9 Best Outdoor Deck Furniture Design Ideas
In the same way that furniture can help define an indoor space, having the right furniture can help transform an outdoor living area. Simple and sensible deck furniture ideas can serve as a great way to impress guests or create a more comfortable spot for spending time outdoors. All you need to do is identify the right patio furniture ideas for your environment.
If you’re stumped for ideas on how to decorate your deck, not to worry! We have you covered with a variety of design ideas and how to use deck furniture to create a space that’s uniquely yours.
How Do You Layout Deck Furniture?
Every outdoor furniture layout needs a purpose. Are you creating a functional living space? How many people might inhabit that space? Where will people enter and exit an area? If you’re dreaming up outdoor furniture ideas or trying to figure out how to make the most of your outdoor space for entertaining, space planning is arguably the most important first step.
If you plan on serving food or refreshments to entertain guests, where might someone place their drink? Properly positioned coffee tables, end tables, or similar outdoor table ideas can go a long way toward creating a more relaxing and comfortable atmosphere. These small changes can make a big impact on the overall feeling of your outdoor entertaining area.
Create an Entryway Outdoor Sitting Area
In addition to being a great place for social gatherings, decks can serve as an entrance into your home. Warm up your entryway by creating a cozy living-room atmosphere on your front porch. Add traditional interior touches like a couch, coffee table, and a few decorative plants to make a welcoming impression for your guests. Toss a rug underneath to tie the entire indoor-outdoor look together.
Poolside Furniture
Poolside furniture is essential for reading, relaxing, and tanning all summer long. As an alternative to plastic pool chairs, consider more aesthetically pleasing and functional furniture for your space, like a wooden bench with some playful pillows. For a bonus, look for pieces with storage built-in. Pull-out drawers can provide a safe space for towels during the summer, and stocked with blankets during colder months.
Deck Dining Furniture Ideas
Many of the best outdoor deck decor ideas work well because they don’t try to reinvent the wheel. This classic arrangement of an outdoor dining table with chairs can be adapted with simple modifications to serve as many or as few people as you need. The addition of a second seating area can make deck dining feel just as relaxed as dining indoors. Adding an umbrella or other partial enclosure can help keep the space accessible in hot, sunny weather or even with a rain shower.
Entertainment Center
Even a modest furniture arrangement that seats two-to-three people can create a fun multi-purpose entertainment space. Adding a foosball table, pool table, or card table can create designated areas for all kinds of activities. Whether you’re hosting a barbeque for ten, or you’re projecting a movie for two, the secret to creating an inviting space for entertaining is using furniture that’s lightweight and easy to rearrange.
Design Ideas for Small Decks
Trying to fill out a smaller deck or patio? Sometimes, all it takes is a pair of weatherproof chairs to create a cozy one-on-one atmosphere. But there’s no reason to stop with the bare essentials! Adding an ottoman to the mix can help provide an “indoors” feel while optimizing your use of space. As always, adding a few potted plants lends some color and life to your decor.
Creating Waiting Spaces
To create a casual hangout space, opt for a simple serving station as opposed to a traditional dining set. Add a couch or bench at the end of the table to provide guests with an informal, relaxed space to sit down and enjoy refreshments.
Create a Community Gathering Space
Small tables or an outdoor breakfast bar or nook may be great for smaller groups of people, but if you’re entertaining more than four or five, a long table can create an attractive, informal -- and social -- dining area. Bright cushions and throws can liven up your deck’s decor, making it even more inviting and a welcoming spot to gather.
Add a Fire Pit for Warmth and Style
Adding a fire pit to your deck can make it easier to enjoy year-round. While many people choose to put a fire pit at the center of their deck and arrange their furniture around it, there are other creative ways to make use of a fire pit as a practical and design element. Consider creating seating areas both further away and closer to the heat, as well as seating for groups of more than one size. This produces an asymmetrical furniture arrangement that is equal parts stylish and distinctive. To balance out the decor, adding string lights or fairy lights to your deck, or even a decorative tree can also create a unique focal point and ambient lighting.
Mix-and-Match
There’s no such thing as one size fits all when it comes to outdoor furniture ideas and seating! Taking a mix-and-match approach can add visual interest, as well as a variety of comfortable places for guests to sit. Mix upright wooden chairs, partially reclined lounging chairs, and weather-resistant padded furniture to maximize your seating and create an eclectic look. Even if your chairs don’t match exactly, using neutral tones -- like white and grey, or other common elements that match -- can create a relaxed look without feeling too all over the place. By choosing a few well-placed seasonal pillows and throws in a bright, contrasting hue, you can tie those mix-and-match pieces together.
No matter what your style and aesthetic may be, there are endless ways to use deck furniture to create a welcoming space that you and your guests will enjoy for years to come.
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Explore Articles by Topic
Footings
Information related to installing frost footings for decks
Framing
Learn structural framing methods
Decking
Learn about wood and composite decking materials
Stairs
An in-depth look at the complex issue of how to build stairs
Railings
How to install guardrails and handrails to meet IRC code
Features
An overview on water drainage, benches, planters and lights
Design
The basics of deck design
Planning
Learn about permits and working with contractors
Porches & Patios
Build a covered deck to enjoy all seasons
Ledger
Proper attachment techniques
Care
Maintain your deck to maintain your investment
Materials
An overview on water drainage, benches, planters and lights