Though often regarded as a summertime activity, enjoying the outdoor air in all its forms is not really all that seasonal; in most parts of the country, a patio, balcony or backyard is perfectly usable three seasons of the year. Which makes its status as patron furniture buying afterthought all the more confusing — why sit on tailgate chairs and use coolers for tables?
Of course, outdoor furniture is no doubt secondary to indoor furniture — don’t buy a weather-proof set of tables and chairs before getting a couch to sit on in your living room. But the level at which it’s disregarded isn’t equal to the amount of use a proper backyard can, and perhaps should, receive.
In our survey of the best outdoor and patio furniture, we explore the high and low of a market that doesn’t get the respect it deserves — these 22 sets and collections run the complete price, prestige and style spectrum.
Ikea
Ikea
Editor’s Pick: Ikea Applaro Collection
As it does in virtually every corner of the good-looking, supremely affordable furniture market, Ikea rules. The Swedish furniture powerhouse has six dedicated outdoor collections suited for all types of design styles with the ability to mix and match for a more eclectic look. You better throw some time on the calendar to actually put everything together, but considering you’ll be spending maybe less than a grand to deck out your backyard, it’s worth it.
Wayfair
Wayfair
Editor’s Pick: Wade Logan Rectangular 6-Person Set
You know Wayfair, and you know how freakin’ cheap it is. If you’re balling on a budget, head to the discount retailer to get discount backyard furniture that won’t break the bank. You can get anything from Wayfair from furniture sets to outdoor rugs to decor — you get the picture. Just be wary of MSRPs because if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Lowe’s
Lowe’s
Editor’s Pick: Safavieh Pacifica Set
If today’s the day you finally tackle an outdoor project, head to Lowe’s. With furniture to suit your modern, coastal or whatever design style, Lowe’s can accommodate you and your home. Lowe’s is an all-around home improvement store, so besides copping just furniture, you can turn your backyard into a little piece of Eden with garden care, heat lamps and fire pits.
Home Depot
Home Depot
Editor’s Pick: Hermosa Teak Set
Home Depot, the home improvement store, wants to do more than just help you paint your house. Its outdoor furniture is an enviable selection of affordable sets, single pieces and accents. The benefit to shopping its website is your local Home Depot won’t have the same array of options. And if it’s easier for you, you can order online then have it shipped to your closest Home Depot for easy pick-up.
Raymour & Flanigan
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Editor’s Pick: Raymour & Flanigan Antigua Set
If you’re not up for assembling your own furniture, head to Raymour & Flanigan. The furniture retailer does local delivery on its wide selection of outdoor seating, tables, rugs and more. There’s almost always a sale happening, so if you shop smart, you can surely snag a great deal.
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Bed, Bath & Beyond
Bed, Bath & Beyond
Editor’s Pick: Forest Gate Modular Set
Outdoor furniture is very much the “beyond” in Bed, Bath & Beyond. Mix and match pieces or go for any one of its backyard sets. Either way, the retailer has you covered with a decent mix of options. Got one of those BB&B 20-percent off coupons? You’ll really get yourself a good deal.
Amazon
Amazon
Editor’s Pick: Greesum 4-Piece Patio Furniture Set
Amazon, home of two-day shipping and apparently a lot of outdoor furniture. We guarantee you’ll know about one percent of the brands listed on the website, but you’re shopping on Amazon, not DWR. Easily narrow down your furniture searches with Amazon’s incredibly detailed filters, and before you know it, you’ve turned a list of thousands of products into one or two.
Zinus
Amazon
Editor’s Pick: Zinus Pablo Collection
Zinus is known for its crazy cheap mattresses and indoor furniture, and it brought its budget-friendly mindset to the outdoor realm. Its Pablo collection is a sleek and modern approach to backyard furniture. It’s made of lightweight aluminum and wood, topped with water-resistant cushions and waterproof covers. The Savannah line is almost identical to the Pablo line albeit in black with vertical back beams.
West Elm
West Elm
Editor’s Pick: West Elm Portside Collection
West Elm’s outdoor collections perfectly complement the beautifully made furniture you put inside your home. Is it on the pricier end? Yes, but you get high-quality materials, well-designed pieces and a lot of clout from your snooty friends.
Design Within Reach
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Editor’s Pick: Eos Collection
You know Design Within Reach for its impeccably designed indoor furniture. It also carries a few collections meant for the outdoors. You can expect to spend a fair amount on just a single chair, but if design is your priority, you’ll know it’s worth the investment.
Hay
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Editor’s Pick: Palissade Collection
Hay is known for its fun, playful designs, and its outdoor line is really just made up of two sub-categories: its seminal outdoor collection, “Palissade,” and “Other.” The 13-piece collection was designed to put a fork in the way we use form to imply function. The site’s description puts it concisely: “they are strong without being bulky, elegant without being fragile.”
Snow Peak
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Editor’s Pick: Snow Peak Low Chair Khaki
Not every backyard or patio has to be completely stationary. Snow Peak is a Japanese outdoor brand with a fervent following of outdoors-people who want products that go for the extra step, and its outdoor furniture collection is full of fold-up chairs, bamboo tables and collapsable benches, all just as ready for the trail as they are an apartment balcony or space-deficient backyards.
EQ3
EQ3
Editor’s Pick: EQ3 Cape Collection
EQ3 furniture makes timeless furniture that eschews trends. It has one main outdoor furniture collection, called Cape, that’s minimally designed in a way that’s neither dull nor boring. Essentially, it’ll blend into nearly every outdoor environment but won’t play a supporting character.
Rove Concepts
Editor’s Pick: Rove Concepts Louis Collection
Rove Concepts delivers on its promise of well-made, modern furniture delivered to your door with every project it unveils, and its commitment to outdoor furniture is no different. Whether you’re into sleek and streamlined silhouettes or thick and chunky behemoths, Rove Concepts has something for you.
CB2
CB2
Editor’s Pick: CB2 Breton Collection
CB2 keeps its collections modern, and although not the cheapest, you feel like your money is being well spent. The brand is another one of those retailers you want to shop when putting furniture together yourself is a thing of the past. Keep an eye out for sales and discount codes — CB2 runs promotions regularly.
SunHaven
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Editor’s Pick: SunHaven Kensington Set
SunHaven is a fairly new direct-to-consumer furniture brand based out of Los Angeles, and its business model is why you can get a seven-piece furniture set for just a little over two grand. Each piece comes preassembled, and offers everything you want from high-quality outdoor furniture like weather resistant materials and overall excellent comfort.
Article
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Editor’s Pick: Article Arca Seating
Since 2013, Article’s been making high-quality furniture at not-so-high prices. The brand’s direct-to-consumer MO shaves off a few layers of middlemen in favor of shipping its wares directly to you at a lower price, and, in some cases, with no assembly required. How low are some of the prices? A UV-resistant dining chair is only $59. Shopping its outdoor furniture is like an endless scroll of well-designed pieces, and they’re all a steal just like the $59 chair.
RH
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Editor’s Pick: RH Balmain Collection
RH is the crème de la crème of all furniture. The thing about outdoor furniture is that it needs to be able to take a beating, and RH does that by making sure every component of its outdoor furniture is ready to battle the elements. From its use of performance fabrics to the way it finishes its aluminum, RH will make sure you feel like luxury because it only sells luxury.
Frontgate
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Editor’s Pick: Frontgate Palazzo Modular System
Frontgate’s in-house design team makes its outdoor furniture to be able to withstand nature and also to provide long-lasting comfort. The brand offers a 10-year structural frame warranty, so you can rest easy if your backyard is constantly taking a beating. Pieces are constructed from materials like weather-resistant wicker, Egyptian cotton and performance fabrics because each person’s outdoor needs are different.
Yardbird
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Editor’s Pick: Yardbird Colby Collection
Yardbird is outdoor furniture gone fully direct-to-consumer — that means you won’t find it professionally arranged in a salesperson-infested showroom, but you will find higher quality materials for a price that’s more digestible. With 12 collections, there’s no shortage of design inspiration, and the only issue you’ll have when shopping is deciding on which bad boy to add to cart.
Outer Sofas
Outer
Editor’s Pick: Outer Wicker Collection
Outer’s sofas are quite possibly the apex of outdoor seating. Craftspeople hand-weave each wicker chair, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. While any good outdoor seating features weather-resistant cushioning, Outer’s is especially good at withstanding the elements. The cushions are stain- and fade-resistant, as well as waterproof. Plus, the cushions are memory foam for a comfortable sitting experience. An integrated cover rolls out of the back to protect your seat when not in use, so there’s not need to buy an extra protective barrier.
Tait
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You’d be forgiven if Tait isn’t on your radar. The Australian furniture brand sits firmly on the high end of the high-end furniture spectrum. Shopping the website provides some insight about what you can expect from its offerings. The brand’s Seam collection is basically perfect from its colors to the materials. Besides that line, Tait offers a fire pit and a decked-out outdoor kitchen.