colors that you choose, but maintaining consistency is key to the general visual appeal. (3)
Texture
The coolest thing to play around with when putting together your outdoor living area is texture. You can draw inspiration from the texture of your house, your patio, or your garden. Most outdoor furniture has a specific kind of rough texture to its upholstery or cushions; being outside, it needs to be more durable, and in many cases weather-proof. You can find items such as outdoor rugs, pot plants, table settings, and tables to compliment the texture of your furniture. In 2019, over 50% of outdoor furniture bought in 23 countries around the world was made with wood segment. Wood is very easy to style with, as you can paint it any color, and it ties in well with gardens to create an outdoorsy, naturistic vibe. (1)
In conclusion
There are less rules when it comes to picking your outdoor living furniture, which only makes it all the more fun! Remember that you deserve to create a space that’s beautiful, comfortable, and inviting. When it comes to choosing the best furniture, go into your shopping ventures with the mindset of wanting to create a space that you could sit in for hours.
Consider the size of the space; look for items that can double as storage; play around with color and texture, and find outdoor furniture that is just as comfortable as your family sofa. Your summer nights will now be just as enjoyable as your winter nights, cozied up by the fire—say goodbye to sitting up late watching TV, and say hello to barbecues and star-gazing with a cold glass of cider, comfortable in your top-quality outdoor furniture.
