What’s Your Outdoor Seating Style?

There’s no better time to get ready for summer living. Maximize your outdoor lounge time by transforming a backyard space into a relaxing retreat. The best place to start is finding the right seating that not only fits your space, but your lifestyle, too. And that can depend on what you love to do most when you step outside.

For Covered Porches — Extending Living Space Outdoors

For outdoor areas in close proximity to your indoor rooms, look for outdoor porch furniture that echoes your indoor pieces. Choosing cohesive items will ease the transition between indoors and out, making your porch or patio feel as comfortable and lived in as any room inside. Look for seating with thick cushions and a versatile style that could just as easily work indoors. Here, we love the way our all-weather rattan seating, like our Sutton Collection, lends a clean and classic cottage feel. As your budget allows, add a variety of accent tables for accommodating food and drinks, a couple of stools for extra pull-up seating and stylish lighting to keep the party going long after the sun goes down.

You don’t need a large space to create that outdoor room feel. An unused corner of your porch is the perfect spot for a cushioned sectional — and an intimate hangout. The slim silhouette of the cast aluminum frame (our Amalfi Collection) tucks into smaller spaces. Bold stripes perk up the look and an indoor-outdoor rug rounds out the cozy space.

For Poolside Spaces — Lounging & Sunning

If you ask us, a chaise lounge is required poolside seating for sunning, reading and relaxing. If you have the room, station a pair on either side of the pool so you can chase the rays or shade as the sun changes. No shade? You definitely need to add a freestanding umbrella to your must-have list!

Thanks to today’s water-repellent cushions, you don’t have to make-do with uncomfortable or unsightly seating just because you’re not in a covered area. Easily recreate your living room’s ultra-cozy, family-friendly setting right at poolside with a mix of seating styles surrounding an outdoor ottoman. To complete the look, add an indoor outdoor rug and outdoor table decor.

For Al Fresco Patios and Terraces — Dining Al Fresco

If the words “backyard” and “barbecue” go hand in hand to you, then prioritize your outdoor space by setting up an open-air dining room near your grill or outdoor kitchen. Dining al fresco is an experience best shared with family and friends, so select as large a table as your space will allow. If you want to be the hostess with the mostess, add cushions for comfort and outdoor tabletop decor to take your outdoor entertaining to the next level.

If you’d rather eat by the pool, create a dining experience that’s worthy of your surroundings. Here, the look of rattan outdoor furniture adds a casual, tropical feel that makes for an easy escape from the everyday. And if you’re not in a covered area, the coordinating umbrella is worth the splurge.

For Small Outdoor Nooks — Enjoying Coffee & Conversation

Even if you don’t do a lot of outdoor entertaining, it’s still nice to sit outside and enjoy a cup of coffee or a casual meal with a few friends. Keep it easy and carve out a quiet spot on your lawn for a café table and chairs.

Enjoy having a lemonade after your laps? Poolside is the perfect place to set up a café table and chairs — and a great place to accommodate drop-in guests. If you tend to lounge around in a wet swimsuit, choose your furniture wisely. Our teak set features Quick-Dry Mesh® seats to allow water and air to flow through.

For more inspiration, browse our outdoor decor pins on Pinterest, or find all of our gorgeous outdoor rooms in our Outdoor Rooms Photo Gallery.