Design Rules to Break: Using Matching Furniture Outdoors
via McGee & Co.*
As we turn our eyes toward spring and spending more time outdoors, that means it’s time to start thinking about how to decorate our outdoor spaces! Whether it’s a tiny balcony, a screen porch, or a big backyard patio, getting some furniture out there to enjoy it is key.
If you’ve spent any time looking at outdoor furniture, you’ve probably noticed that a lot of it comes in sets that match. You might be wondering, is that ok? Is outdoor furniture supposed to match? I thought we didn’t buy “sets” of furniture anymore!
When it comes to buying furniture for your interior spaces, I tend to discourage buying furniture as a matching set, but when it comes to outdoor spaces, it’s the opposite. I tend to encourage it, in fact! And while every piece doesn’t need to be part of the same set, it’s important to have some unifying elements that really tie them all together - it should have consistent materials, styles, finishes, heights, etc.
Why is that? Why would the rules change based on whether you’re buying for indoors vs. out?
Well, when it comes to outdoor furniture, you want to think about the environment around it. Outdoor spaces tend to have a lot of colors, textures, and “wildness” to them, so you can think of your furniture as a way to unify everything and give your eye a place to rest. Using matching pieces (or at least ones with a similar style and profile), are a great way to do that. Rugs, pillows, and other decorative accessories are a good way to break up the look of a set while keeping things cohesive overall.
via Target
Throughout today’s post you’ll see some great examples of how this can be done well using matching seating sets. There are some really great ones out there these days (many at affordable price points!). You can create a beautiful, comfortable outdoor living room with these sets that feels anything but boring or overly “matchy matchy.” Take a look!
Then, at the end, I’ll share a roundup of some of my favorite furniture sets. It may seem early to shop for outdoor furniture depending on where you live (it may be a few months before you’re basking in the warm sunshine!), but right now you’ll have the best selection.
If you want to elevate the look of your outdoor furniture - no matter your budget - and make it feel like a true outdoor room, here are a few quick tips:
Look for pieces with thick cushions and deeper seats. This automatically gives your furniture a higher end look and it’s more comfortable!
If you have space, go for a full size sofa + two chairs, or sectional + chairs rather than a two-seater loveseat + chairs.
Opt for simple, streamlined silhouettes.
Choose an outdoor rug that looks like an indoor rug. Shop for it as if you’re picking it for your interior. There are so many beautiful outdoor rugs in great patterns these days that have the look and feel of an indoor rug. Go big too - make sure at least the front feet of your furniture sit on top of it.
Add some throw pillows! They add instant coziness and add personality to break up the look of a set.
Break up the matching seating with some side tables and/or coffee tables that have a different look to them. For example, if you have teak wood furniture, try a woven wicker coffee table or concrete-look accent tables.
via Cottonwood & Co.
If you’d like to go a slightly different direction to break up a matching set, two good options are to either choose a coffee table/ottoman that has a different look to it, or mix in a different set of chairs with an outdoor sofa. The easiest way to make sure it still feels cohesive is to choose the same finish, general style, and scale.
Here’s a good example of that from a patio design by Pencil & Paper Co.:
via Style Me Pretty
Now onto some sources for some great furniture sets to create your own beautiful outdoor living room!
A lot of these have different options for configurations, so if you see something you like, check to see what pieces are available in that line. You may find some different options for cushion fabrics as well. These should get you started in your search!
*Affiliate links used here, which means Mix & Match Design Company earns a small commission from your purchase as no cost to you.