Outdoor Furniture Shopping in Winter? Groundbreaking

Your garden or patio should be curated and cared-for, not a desperate case for the Homeowners Association. Some ornamentation can help close the gap, which is where the best outdoor furniture comes come into play. Think seating arrangements, grills, and accessories like umbrellas and side tables—namely, all the window dressing you need to transform an average open-air space into an alfresco dreamscape.

Naturally at AD we have a lot of opinions on what’s actually up to snuff in the outdoor arena, and we’re sharing our top picks for the best outdoor furniture, full stop, along with some of our favorite shopping destinations that tick a couple different boxes for us: good design (evidently), easy shipping, and a decent amount of variety. Quality goods are implied, and a couple things we’ve even had a chance to try firsthand. Without further ado, an AD-approved selection of heavy hitters in the outdoor space that will make your patio or garden sing.

Our Top Picks For the Best Outdoor Furniture

The Best Outdoor Furniture

Best Outdoor Sectional Sofa

For outdoor sofa shoppers with ample square footage, the Lubek outdoor low corner sectional will bring style and comfort to your backyard. According to our tester Meg Kernahan, it feels like something you might see poolside at a luxury hotel, but it’s also durable enough to withstand a snowy winter without any noticeable wear and tear. Our full review tells you everything you need to know before purchasing the sectional, but the same design is also offered in slightly smaller configurations to fit more modest spaces too.

Read the full review

Best Outdoor Sofa For Small Spaces

Why It’s Worth It

Neighbor is a name that comes recommended by experts we trust like AD100 designer Mandy Cheng, who appreciates the brand for its out-of-the-box color options. Senior visuals editor Melissa Maria chose the Terra sofa to liven up her own outdoor space, opting for charcoal upholstery and a matching frame to color coordinate with her stone-tiled patio. Describing the couch as “extremely comfortable,” it has quickly become the most popular seating option when Maria entertains in the summer months. “The cushions are soft but firm and stay in place,” she says. “This love seat is also the preferred place for my eight-year-old to stretch out when we are outside.”

Read the full review

Best Outdoor Lounge Chair

“Thanks to the fade-resistant Perennial or Sunbrella cushion covers and powder-coated aluminum frame, these pool lounge chairs look just as good as they did upon delivery three years ago,” contributor Blake Solomon told us. Serena & Lily’s coastal-minded collections make it one of our favorite brands for outfitting outdoor areas. Pieces like the Pacifica Lounge Chair are designed with natural, breathable materials and fabrics and more often than not individual items are part of larger collections that can help you create a streamlined look throughout your backyard (we highly recommend checking out the brand’s AD-reviewed Pacifica Sofa).

Best Outdoor Rug

We’ve reviewed The Citizenry’s area rugs before so we feel good about putting forth the brand’s Sabina rug as our top outdoor rug pick. We’re also big fans of jute rugs for both indoors and out, especially since the natural fiber adds an element of texture without being overly expensive. The handwoven design is stain-, water-, fade-resistant, and made from eco-friendly materials. Our styling recommendation would be to take a cue from the backyard in this midcentury Los Angeles home by interior designer Jamie Bush and architect William Hefner. We like that the patio feels like an extension of the equally playful interiors thanks to matching seating and a cohesive color scheme.

Best Outdoor Coffee Table

For an outdoor coffee table that will withstand the elements season after season, we turn to concrete. “Concrete is the perfect accent to the modern design trend with cool-toned color palettes,” Joe Raboine, director of residential hardscapes at Belgard, told AD. You could easily re-do your entire backyard with Crate & Barrel’s extensive outdoor collections, but we think the brand’s outdoor coffee tables are particularly noteworthy for their contemporary and sculptural silhouettes. Many of the tables are built for both indoor and outdoor use like this softened silhouette made in collaboration with Leanne Ford or this square design with a bronzed, brutalist look.

Best Outdoor Lighting

This petite camping lamp from Snow Peak has indoor/outdoor appeal, meaning you can station it bedside or keep it in your backyard for nighttime use. It has a convertible design and a petite shape that lets you easily transport the lamp wherever you need a little illumination. Commerce editor and lighting aficionado Audrey Lee told us that it emits the perfect amount of light to enjoy some pre-bedtime television or a chapter or two of your current read. She said “You could even pair it with a lantern stand to transform it into a floor lamp or create a more substantial outdoor lighting scheme with multiple lights.”

Best Fire Pit

Solo Stove’s five-star outdoor firepit has a vented design that lets you enjoy fireside socials without smelling like a campfire afterward—just one of the reasons why we named it one of the best firepits you can buy for your home. The design has a removable base plate and ashtray, making it easy to clean, and it also comes with a carrying case to take it on camping trips, beach outings, or to a friend’s house. Unlike other models from the brand, Bonfire is available in a slew of different hues and there are a number of optional add-ons, from a heat deflector to a griddle, if you want to go all out with your outdoor setup. (Though if you’re looking for something more sculptural or substantial, we recommend checking out our full list of firepits.)

Best Outdoor Dining Set

For those not in the know, teak is beloved for its ability to withstand any weather, easy-to-clean nature, and the natural patina that it develops over time—from a warm honey to a weathered gray. Burrow’s Dunes outdoor dining set is inspired by surfboards, and we like it because it has a casually elevated look that can be dressed up with the right tabletop accessories. We’ve even noted in the past that it can unexpectedly elevate everything from bathtubs (see the carved wood beauty in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s brownstone) to sofas with its coastal-leaning charm. The set comes with four chairs and a teak bench where you and your family will definitely be enjoying many meals alfresco (though you can also purchase seating separately).

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Best Outdoor Furniture Brands

Channel coastal vibes with Serena & Lily’s extensive collection of serene, beach-inspired furniture and home decor, including all-weather wicker options, sleek designs swathed in performance fabric, poolside lounge chairs, and much more. Serena & Lily’s team of design advisers will even collaborate with you to plan out furniture arrangements, pore over swatches, create mood boards, and so on. Basically, they will do everything they can to make your outdoor (or indoor) vision a reality from start to finish—and did we mention this service is free?

Manufactured with recycled materials, Outer is on a mission to make your garden space a little more green. Its pieces embody a classic coastal style that you and your grandmother can get behind, plus work with a durable selection of teak and aluminum and wicker that hold up after years baking in the sun. Customers tend to give Outer high marks for the ease of delivery and assembly, in case you’re looking for something relatively fuss-free. And while the brand doesn’t own any retail showrooms across the country, another perk is you can book an appointment with an Outer shopper in your area virtually or IRL to map out a customized layout based on your space and get more guidance on individual items.

If you’re all in on Scandi-influenced, LA-presenting outdoor furniture, look no further than Article’s catalog. “After undertaking a huge backyard renovation, I was looking for a comfortable and stylish sofa to be the focal point of the space,” contributor Meg Kernahan told us in her review of the Article Lubek sectional. “This couch is exactly that: large enough to comfortably seat six people around an outdoor firepit and durable enough for my toddler to climb on.” We also recommend checking out the brand’s chaise lounges, outdoor dining pieces, and various decor like throw pillows and outdoor rugs.

Outdoor furniture often feels like it belongs in another style category entirely (one situated in the land of metal bistro chairs and log cabins in the Adirondacks), but Neighbor makes its designs feel like something you could easily imagine in a modern living room or interior (there’s a reason why you’ll find the brand’s Terra sofa in our top picks!). Rich colors like rust, leaf, and ash give the furniture a surprising amount of versatility and you can even find inventive pieces like sexy wicker couches with built-in side tables. While style is the brand’s biggest ace, their designs also walk the walk with solid makeups that include quick-drying foam and weather-resistant fabrics like Sunbrella. There are a variety of options that all coexist together despite not necessarily hailing from the same collection, and everything is backed by a limited warranty.

It’s easy to get lost scrolling through Birch Lane’s vast outdoor selection, where lively lounge seating, dining sets, and accents stand out as stylish options for a modern patio. If you’re not a fan of traditional outdoor sofa silhouettes, the retailer stocks picks like the modular Valliere seating system that feels more like a sofa you’d situate in your living room. There are also plenty of sets that can accommodate spaces of all sizes, like the super-sized Melrose five-piece teak package or the Cotesfield trio that could dress up a modest stretch of grass.

Chances are you’re already familiar with West Elm’s pieces for interior living spaces, but the retailer brings the same energy, intentionality, and contemporary aesthetic to their backyard and patio collections as well. Pieces feel luxe-on-a-budget and comfortable, plus made with high-quality materials. Another thing we love is the constant rotation of designs—chances are, you’ll see something new every time you visit the site or store. From accents for small spaces to patio umbrellas, there’s plenty of outdoor patio furniture to peruse.

If you’re a dedicated coupon clipper, Wayfair is where you’ll find all the deals on outdoor furnishings: The mega online retailer is known for flash sales and coupons which you can combine with everyday discounts. In addition to selling some of our favorite outdoor dining sets, firepits, and outdoor rugs, Wayfair also sells outdoor fencing and flooring, lighting, garden equipment, heating and cooling equipment—plus hot tubs and saunas for year-round coziness. To sweeten the deal, delivery is free on orders over $49, but just be sure to read over the reviews—as quality and functionality can vary. Our senior digital design editor Zoë Sessums told us the Abra loveseat is a chic option for socializing with family and friends. “It blends well with different outdoor aesthetics, especially if you’re into a clean, minimalist look.”

If you’re looking for a statement piece of outdoor furniture, chances are you’ll find something that catches your eye from California-based Lulu and Georgia. The brand’s highly curated selection of outdoor living essentials elevate classic silhouettes, spanning teak lounge chairs to side tables. Each piece is special and looks like something you’d find straight out of a designer’s studio. In fact, the brand consistently works with top designers from around the world to offer dialed-in furniture collections. This is a great place to shop if custom work isn’t within your budget but you still want something special.

Joybird’s outdoor section is full of clean lines and simple silhouettes, perfect for a modernist’s outdoor arrangement. The three-piece Lucia set can outfit larger patios in one fell swoop with a comfy sofa and two side chairs—and Joybird has a few outdoor coffee table options if you’re looking to create a full conversation set. If it’s a sectional you’re after, we like that the elegant Ojai sofa has indoor-outdoor appeal, and it’s a great option if you want something that feels more elevated. What’s especially enticing is, more often than not, you can expect the brand to be running a promotion.

McGee & Co. is better known for their rustic indoor furnishings, but have a small curation of styles to offer for your backyard, too. Rounded wicker coffee tables and sides tables are a highlight, with sweet braided edging that are an example of some of the finer details the brand is known for. Otherwise, come here for updates on classics, like this outdoor lounge chair that looks like the next stage of evolution from a basic Adirondack.

GreenRow’s outdoor furniture selection is small, but packs a punch with print-filled seating and unconventional decor accoutrements. The brand’s striped sunset lounger looks like something plucked from the dreamy Saltburn set (Jacob Elordi unfortunately not included with purchase). While the antique-inspired Livia teak outdoor dining table brings a similar English manor-vibe to the home’s exteriors that we don’t typically see in other outdoor silhouettes.

Rejuvenation shares a similar look and style to its sister brand Pottery Barn (classic, American-leaning) and also stocks full furniture sets for any sprawling backyard. If you want to create a patio that looks straight out of an AD issue (but don’t want to spend too much time on the specifics), we’d highly recommend ordering matching pieces from the same collection for a cohesive look. The Swanson dining set is a family of sleek-looking pieces that cater to modern tastes, while the Bayocean collection includes both dining options as well as lounge furniture to fully outfit a space. If you’re looking to complete the vibe, Rejuvenation is best known for its lighting options from solar path lights to outdoor pendants and more.

In addition to the splurge-worthy sectional sofa our contributor Kat Kovac called “incredibly well made,” Arhaus (German for house) offers lots of high-end, heirloom-quality outdoor furniture that we could easily picture poolside in a celebrity home. The Scandi-inspired Canyon sofa is an example of a classic silhouette that can fit in any modern outdoor space. Since it has a simpler design, you can really dress it up with a statement chair like the Sevilla, as well as some bold outdoor lighting and a splashy rug to really ground the setup.

Sundays has a novel take on outdoor furniture: Classic lines with modern quirks. They carry a curated line of outdoor essentials—extending to tables, dining chairs, and sofas—elevated with playful touches like chubby legs and armless arrangements. The Movie Night outdoor sectional, tested by our contributor Will Porter, is a particular standout against the cookie cutter rattan designs you’ll find at a lot of mass retailers. “It matches any design style and, thanks to a clever modular design, can be arranged in a number of ways to get the right fit in your space,” he says.

Design Within Reach’s elevated aesthetic brings a certain IYKYK sophistication to any backyard. The brand also has exclusive rights to a number of iconic designs and brands (like HAY), so it’s always worth checking for special colorways or fabrics if you’re looking for a very specific piece of furniture.

Digging through Castlery’s site, you’ll find lots of texture and luxe-looking silhouettes. If you have expensive taste and don’t want to drop $10,000 on a dining set, chances are Castlery has something for you. Many pieces mix dark (weatherproofed) textiles with natural wood, an expert combination for an elevated backyard. Our contributor Stewart Savin told us her Rio sofa “has withstood pollen, snowstorms, thunderstorms, and even a hurricane. With ample seating space and foam-filled cushions, you’ll want to curl up on this sofa with your morning coffee or after-dinner wine all year long.“ The brand gives off minimalist, but cozy vibes for people who love a bouclé moment or a neutral color palette. There may not be as many options to choose from as a big-box store, but curation and high quality designs are a given.

Our favorite Anthropologie outdoor finds include mosaic tabletops, patterned outdoor sofas, garden chairs, ceramic stools, and ornate hanging chairs like the one pictured here, but you can also find plenty of classic pieces among the retailer’s more bohemian wares like this evergreen sofa. Shipping tends to be quick and the brand has a loyal following—there are certain pieces that are coveted long after stock sells out.

Crate & Barrel has a robust section dedicated to outdoor living whose bestsellers include nature-inspired seating sets, sculptural side tables, and sophisticated seating. While their sister brand CB2’s options skew more modern, Crate & Barrel fuses timelessness with contemporary designs (as evidenced by the luxe Adirondack chair below). Plus, a good selection of the furniture you see online can be seen in person at one of the company’s many brick-and-mortar stores.

This Minneapolis-based retailer is all about offering new, considered takes on traditional furnishings. Take the stark, Judd-esque lines of this coffee table, or the stacked steppe feel of the Ridge outdoor sofa seen above. The colorways are also fun and the designs are fresh, if you want your outdoor space to look a little less like the Joneses next door.

Polywood’s pieces channel classic and traditional outdoor designs that can live on the patio, around the pool, or on the porch. The brand’s wooden furniture is UV-protected and color is fully integrated into the lumber—meaning your Adirondack chairs won’t fade in the sun or drip paint after rainy days—while the stainless steel-based designs are reinforced with a coating that resists weather corrosion. Shop the brand’s collection for highly durable couches, pool loungers, stools, dining sets, and so much more. You can even mix and match different pieces of furniture but order them in the same color to create clever cohesion.

Shop Interior Define’s outdoor living section for a completely bespoke set up that might just rival your favorite celebrity. Like its indoor selection, the brand’s range of exterior seating and smaller furniture accoutrements are customizable, and shoppers can pull from a wide pool of weather-friendly upholsteries and frame finishes. We have no notes on the Riva Outdoor collection from Interior Define, which uses dark teak wood and a water-resistant fabric to create a vibe somewhere between forest-bathing and 1960’s poolside.

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How to Shop the Best Outdoor Furniture Stores

Whether you’re hoping to kick back with pals or touch grass all by your lonesome, a comfortable outdoor space is a happy space. But because buying outdoor furniture can be such a big investment, here are a few things to consider before you add that sectional set to cart:

• Measure, measure, measure! While there may be fewer space concerns in the wide expanses of the outdoors, you should still take a look at how wide a sofa is or how deep the seat sits before going all in on a purchase.
• On that note, scan the return policies in case what you decide on doesn’t quite fit your backyard. Getting outdoor furniture shipped out (and then figuring out a way to return it all) can be a massive pain in the neck, so check what actually fits the bill for a full or partial refund if you’re less than satisfied.
• Don’t forget the power of a warranty (the elements can do a number on outdoor furniture!).
• Go in with a plan—think of how you want people to flow throughout the space and buy furniture that supports that strategy. (For example, a big dining table may not be the answer if you dream of small nooks for people to chit-chat in the garden.)
• Choose fabrics like rust-proof metal and Sunbrella fabrics that are known for being fade-resistant.
• Look over the “care” section of each furniture item. Some of the fabrics just aren’t built for regular deluges and sun exposure, so you may have to buy additional covers for them or bring them indoors when they’re not in use.

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