13 Stunning Outdoor Furniture Ideas For A Beautiful Yard

By Amanda Mushro , Lexie Pelchen
Contributor, Editor
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Give your outdoor space an instant refresh with patio furniture ideas that make you want to leave the indoors and spend the warmer months lounging, entertaining and enjoying your own backyard. From dining tables that welcome the entire family, to chic sofas with pops of color and plenty of style, to the must-have outdoor accessories, there are plenty of ways to give your outdoor living space the upgrade it deserves.

These outdoor furniture ideas will inspire you to start planning the days and nights you’ll be enjoying the view from your own patio.

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1. Add an Outdoor Sectional for More Seating

Stunning Outdoor Furniture Ideas For A Beautiful Yard

Design Lines Signature/ designlinessignature

Everyone will want to spend more time outdoors if they have a cozy spot waiting for them. An outdoor sectional gives you more flexible seating for the times you’re entertaining or if you just want to stretch out. Plus, they can pull double duty and serve as seating around an outdoor dining table so there’s no need to move from one location to another. Outdoor sectionals often have additional storage options, and can be arranged and rearranged to fit all of your seating needs.

2. Don’t Skimp on Style

Stunning Outdoor Furniture Ideas For A Beautiful Yard

Bartone Interiors/ Lissa Gotwals Photography

Gone are the days where outdoor furniture only came in one or two styles or colors. Now your outdoor living space can match your design aesthetic whether you’re inspired by modern, bohemian, farmhouse or mid century styles. Your outdoor space can compliment the furniture and decor inside your home or become a completely different styled living space. From chairs, tables, couches and accent pieces, you can create an outdoor living space that is not only practical and comfortable but also beautiful.

3. Warm Up the Space

Stunning Outdoor Furniture Ideas For A Beautiful Yard

Etch Design Group / Cate Black Photography

Don’t let your outdoor living season get cut short by cooler temperatures. Warm up the space with options that are stylish and functional like fire pits or outdoor heat lamps. From roasting marshmallows to keeping warm on chilly nights, adding a heat source will quickly become the centerpiece to your outdoor living space.

Choose a tabletop version for small spaces, or opt for a portable heater that can be moved from a patio or deck to wherever the party takes you. Larger fire pits keep a larger area warm and some even come with covers so you can transform the firepit into a table when not in use.

4. Create Cozy Corners

Stunning Outdoor Furniture Ideas For A Beautiful Yard

Georgia Zikas Design / georgiazikasdesign

If you have a small porch or patio or a space in your garden that you want to make your own, skip the big and bulky pieces and create a small living space that’s big on design and comfort. With chairs and tables that have a smaller footprint, your small space can have a big impact on the amount of time you spend outside.

5. Invite Everyone to the Table

Stunning Outdoor Furniture Ideas For A Beautiful Yard

Olga Hanono/Frank Lynen Photography

If enjoying delicious dinners al fresco is on the menu, then you’ll need a fabulous table that makes outdoor dining a family affair. For large spaces, choose an extra long dining table or put two tables together to create a fabulous family table. If you’re tight on space, choose a table that has moving parts or attached leaves so the table can grow when you have more guests.

Not sure how big of a table you can squeeze into your outdoor space? A good rule of thumb is having 36 inches between the table and anything steps, railings, or other furniture so everyone has enough space to pull chairs in and out.

6. Add Layers for Extra Details

Stunning Outdoor Furniture Ideas For A Beautiful Yard

Interior Impressions/interiorimpressions

Add texture, color and visual interest to your outdoor space by layering on the decor and accessories. From a colorful outdoor rug, throw pillows with texture and pops of color, to lanterns, side tables and cozy ottomans, embrace the outdoor decor and personalize the space with a few extra items.

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7. Bring the Comforts of Indoors Outside

Stunning Outdoor Furniture Ideas For A Beautiful Yard

Mary Patton Design / marypattondesign

There’s really no reason to go inside if you create an outdoor living space that brings all of the comforts of the indoors to the outside. From comfortable and stylish furniture, to an outdoor kitchen to whip up a meal, a built-in fireplace for those chilly nights, and a TV that lets you binge your favorite shows, you may never want to go back inside again.

8. Get Creative With Extra Seating

Stunning Outdoor Furniture Ideas For A Beautiful Yard

Kim Armstrong Interior Design / Michael Hunter

Whether you’re working with small square footage or wide open spaces, you don’t always have to add more chairs to make sure everyone has a comfortable seat. Outdoor ottomans can be moved around, can double as footrests or tables and are the perfect option for additional seating when entertaining.

9. Create Multiple Living Spaces

Urbanology Designs / Matti Gresham Photography

Just as you would create separate living spaces inside your home, use this design trick outside. From a place to dine, a place to lounge and a place to entertain, create different living spaces with visual cues like outdoor area rugs to separate the spaces and different styles of furniture in each space. Keep the overall look consistent by using the same color pallet and accent decor.

10. Opt for Minimal Designs

Stunning Outdoor Furniture Ideas For A Beautiful Yard

Mary Patton Design / marypattondesign

Sometimes less is more, and for smaller yards or colorful gardens, minimal designs are a perfect fit. Let the lush beauty of nature and your home be the backdrop for the clean lines, monochromatic colors and smaller footprint of minimalist furniture. The simplicity of the outdoor furniture will keep your outdoor space looking and feeling serene.

11. Just Add Shade

Stunning Outdoor Furniture Ideas For A Beautiful Yard

Shoshanna Shapiro / sho.and.co

We love a sunny day, but we also want to enjoy our outdoor spaces without the heat or bright sun chasing us indoors. When placing your outdoor furniture, be sure to consider shade and the times of day you’ll need it the most. From adding umbrellas to creating shady retreats on patios, you’ll enjoy a little break for the sun’s rays and your outdoor furniture will last longer.

12. Create New Shapes

Stunning Outdoor Furniture Ideas For A Beautiful Yard

House of One/houseofone_

Have some fun with your furniture. Instead of floating a rectangle table on your patio or choosing the L-shaped couch for your deck, consider furniture that creates visual interest with different shapes. Rounded chairs and couches can become standout pieces and actually offer more space to relax and entertain.

13. Create Privacy With Style

Stunning Outdoor Furniture Ideas For A Beautiful Yard

StruXure Outdoor/struxureoutdoor

You may like your neighbors, but when you’re outside lounging, you don’t want to lock eyes with them. To keep your view, create shade and privacy, and to add a fun design element to your outdoor space, place your outdoor furniture inside a pergola with hanging curtains. You’ll feel like you’ve added a brand new room to your home.

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