8 Tips for Buying Patio Furniture That Suits Your Outdoor Space

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.

Buying your first outdoor furniture is almost as exciting as buying your first house with a garden.  Before you rush out to shop, take the time to figure out the best all-weather pieces for your patio, deck, or porch. I wish had (instead of ending up with outdoor furniture that underwhelms). Learn from my mistakes and avoid making expensive errors when shopping for outdoor furniture.

Here are five things to know before you choose the best outdoor furniture for your home:

1. Cheap furniture may end up costing you more.

Above: A decidedly not-cheap option for outdoor furniture is the well-made Serene line of sustainable teak pieces from Henry Hall Designs. Photograph by Scott Lewis Landscape Architecture, from Favorite Furniture: Sustainable Teak from an Italian Designer.

When you start shopping around on the internet for outdoor furniture, you’ll notice that there’s a huge range in prices. On the high end are retailers including Design Within Reach and Restoration Hardware (both of which sell single lounge chairs that go for upwards of $1,000) and on the low end are sites such as Overstock and Walmart (where entire sectionals can be had for under $700).

Guess where I ended up buying our outdoor furniture? Yep, enticed by the price tag, I went for a faux wicker sectional I spotted on a discount website during a late-night web crawl. It was cheap and not ugly: What more could I ask for?

Well, for starters, I should have asked that our seating wouldn’t slide around every time we sat down. Our sectional was so lightweight that, unless you sat down very gingerly, the seats would slide and the cushions would skate. Our dog, who is not the most graceful animal to begin with, became so wary of the unstable seating that he now nervously paces our deck for several minutes before he gathers the courage to hop up.

The Lesson: Though it may be tempting, don’t automatically go for the cheapest price you can get on outdoor furniture. The really cheap stuff tends to be lightweight and flimsy. That said, we also have this from Ikea, a lightweight but totally well-made lounge chair that I love, so this is by no means a blanket recommendation.

2. Some chair legs are too skinny for decks.

Above: The thin legs on the wrought-iron chairs pose no problems on this patio with pavers. Photograph by Hufton & Crow for Gundry & Ducker, from Steal This Look: A House With Slate Shingle Siding.

Before we bought a house with a yard, we lived in a small rental that had a wood deck. It was our first bit of outdoor space and we loved it, dressing it up with planters, a Weber grill, a lounge chair, and a vintage dining set that we scored at a garage sale. The set was charming and well-made, but the legs on the chairs were skinny, which meant they could easily sink into the gaps between the deck’s wooden planks. We had to be vigilant about placing the chairs just so and constantly had to remind guests to do the same—not exactly the best setup for spontaneity and fun.

The Lesson: If you’re shopping for an outdoor dining set for a wood deck, consider the chair legs and make sure they won’t get trapped in a gap when you pull the chair out.

3. Some outdoor furniture materials may be wrong for your space.

Above: Rattan furniture does best in a covered area, but it’s also fine in mild, dry climates. Photograph from Garden Visit: At Home with Jeweler Kathleen Whitaker in LA.

Here’s a very incomplete list of the types of materials you’ll find when shopping for outdoor furniture: teak, eucalyptus, stainless steel, aluminum, wrought iron, wicker, synthetic resin. Each material has pros and cons that make it ideal for certain climates and outdoor situations and not for others. Consider the various metals, for instance. Aluminum is lightweight, which means it’s not great for areas that can experience high winds. Stainless steel is heavy and low-maintenance, but it can get super-hot when placed under the sun, so it’s not ideal if you are planning to leave it exposed.