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The best outdoor furniture 2024: where to buy stylish patio furniture to spruce up your backyard this summer

This is our black book of the very best places to buy outdoor furniture from Wayfair, Target, Pottery Barn and more

best outdoor furniture
(Image credit: Pottery Barn)

As the days get longer and the weather heats up, creating a stylish and comfortable outdoor space becomes a top priority. The very best outdoor furniture combines durability, functionality, and aesthetic appeal to help you turn your garden, patio, or balcony into a space you are proud to show off.

You should know that investing in quality outdoor furniture elevates your backyard experience. Whether you're looking to entertain guests or create a private oasis, our top outdoor furniture picks promise to deliver timeless appeal, statement style, outdoor durability, and year-round practicality, enabling you to extend your living space onto the terrace and beyond.

But finding furniture that fits your budget and style isn't always easy. Thankfully, I've covered interiors and gardening for years now, so I know a thing or two about bringing patio furniture ideas to life. Plus, I'm currently doing up my own garden, so this is a personal mission, too. So I'm leaning on all my insider knowledge to simplify your shopping and help you avoid making the most common outdoor furniture mistakes.

Here, I've compiled my expertise and hours of research to bring you the most comprehensive edit of where to shop for garden furniture in 2024. Some of the best-known brands are here (Wayfair, Target, Lowes), as well as some of your favorite fashion-forward brands (Lulu & Georgia, Serena & Lily, McGee & Co.) and a few new faces, too. Let's dive in.

Best Outdoor Furniture 2024

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While everything on our list is comfortable, stylish, and well-made, what makes the best outdoor furniture for you depends on how you plan to use your space. Are you looking to host al fresco dinners? Or simply looking to create a coffee spot for two?

Browse the sections below to shop everything from compact bistro sets to family-sized dining tables and statement furniture pieces that marry comfort, style, and longevity to style up your garden this summer.

Best outdoor table and chair furniture sets

The most essential outdoor furniture is a table and chair set. They're a cost-effective way to get your garden ready for entertaining. You could stick to wooden outdoor furniture, which is a classic for a reason, or branch out into aluminum and steel sets.

Best bistro sets

Bistro sets are the best outdoor furniture for small spaces: all you need is a little side table and a couple of chairs. They're designed for patios and balconies, but are also perfect for porches and verandas.

Best wicker and rattan outdoor furniture

As you shop around, you'll see retailers and designers use both terms refer to the same style of woven furniture. Wicker is a type of weave. You make it by weaving pliable plant matter like rattan or bamboo over and under hard canes to make a shape. Rattan is a material used in wicker-style furniture.

In the same way a house and bricks aren't identical, nor are wicker and rattan. Wicker furniture can be made of rattan, and rattan can be used to make wicker furniture, but they aren't the same. Whichever term is used, the overall effect is a classic style of lightweight, rot-resistant outdoor furniture.

Best metal outdoor furniture

Metal outdoor furniture is unfairly maligned. While expensive, wrought-iron furniture is incredibly hard-wearing and can last generations given the proper care. On the other end of the scale, aluminum is lightweight, cheap, and naturally rust-resistant, so is a great option if you're on a budget.

Best outdoor sofas and sectionals

Outdoor sofas instantly elevate a social space. They bring all the creature comforts of your living room out into the sun. A good outdoor sectional means you can host dinner and drinks on plush, comfortable seating that doesn't compromise on comfort. Once considered the height of luxury, you can now find outdoor sofas at competitive prices.

Where to buy outdoor furniture

If these options aren't working for you, but you know it's time to replace your outdoor furniture, you might just be inspired by one of our favorite outdoor furniture brands. From household names to luxury picks, these stores stock the very best.

McGee & Co.

mcgee and co outdoor furniture

(Image credit: McGee & Co)

Delivering the perfect balance between classic and contemporary design, McGee and Co.'s outdoor furniture collection hits just the right note whether you're furnishing an outdoor living area in a modern urban setting, or a more formal patio. There are ranges of rustic yet elegant teak wood, wicker lounge sets with understated detail, and sculptural dining and coffee tables that are made to take centerstage and elevate your backyard set-up at any outdoor gathering.

For their Summer 2024 collection, founder Shea McGee wanted to create stripes, shade, and a spot to set your drink for a resort-like feel in your own backyard. Read all about her inspiration for the collection here.

Target

target outdoor furniture

(Image credit: Target)

If you shop smart, there's some great finds at Target. On-trend designs meet appealing price tags for value that luxury brands can't match. We're particularly impressed by the brand's collaborations with some of the most popular names on the interior design scene, including the Studio McGee Threshold collection for Target which offers the design studio's signature laidback yet luxe style on a budget, and the bold and vibrant Opalhouse collection in collaboration with Justina Blakeney's Jungalow.

Wayfair

wayfair outdoor furniture

(Image credit: Wayfair)

Wayfair is another excellent place for budget-friendly furniture. It has an enormous range of outdoor furniture and this breadth of stock means plenty of different styles. No matter your garden aesthetic, there'll be something on Wayfair to match it. In my time covering outdoor furniture, I've found that Wayfair really excels with accessories like fire pits and patio umbrellas, but their range of true furniture has plenty of gems.

Joss & Main

joss and main

(Image credit: Joss & Main)

Joss & Main's outdoor furniture collection offers options for most budgets, with teak investment pieces that are built for outdoor durability and more affordable acacia wood and eucalyptus outdoor sofas and dining sets, alongside plenty of wicker options. The collection strikes just the right balance between classic and contemporary, offering a great selection of timeless outdoor pieces with simple shapes and strong silhouettes that will work in a whole host of styles of backyard.

Serena & Lily

serena and lily outdoor furniture

(Image credit: Serena & Lily)

If you're dreaming of a coastal look, whether you're within earshot of the ocean or not, then Serena & Lily is our first port of call for light and neutral beachy vibes combined with timeless grandeur and sea-spray resistant materials. Elegant wicker lounge and bistro sets, tailored outdoor upholstered sofas and swivel chairs, and statement dining tables deliver understated luxe with a laidback attitude.

Pottery Barn

pottery barn outdoor furniture

(Image credit: Pottery Barn)

Offering a strong mix of timeless aluminum-framed rattan lounge sets, contemporary Adirondack chairs and dining sets, and a mix of more affordable hardwood acacia and mahogany patio furniture alongside super durable teak options, Pottery Barn has pretty much every base covered with 2024's outdoor furniture collection. And even better, the brand's stylish designs come in at some refreshingly good value price points.

Anthropologie

anthropologie outdoor furniture

(Image credit: Anthropologie)

If you're looking to create a dreamy Bohemian paradise in your outside space, then Anthropologie definitely has the outdoor furniture for you. From opulent daybeds in vivid color palettes to cozy hammocks in earthy neutrals, there are a wide variety of designs and styles to choose from. Ideal if you want to style your outside space with rich texture and color, Anthropologie furniture designs are guaranteed to make a stylish statement.

How to choose outdoor furniture

It may sound obvious, but the best outdoor furniture for you will be furniture that suits your lifestyle. There's no point investing in a cute-and-compact bistro table and chairs if you regularly entertain large numbers, for example.

In fact, if you love entertaining then you might want to opt for a large trestle table that has room to accommodate plenty of guests or a spacious sectional sofa and armchairs that give everyone plenty of room to relax.

If the backyard is the place you retreat to for some quiet rest and relaxation, consider a comfortable chaise lounger, take a cue from our front porch ideas and invest in one of the best Adirondack chairs for some secluded seating, or group a small number of outdoor chairs together to create a more intimate seating area.

If you prefer to gravitate towards the pool, then easily maneuverable chaise loungers and quick-drying water-resistant fabrics will be paramount – our pool ideas page can give you some inspiration for luxury poolside styling.

Outdoor Furniture FAQs

What's the best wood for outdoor furniture?

Teak

Teak is the hardest, most durable hardwood. This is perfect for outdoor furniture, as it means that teak won't rot or warp in the rain. Even if it's untreated, it will last for years. However, we don't recommend it unless it has come from Indonesia. Teak from Myanmar is sanctioned by the US, UK, and EU, and teak labeled being from China and India is often teak from Myanmar passed off as something else.

Acacia

Acacia is a more budget-friendly option than teak. It's still hardwood, so it's good for outdoor furniture, but it may not last as long as teak.

What is wicker furniture?

Contrary to popular belief, wicker isn't a type of material. It's a type of weave. Wicker furniture is traditionally made from rattan, a type of plant fiber, or from bamboo or willow.

These days, however, most wicker furniture is polywicker or polyrattan, a wicker weave made with polyurethane. This plastic furniture is waterproof and great value, but not the most environmentally friendly.

Is aluminum furniture good?

Aluminum is an inexpensive, lightweight, but strong material for outdoor furniture. Aluminum also doesn't rust, so it's great for damper climates. However, it can feel a little cheap, and it isn't well-suited to more traditional gardens.

Final thoughts

Once you've invested in a set of the best outdoor furniture, it's important to take good care of it. It's worth learning how to clean outdoor furniture at home to get rid of grime and keep cobwebs at bay.

The best outdoor furniture is designed for year-round use. With that said, you might not want to sit outside during a snowstorm. If you're keen to store your furniture during the colder months, be sure to avoid the most common outdoor furniture storage mistakes people make in winter.

Alex David
Head of eCommerce

As Head of eCommerce, Alex makes sure our readers find the right information to help them make the best purchase. After graduating from Cambridge University, Alex got his start in reviewing at the iconic Good Housekeeping Institute, testing a wide range of household products and appliances. He then moved to BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, assessing gardening tools, machinery, and wildlife products. Helping people find true quality and genuine value is a real passion.

With contributions from