Timothee Chalamet Showcases an Iconic Outdoor Chair Style That Creates a Monochrome Garden Moment – it's Cozier Than You'd Think (and so Achievable)
Sculptural forms, indoor palettes, and functional furniture bring together an unexpectedly comforting outdoor scheme
All eyes have been on Timothee Chalamet recently with the news of Dune 3 being released on 18 December 2026 and for his recognitions this awards season – he missed out on an Oscar last week but bagged his first Golden Globe for Best Male Actor earlier this year. Therefore, we couldn't help noticing the below Instagram post of him clutching an award, away from the red carpets, and in his natural habitat.
With his Spotlight Award from the 37th Palm Springs International Film Festival for his role in Marty Supreme, firmly in hand, Timothee relaxes on an iconic butterfly-style garden chair, one of a few that are set up around a firepit, creating an inviting, yet contemporary outdoor look.
Article continues belowShop Timothee Chalamet's Monochrome Garden Look
With a lightweight, powder-coated steel frame and an industrial grade canvas sling, these chairs are made to order in the US and you can choose from a whole spectrum of colors if monochrome isn't your bag.
Also available in white (and beige and green), this handy tray table is made from lightweight powder-coated steel, and the removable tray will make serving drinks and snacks to the garden a breeze.
In a contemporary silhouette with a powder-coated steel bowl, this firepit leans into the modern monochrome look and is heat, UV, and weather-resistant to ensure longevity for plenty of outdoor gatherings.
Switch up the durable canvas for leather for a chic look – you'll just have to store it indoors when not in use. It comes in black or white, as well as some other shades, so you can pick your preferred monochrome shade.
This modern monochrome silhouette is designed for indoor use but would work equally well outdoors on a sunny day or balmy evening. The size is also just right for morning coffee to evening aperitifs.
This black-and-white planter plays perfectly into the monochrome garden furniture look and would look particularly striking filled with a small structural palm or other spiny-leafed plant for contrast.
What struck me first about this image – other than the gleaming award and Timothee's youthful appearance (perhaps it's the loose-fitting suit, or maybe the new super-short hairstyle that has rolled back the years!) – is the iconic style of the chair he's sitting on. The BFK chair (or butterfly chair, as it's commonly known - get the look with this butterfly sling chair from Steele) was designed in the 1930's by a trio of architects, called Antonio Bonet, Juan Kurchan, and Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy, whose initials gave the style its acronymic name. Thanks to its uniquely shaped steel frame, upon which a fabric sling fits, the BFK chair is designed for relaxing, making it some of the best outdoor furniture for a quiet corner.
'What makes the BFK Chair so iconic is how little it relies upon design-wise,' says Mike Fretto, Co-Founder and Creative Director of outdoor furniture company, Neighbor. 'It’s fairly simple – a sling of material suspended on a minimal frame, but the silhouette does most of the heavy-lifting. It signals comfort thanks to its slouched posture and doesn’t feel overly designed or bulky.'
This relaxed aesthetic, in turn, has a strong influence on the best place to position a piece like this. Mike continues: 'BFK chairs are best used as a secondary seating accent – somewhere a little more relaxed and tucked away. Maybe the edge of a patio, near a fire pit, potted plant, or under a tree. They're perfect for creating a more casual, loungy vibe.'
This is exactly the look created in the photo Timothee Chalamet shared, and the combination of the chairs with a matching monochrome side table (Target's has a similar look), around a warming firepit (this one from Birch Lane is ideal), make you immediately want to be transported there (s'mores, optional). 'These silhouettes are familiar, more modern forms we tend to see indoors, typically in a more design-forward setting,' says Mike. 'When you bring this outdoors, it instantly takes on that tone. It starts to feel intentionally styled, rather than defaulting to traditional outdoor furniture'.
The monochrome color palette might not feel like an instinctive choice for outdoor furniture, but in this case, it works to blur the boundaries between indoors and out. 'We are constantly inspired by a more restrained, monochromatic palette. A black metal frame with neutral colors – tans, creams, light grays – looks really considered and timeless against the earth tones of a garden,' Mike adds.
From a practical point of view, the BFK style and matching pieces in lightweight metal designs with durable fabrics and materials are a no-brainer. It's a happy coincidence that these styles are usually available in a monochrome palette. Mike agrees: 'It’s this simplicity that makes these pieces ideal for outdoors. They're easy to pick up and move around, and won’t visually compete with surrounding elements like other furniture or landscaping. For the sling, I’d look for something durable and weather-resistant that will hold up well outdoors but feel comfortable enough to use indoors, too.'
Whatever elements you may decide to borrow from this Timothee Chalamet-approved look, whether the whole scheme, a monochrome palette or a single BFK chair for a considered garden moment, Mike concludes: 'BFK Chairs are so iconic and sculptural. All of those ingredients can make a small corner of your garden feel designed rather than decorated.'
We love this backyard idea showcased by Timothee Chalamet, and it just takes a little out-of-the-box thinking to bring indoor furniture styles – like that iconic BFK chair – and monochrome hues outside for a striking and design-led look.
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