Great patio furniture brings comfort and function to your outdoor spaces. A basic stone patio can be transformed into an alfresco dining destination with a spacious table and comfortable patio seating. Outfit a porch with a wicker sofa and classic outdoor rocking chair, both topped with plush cushions, and it can quickly become a second family room during the warm weather months. Small spaces such as balconies and pocket gardens will beckon you outside when complemented with the right patio furniture. Use the following tips to choose the best outdoor furniture for your patio. Thoughtful planning will help make your backyard your new favorite spot for lounging, dining, and entertaining.
Edmund Barr
1. Make a List of Patio Furniture Needs
Begin by thinking about how you'd like your outdoor space to function. For example, do you want it to serve as a dining area on warm summer nights? Do you plan to host your next dinner party or your child's birthday party in the space? Or do you envision a peaceful reading nook with comfy and welcoming patio seating tucked into your outdoor room?
Make a list of the activities you'd like to do in the space and use it as a guide to determine what type of patio furniture is necessary. For example, if the primary function of your 12x16-foot patio is to host casual evening cocktails, there's no need for a dining table. Instead, opt for ample comfortable seating, several side tables, and a fire pit.
Dustin Peck
2. Try Patio Seating Before You Buy
When shopping for patio chairs and sofas, take a seat before buying. Patio furniture will likely be used regularly, especially during the warmer months, so it's essential that the seating is comfortable. You and your guests will be less likely to enjoy your patio if it's outfitted with uninviting furniture. Look for pieces with backs and plush cushions on the seats or cozy up metal and wood furniture with fluffy pillows for the utmost comfort. Make sure all fabrics are weather-resistant to prevent color-fading or mildew growth.
Brian Gomsak
3. Go for Easy-Care Outdoor Furniture
Reserve the bulk of your outside hours to enjoy your living space instead of maintaining the furniture. Search for easy-care patio furniture to minimize the need for upkeep. Most metal, teak, cedar, and all-weather wicker pieces can stand up to whatever nature throws their way. With a bit of regular cleaning, furniture made using these forgiving materials will look wonderful for years. You can also accessorize patio furniture with outdoor cushions and pillows with removable covers that can be easily tossed in the washing machine.
Kritsada Panichgul
4. Consider Storage for Your Patio Furniture
Add years to the life of your patio furniture by storing it in a protected location during the off-season. A garage, basement, or shed will shield pieces from the elements to prevent damage or additional wear. Even the toughest patio furniture, such as teak chairs or a wrought-iron settee, will last longer if it's placed in storage when not in use. If your storage space is limited, look for patio furniture that folds or can be easily taken apart for compact storage. Stackable chairs can also help maximize storage space when patio season ends.
Edward Gohlich
5. Match Colors to Your Outdoor Decor
When purchasing patio furniture, you're not limited to neutral colors or the natural tones of wood. Wicker, wood, and metal pieces now come in a wide variety of colorful finishes. Look for furnishings that play up colors found in your landscaping, your home's exterior, or your other outdoor decor. A DIY paint job can quickly perk up patio furniture with any hue if the right color isn't available. Reserve bolder tones for cushions and accent pieces. These items will likely be used less often, resulting in less wear, and are less expensive to replace.
Victoria Pearson
6. Invest in Quality Patio Furniture
The old adage "you get what you pay for" is generally true for patio furniture. Plastic resin chairs or side tables, for example, might look great on the shelf and will keep their good looks for a year or two out in the sun, but in time they'll become brittle and lose their vibrant coloring. The same is true for some wood products and wicker pieces. Shop with care, checking consumer reports and reviews before making a big purchase. If you're sticking to a budget, plan to splurge on items that will be used most often, such as comfortable patio seating or a durable dining table. You can save money on smaller accessories such as pillows and accent tables.
David A Land
7. Add Outdoor Rugs for Color and Comfort
Ground patio furniture by placing it on an all-weather rug. Textile advancements in recent years have brought many quick-drying outdoor rugs to the market. Soft underfoot and rich in texture, an outdoor rug will lend the comforts of indoors to your patio or deck. Choose a color and pattern that coordinates with your other furniture and decor to tie your outdoor space together. Make sure it's rated for outdoor use before buying.
8. Search for Dual-Purpose Patio Furniture
Look for hardworking furniture to make the most of your space and budget. Pieces that serve multiple purposes can eliminate purchasing additional furniture and leave more room for your favorite outdoor activities. For example, an ottoman or garden stool can double as extra patio seating for guests. A simple bench can stand alone or cozy up to an alfresco dining table. Choose patio furniture with function in mind to take full advantage of frequently used outdoor spaces.
Our initial research in 2016 rounded up 33 dining sets representing a promising balance of cost, features, and design. We whittled down that list by examining online reviews and, in some cases, talking to people who owned the furniture sets. We made trips to Home Depot and IKEA to examine sets in person and witness how shoppers reacted to them in the stores. Then we ordered three dining sets and timed how long it took to assemble them in a Los Angeles backyard. For our 2018 update, we ordered another two dining sets and assembled them in another Los Angeles backyard. During both tests, we examined screws, joints, and the apparent quality of construction. And, over the course of several weeks, we paid attention to how comfortable the dining sets were for different purposes, asking visitors to compare the comfort of the seats and the overall aesthetics of the sets. In June 2021, we researched six more patio dining sets. Due to testing limitations during the pandemic, we were not able to assemble these new sets at home. So we narrowed our search to dining sets that we could touch and analyze at big-box stores, that had great reviews at the time, and that were eligible for return or exchange. In 2022, we expanded our research to direct-to-consumer brands—like Article, Blu Dot, and Neighbor—and added larger dining sets and new outdoor living room options, such as sofas and lounge chairs.
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