11 Outdoor Seating Ideas That'll Make You Want to Stay Outside All Year Long
Warm weather isn't necessarily a must.
When it comes to outdoor seating ideas, we get just as excited to spend long summer evenings outside as we do cool autumn nights. Our decks and backyards are an extension of our indoor lounging and dining spaces and they deserve some extra attention. Before hosting the first outdoor meal or curling up outside with a book, read our eleven best outdoor seating ideas below to gather some fresh inspiration.
If you want to choose one new piece to add more outdoor seating to your patio space, we highly recommend a sofa or sectional because either one is large enough for a few people to gather on. A standard outdoor sofa can comfortably seat up to three people. An outdoor sectional will allow for four or more. If you're tight on space or looking to squeeze a sofa on a balcony, choose a loveseat – it has all the comfy qualities of a sofa but gives you an intimate spot for two people instead. If your idea of a perfect summer afternoon is lounging in the sun, consider a daybed – these can seat two or three people, but they also allow for one person to fully recline for a cat nap.
While thinking about outdoor seating ideas, it's good to think about the different furniture materials you can choose from. This metal dining set is heavier than wicker and wood, which makes it a great choice if you live somewhere that has an extended hurricane season. Metal furniture can also be designed with more intricate detailing than other outdoor furniture materials. And, perhaps best of all, specific metals are rust-resistant and will last for years. To look at rust-resistant metals, make sure to check that box off under “Materials” on our site. If you need help picking which material is best, read more in our guide How to Choose the Best Outdoor Furniture Material for Your Family.
Create an intimate seating area to catch up with family with a sofa set. An outdoor sofa set is the answer to finding outdoor furniture that's both comfortable and coordinated. Choose a sofa set that has a weather-resistant frame and cushions so that you'll be able to enjoy it for years without a lot of upkeep. Great examples are natural hardwoods, all-weather wicker, and rust-resistant metal. Another reason we love sofa sets? They require little-to-no assembly, so you'll be able to enjoy the furniture as soon as you receive it. Sofa sets do the work of coordination for you, so you won't have to spend time manually looking for single pieces that go together. To define the conversation area a bit more, roll an outdoor rug out underneath the sofa set. It will tie the outdoor space together and make the floor temperate and soft.
If you don't have a defined seating area, you can create one around a cozy fire pit. A backyard fire pit will let your family enjoy your outdoor space for far longer than just the summer months. Depending on where you live, you may even be able to bundle up around the fire during winter. For seating around the pit, we recommend individual chairs that allow you to easily move them around depending on the weather. Take these Adirondack chairs, for instance, they're comfortable for reclining in but can easily be moved if the wind and smoke changes direction. Because of the reclining angle, you'll be able to easily warm up your feet on chilly nights. Just add marshmallows and you're set for a family s'mores night.
If summertime means husking corn and firing up a shrimp boil, an outdoor dining area is a must. The key is to create a dining space based on how much space you have, and with so many options to choose from there's no way you'll feel limited on space. A large deck or backyard can fit a full dining table, a small porch is perfect for a pub table and four chairs, and a balcony can fit a bistro set for two. For dining tables that aren't covered by a deck ceiling, make sure to choose a table that has an umbrella hole. You'll be able to enjoy lunch outdoors rain or shine.
Pro Tip:
Treat your outdoor dining space as its own separate area by adding unique tabletop touches. We love melamine plates, bowls, and dinner sets for outdoor meals. They're durable enough for everyday use, are dishwasher-safe, and come in a variety of upbeat, summery colors.
Whether you're grabbing a crisp bottle of Chardonnay or whipping up a batch of tea, you can certainly make happy hour just a bit happier with a clever pub table and bar stool set up. Bar stools are often more lightweight than traditional lounge chairs and dining chairs, meaning you can move cocktail hour around depending on the day or time. We recommend bar stools that come with cushions so that you can stay outside a bit longer while staying comfortable. Bar stools, such as these, do not have armrests and mean you'll be able to fit more of them around a pub table. If you already have a built in bar in the backyard, just pull up a couple of counter-height bar stools to complete the look.
Draw everyone into your outdoor conversation and dining areas by adding overhead or wall lighting. Good outdoor lighting is essential for maximizing the time you'll be able to relax outdoors, as autumn and spring have less daylight hours than summer. Hanging lights are great for casting a wide glow around a seating area. Wall sconces are optimal for lighting up pathways and brightening up backdrops. If you have a sofa set in the backyard away from the house, consider adding a warm glow with lamp posts or lanterns.
If you need an outdoor seating idea that creates a lot of flexibility, a bench is ideal. Classic benches never go out of style and can fit almost anywhere, whether you place yours on the front porch, in a garden, or in the narrow space behind an outdoor sofa. Use a bench as a garden workspace and then sit and admire your hard work. Place a couple of baskets underneath a poolside bench and use it to store floaties and towels. Best of all, a bench can provide an extra place for guests to sit if you're in a pinch. Simply pull the bench up to where you're sitting or dining and then push it against a wall to make a walkway when everyone heads back indoors.
A rocking chair is just right for all-weather coziness and creating an intimate space. Their wide bases and snug armrests gently envelop anyone who sits in them and it makes it easy to keep a blanket wrapped around you without slipping off. A couple of rocking chairs can fit onto a front porch, giving you space to wait for company's arrival or to enjoy the sunset. Consider placing a side table or garden stool nearby to set drinks on – you might get so comfortable you don't want to leave.
Create an outdoor oasis and elevate your seating area with lots of greenery. Grab a few planters and fill them with crocuses, tulips, and daffodils for summer. If it's already mid-summer, opt for flowers like chrysanthemums, asters, or lilies instead – these plants do well in summer and fall. Planters are great for defining seating areas or filling in any gaps. Place large planters on the edges of your seating arrangements and put small, potted plants on the tables. To ensure your planters stay safe year-round, choose weather-resistant planters. These can be left outdoors in both rainstorms and bright sunny days and they'll do just fine. One bonus to planting is that it can be a group activity. Bring younger kids outdoors and get them invested in the growing process, too!
Make your outdoor seating ideas all the more comfortable by adding a couple of patterned pillows to your lounge chairs. A lounge chair is perfect for a post-swim nap, and a couple of pillows will make the space extra comfy. Either choose a pillow color palette you can enjoy year-round like blues and white or swap out your pillows as the seasons change. If you already have outdoor furniture you love, a couple of extra pillows is a low-lift way to make it even more comfortable. Keep pillows visually interesting by alternating with both throw and lumbar pillows – your lower back will thank you for the support.
Ready to browse?
