A Guide To Coordinating Your Outdoor Patio Furniture

Pictured: Enchanting Shores Flexible Outdoor Sectional

There are myriad ways to create a dreamy alfresco retreat you'll love to live and lounge in regardless of if you live in an urban condo or a sprawling suburban home. Having an outdoor space is a definite luxury that serves as a private oasis from the bustle of everyday life. As an extension of your home, your outdoor patio space should be designed with comfort and care conducive to relaxing, dining and entertaining throughout the warmer months. This is, of course, dependent on choosing the right furniture best suited to your outdoor space. While endless outdoor patio furniture options can feel overwhelming, this guide will offer up inspiration to help you choose the right pieces for your space.

Pictured: Fiji White Sands 3 pc Patio Set

The One With The Small City Balcony

Making the most of the space you have is the guiding ethos behind furnishing a small patio or balcony. After all, a lavish rooftop garden or lush backyard is often not a reality for most condo or apartment dwellers. An important first step, especially if you're re-decorating from scratch, is to take measurements of your space to understand what you've got to work with. Following this, it's important to think about what the primary use of this space will be and furnish it accordingly. If you're looking to create a dining area, you may consider opting for a folding table and chair set à la Parisienne bistro style. If you're looking to curate a cozy oasis perfect for lounging, opt for a cushioned bench with built-in storage, a small chaise or sofa with a slim profile, or large floor pillows. Regardless of what you decide, you can easily tie your space together with a small rug, a string of fairy lights and throw pillows and blankets. Be mindful, however, that any furniture and decorative pieces you install will be exposed to the elements and should be weather-proof. If not, a simple furniture cover will do the trick.

Pictured: Caribbean Shores Dining Table

The One With The Backyard Patio

Perfect for spending quality time with family and friends for a barbecue, a backyard patio presents both a cozy and functional outdoor space. The trick to maximizing your space is to create a flexible, multi-purpose layout that's conducive to dining, entertaining and relaxing. A large sofa accompanied by club chairs and accent tables provides an intimate spot for lounging and conversations, while a large dining table and chairs offer the ideal spot for gatherings. Opt for light furniture that's easy to move around should you need to rearrange your layout, and ensure to keep an open area in the middle of your patio to allow flow between your home and your lawn. Whether you opt for wooden pieces with rattan accents, or glass-and-metal combinations is up to you and your personal style. Whatever your decision, ensure that materials are weather and rust-proof and that any upholstery is done in outdoor-appropriate fabric.

Pictured: Kofi 3-Piece Outdoor Sectional - Grey

The One With The Wooden Deck

While patios and decks are similar, decks are typically made of wood (or a wood composite material), are attached to your home and are built above ground level requiring stairs and railings. Typically an extension of a kitchen, decks are floating rooms (often with a view) that operate as an everything space: a dining area, alfresco entertaining area, and a breakfast nook, amongst others. They can be large or small, and your furniture choices should reflect this. Much like a patio, creating a multi-functional space is key to ensuring you maximize your deck space. Opt for a comfortable dining table with leaves and sofa, or a collection of loungers to create a space ideal for dining and relaxing. Stick to furniture on the lighter side (both in material and colour) and refrain from wooden pieces that risk clashing with your deck. You may consider an open metal console table (that has been powder-coated to prevent rust) and a rattan or synthetic wicker sofa that's plush and comfy.

Pictured: Ixtapa 5-Piece Patio Package

The One With The Townhouse Backyard

It can be difficult to find inspiration to furnish the long and narrow space of a townhouse backyard, ensuring you have areas that are both distinct from one another and from your home itself. Create a dining area closest to your home so you can easily shuttle food and drinks to and from your kitchen. A large dining table, or one with extendable leaves, with comfortable chairs and a grill offer the ideal set-up for this zone. Moving down the yard, adding in benches or pairs of chairs under a tree or next to a planter create cozy spots ideal for alone-time or conversations with loved ones. Cast-iron or aluminum benches work well for this, and can easily evoke a peaceful park setting. Opt for a large, plush sofa and accent club chairs and a table for the end of your backyard to create a comfortable and intimate lounge spot that's separate from the rest of your outdoor space. You likely have some space with which to play, so you can opt for furnishings that are more substantial.

Pictured: Park Place Metro Loveseat

The One With The Pool

Nothing beckons the lazy, hazy days of summer quite like a pool. Its surrounding patio provides the ideal locale for lively conversation and dining while sun or moonlight shimmers off the water. Your patio design should sit at the intersection of fun and functional to allow for poolside lounging and dining, meaning, each side of your patio should serve a specific purpose. A good rule of thumb is to use the longer sides for rows of chaises, loungers and umbrellas. Whereas the shorter sides should remain reserved for dining and conversation areas. Don't be afraid to make use of large and substantial pieces to fill up your space made of cast-iron or aluminum, wicker or rattan. Your outdoor furnishings should complement those in your interior, and with a wide variety of outdoor materials and fabrics from which to choose, you're sure to find a collection of pieces that suits the aesthetic of your home. As with all outdoor spaces, accessories such as umbrellas, and throw pillows and blankets can be used to add (in this case, literal) splashes of colour and design.

With warmer weather already upon us, there's no doubt you'll want to spend every possible minute outdoors. Between alfresco dining and lounging with family and friends, outdoor living is a luxury available to everyone who has even the smallest of balconies. Understanding the amount of space with which you have to work, and choosing pieces that complement both your space, personal taste, and budget are essential to ensuring you dine, lounge and live in comfort and style throughout the summer.