Jon Bernthal Creates a Memory-Defining Veranda Moment with a Nostalgic Rocking Chair and Wicker Couch – it's Inviting and Incredibly Low Effort

His look is all about comfort and homeliness, rather than designer perfection

Jon Bernthal
(Image credit: Getty Images (Photo by Charles SykesVariety via Getty Images))

A wraparound veranda might be the American Dream, but Jon Bernthal has taken this much-coveted home feature and given it the most relaxed and homely aesthetic, with a feature chair and a wicker couch. The rocking chair, which his daughter Adeline sits in, as the pair enjoy some acoustic music, performed by a friend and musician, Luke Borchelt.

Far from feeling staged or overly styled, the actor's choice of outdoor furniture for his veranda is all about comfort, warmth, and creating memory-defining moments. I've rounded up some similar furniture for a Jon Bernthal-style veranda below, as well as some tips from the experts about how to bring a natural ease to your outdoor space.

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Outdoor Furniture Inspired by Jon Bernthal's Veranda

Watching the sun set of an evening with family, friends, and perhaps a drink in hand on a veranda, could be the perfect depiction of life's simplest pleasures in a modern world where we're bombarded by noise. And the best outdoor chairs can play a big part in creating that relaxing aesthetic.

Mike Fretto, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Neighbor explains how: 'A rocking chair and a wicker sofa both carry some history. They’re often found on front porches, sunrooms, and other outdoor spaces meant for slowing down. They are fixtures that are almost ingrained in us, so this familiarity instantly signals comfort.'

There's certainly something about a rocking chair that is innately relaxing – whether it's the gentle movement that transports us to the childhood comfort of being rocked in our mother's arms, or the simple act of sitting and taking a moment for ourselves. It's something of an iconic front porch furniture idea that we've likely all seen in the movies, or that conjures a familiar real-life memory. 'A rocking chair is personal and singular. It’s all about one person, one rhythm,' adds Mike. 'By contrast, a wicker sofa is more social and plural.'

Jon Bernthal's combination of these two contrasting seating styles brings together their common ground. 'They both represent slowing down and lingering and work together to create a comfortable space that visually doesn’t feel over-designed, as long as you resist the urge to overstyle. Let the materials – and in this case, perhaps the nostalgia – do the work,' suggests Mike.

This simplicity in styling is crucial when creating an outdoor space that is truly designed for downtime. 'These pieces, along with some throw pillows and a small side table or coffee table, are usually enough,' advises Mike. 'The more you add, the more you risk losing the sensibility that makes these pieces appealing in the first place.' He warns that this is one of the easiest outdoor furniture mistakes to make. 'This is where a lot of folks get tripped up. The best outdoor spaces, in my opinion, are the ones that people settle into without overthinking it.'


Don't be tempted to over-style your nostalgic moment – just a few key furniture pieces, in the style of Jon Bernthal, will be enough – but you may be interested in how to light a veranda to maintain that sense of calm and relaxing ambiance, without exposing your privacy to neighbors and passers by.

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Katrina Harper-Lewis
Head of Living

Katrina is Head of Living at Homes & Gardens, covering hosting and entertaining, seasonal styling ideas, sleep and wellbeing, along with a highly experienced team of writers and reviewers. With more than 15 years' experience in lifestyle content, Katrina was previously an editor at luxury lifestyle platform, Muddy Stilettos, has been a features writer at Sainsbury's magazine and has also written for a wealth of other food and lifestyle titles including Ideal Home, Waitrose Food, John Lewis' Edition and The Home Page. Katrina is passionate about heritage style and lives in a 100-year old cottage in rural Hertfordshire, where she enjoys finding creative ways to live and host stylishly.