The Best Outdoor Furniture — Where to Buy Stylish Designs that Look so Good You’d Happily Have Them Inside, Too

On the hunt for the best outdoor furniture to elevate your backyard this summer? I've scoured the internet to bring you swoon-worthy pieces to shop right now

best outdoor furniture
(Image credit: Walmart; Serena & Lily; Anthropologie; Joss & Main; Wayfair)
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This summer, our backyards are all about blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living. As we open our backdoors to embrace the warmer weather, it’s time for our gardens to step up and serve as true extensions of our homes. Whether you're creating a living space, a dining area, or a cozy spot for a morning coffee, only the best outdoor furniture will do.

But what kind of outdoor furniture should you choose? It's a big question. I've been on the hunt for the best outdoor sofas, tables, accent chairs, and more. After countless hours of research, I've unearthed some truly brilliant backyard gems.

Of course, no search is complete without expert insights. David Thompson, principal and founder of the LA-based architecture firm Assembledge+, shared some valuable pointers. ‘We look at outdoor spaces as outdoor rooms that function very much like interior spaces,’ he explains. ‘The perfect outdoor furniture should also be in a dialogue with the interior design and function as an extension of the interior design mood, extending the indoor living areas to the outside.’

With that in mind, I've scoped the market and read countless reviews, always with style at the forefront. Consider this your definitive guide to navigating the best outdoor furniture brands — all the ingredients needed to transform your backyard living dreams into reality.

Best Outdoor Furniture

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Rest assured, everything you see here represents the crème de la crème of outdoor furniture. ill, let your taste, lifestyle, and budget be your North Star in this process.

Whether you’re searching for outdoor dining tables born to host spirited dinner parties or accent chairs for catching up on much needed R&R, explore my top outdoor furniture picks below. These selections are perfect for decks, patios, large backyards, and small spaces alike, ensuring you’ll find the perfect pieces to elevate your outdoor living area.

Best Outdoor Dining Tables

Why stay inside on a gorgeous evening when you can make the most of the warmer months with an outdoor dining table? From casual meals to gatherings with friends, it's often the most used piece of outdoor furniture for good reason.

Best Outdoor Coffee Tables

There’s nothing quite like enjoying your daily cup of joe outdoors. Fresh air makes for the ideal pick-me-up. Use these tables to place your reading materials and daily essentials, while also adding a novel design element with these show-stopping styles.

Best Outdoor Dining Chairs

Since we can’t simply move our usual dining chairs outside, investing in the outdoor variety is an absolute must. The better and comfier they are, the more often you'll use your outdoor dining table. It’s a symbiotic, and when done right, highly chic relationship.

Best Outdoor Sofas

A well-chosen outdoor sofa is so good, you might find it becomes your new favorite seat, even over your indoor sofa. Discover why they’re an essential component of an outdoor living room.

Best Outdoor Accent Chairs

Accent chairs hold a special place in my heart. They’re like ordinary chairs, but whether it’s through color, texture, proportion, or size, they are often much cooler. With just a splash of novelty, an outdoor accent chair is where you can have a little backyard fun.


Where to Buy the Best Outdoor Furniture

As promised, I’m spilling my secrets. The gatekeeping ends here—this is where you’ll find the best outdoor furniture stores around. Whether you’re working with a modest budget or ready to splurge, these retailers have you covered with the latest and greatest in outdoor living.

Wayfair

If it exists, it’s probably on Wayfair. The online retailer boasts a truly massive assortment of outdoor furniture, ranging from budget-friendly finds to high-end, investment-worthy pieces. With their extensive stock and consistently competitive pricing, it’s a great place to start your search. Plus, Wayfair's loyal customers leave detailed reviews, making it easy to gauge the quality of products. Most orders ship for free, and returns are hassle-free. Need I say more?

Anthropologie

If you’re after outdoor furniture that’s cool, stylish, and unique, Anthropologie is your best bet. They carry pieces you won’t find anywhere else — think country club sun loungers, French bistro chairs, and chic coastal beach club vibes. While they might be a bit pricier, their offerings are often worth the extra spend for their distinctive style. And don’t worry, there are plenty of great deals to be found as well.

Walmart

Don’t sleep on Walmart just because they sell everything from pajamas to cookies. Whether you’re looking for fire pit ideas, backyard umbrellas, or anything in between, Walmart's ‘everyday low prices’ slogan holds up. Often, their affordable options look anything but cheap, proving that budget-friendly can also be stylish.

Serena & Lily

Serena & Lily isn’t cheap, but if you have the budget, this is hands down the place to find the chicest outdoor furniture. From the perfect cushiness of the chairs and sofas to the decorative tassels, it’s all in the details and high-quality materials. These styles are timeless, making the extra spend worthwhile. With a piece from Serena & Lily, an elevated backyard is inevitable.


What material is best for outdoor furniture?

When it comes to looking for the best material for outdoor furniture, make sure you keep your eyes out for furniture that’s made from weather-resistant powder-coated material. 

An aluminium table will stay looking brand new even after years of use, and you can often choose from a variety of finishes. 

Outdoor living trends call for more wellness areas in the garden, with a focus on clean lines and simple shapes. An emphasis on nature and the organic look is part of this wider trend. Molteni & Co has released its first outdoor dining collection this year, heavily featuring the beautiful warmth of teak. ‘FSC-certified premium grade teak has natural oils that make it inherently weatherproof, mold, and insect resistant, so there's no need to treat it with harsh chemicals to make it perform outdoors,’ says Reilly Gray, co-founder of outdoor brand, Suns Lifestyle. 

Enamel is another option. ‘I love enamel that is wipeable but can be in a spectrum of colors,’ says Jennifer Morris, Principal at JMorris Design, based in Brooklyn. ‘In terms of the best outdoor furniture brands, Loll Design makes their furniture in recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is cleanable, colorful and won’t fade in the sun.’ 

Wrought iron is another durable option while stainless steel will lend your outdoor space a contemporary look with easy maintenance. ‘Wrought iron will be your most durable and sturdy option but is definitely a higher price point,’ says Annie and Jordan Obermanns of Forge & Bow. 

What size is best for outdoor dining table?

Your backyard dining table is a long-term investment piece, so getting the dimensions right is paramount. For a rectangular table that seats four to six, 68-72 inch length will suffice; six to eight seats will need around 72-80 inches. Typical diameters for a round table are 36 inches for two, 42 inches for four people, and 54 inches or up to 60 inch diameter for six people. 

‘A good way to choose a dining table size is to measure the area's length and width, subtract 30”-36” from each side, and whatever dimension is left can be used as your shopping guide,’ recommend Annie and Jordan. ‘The 30”-36” guide helps to ensure there will be an efficient amount of space to navigate around the table if guests are seated.’

There is also the round versus rectangular debate. We’ve seen the introduction of organic shapes for outside dining, mirroring the trends from the last few seasons of interiors. Rectangular is best for homes where entertaining and large-scale hosting is the focus, where round tables work better for more intimate, casual gatherings. The choice should also be influenced by the space available. In a more linear space, a rectangle or oval shape is best and in a more square space, a circular table or smaller square is recommended. 

Consider the placement too. ’Create an outdoor space with the right amount of sun and shade that can be protected from rain and the elements,’ says David Thompson from Assembledge+. 

Oonagh Turner
Livingetc content editor and design expert

Oonagh is a content editor at Livingetc.com and an expert at spotting the interior trends that are making waves in the design world. Writing a mix of everything and everything from home tours to news, long-form features to design idea pieces on the website, as well as frequently featured in the monthly print magazine, she's the go-to for design advice in the home. Previously, she worked on a London property title, producing long-read interiors features, style pages and conducting interviews with a range of famous faces from the UK interiors scene, from Kit Kemp to Robert Kime. In doing so, she has developed a keen interest in London's historical architecture and the city's distinct tastemakers paving the way in the world of interiors.