We Tested (and Rated) the Best Outdoor Furniture from 4 Stores — Here’s What’s Worth Your Money
We hate to brag, but our Personal Shopper series is one of the most useful resources when it comes to shopping for furniture online. In case you’re not familiar with the process, we visit your favorite home retailers and view specific categories of furniture and decor. Then, we write shopping guides for each category that detail which sofa, coffee table, bed frame, or rug is right for your space. But if you thought we stopped thinking about the pieces we tested after publishing the guides, you’d be mistaken. After the fact, we like to curate new lists that focus on even more niche categories, like small-space-friendly sofas. With summer coming up, we wanted our next Personal Shopper breakout list to look at outdoor furniture. We combed through our guides and came away with a handful of stylish and durable pieces, and we also included some that we recently viewed at Pottery Barn but haven’t written about yet, so consider this your sneak preview of what’s to come!
Whether you want to add more lounge seating to your patio for outdoor get-togethers or to find a sleek coffee table for the deck, these picks have you covered. Without further ado, here are the best editor-tested outdoor furniture pieces from West Elm, Burrow, Pottery Barn, and Design Within Reach.
30" Monti Coffee Table 30" Monti Coffee Table
You can actually use the Monti table both indoors and outdoors, and it’s lightweight enough to easily transport from the living room to the backyard. We instantly fell in love with its cool concrete construction and rounded lines. It is on the more delicate side, so you’ll just want to make sure to use coasters and try to avoid scratching it — though a couple of scratches might only add to its organic, boho look.
Relay Outdoor 3-Piece Sofa Relay Outdoor 3-Piece Sofa
Like all of Burrow’s sofas, the Relay model is modular, meaning you can add on as many seats as you need. This makes it a great pick for small spaces or those who like to play with their patio layout. We also appreciate the sofa’s quick-drying foam cushions, as well as the fact that you can take it apart for easy storage after summer.
Malibu 33" Metal Platform Modular Outdoor Coffee Table Malibu 33" Metal Platform Modular Outdoor Coffee Table
If you want to outfit your entire outdoor space in one go, Pottery Barn’s Malibu collection is where it’s at. The line includes this powder-coated aluminum table whose cube-like shape will add some structure to your setup. Use it to hold drinks, snacks, magazines, sunglasses, and other items when guests come to visit.
Crosshatch Outdoor Settee Crosshatch Outdoor Settee
Another small-space-friendly find, the Crosshatch settee stuns with its parachute cord backing, which is immune to stretching. Really, this two-seater is sturdy all around thanks to UV-, mildew-, and weather-resistant cushions and an elegant teak frame. We could easily envision it on a terrace surrounded by pretty planters.
Malibu Metal Platform Swivel Outdoor Lounge Chair Malibu Metal Platform Swivel Outdoor Lounge Chair
Another fave from the Pottery Barn’s Malibu collection, this rust-proof chair is big enough to curl up on and looks oh-so sophisticated with its clean lines. Plus, it swivels! You can also choose from a wide variety of cushion colors and thus tailor the chair to your patio’s design aesthetic. As for comfort, we’d describe the lounger’s seat as plush but firm.
Banks Outdoor Chair Banks Outdoor Chair
Perhaps you don’t want a chair with cushions, in which case you could opt for Burrow’s sleek Banks chair. It’s made of powder-coated steel and weather-resistant wicker, and despite its lack of padding, you still get a deep seat and curved backrest. Suffice it to say that you won’t want to get up once seated. Even better still, the chair folds in over itself to take up half the space it does when in use, resulting in compact storage.
Abbott Concrete & Acacia Outdoor Dining Table Abbott Concrete & Acacia Outdoor Dining Table
Outdoor dining tables can often look outdated and prove flimsy against the elements, but that’s certainly not the case with the Abbott table, which boasts a heavy-duty but still refined concrete surface. Beneath that, you get a beautiful acacia wood frame whose thick legs will prove immune to wobbling. The tabletop is also moisture-resistant, so there’s no need to panic if it rains or if you happen to spill something on it.
Sommer Lounge Chair Sommer Lounge Chair
If the Sommer chair weren’t surrounded by other outdoor furniture when we viewed it in-store, we would’ve mistaken it for an indoor accent chair because it’s just that stylish. This seat would look great in a set of two, perhaps with a small side table in between. We can’t help but admire its woven resin cord seat and back and refreshing white-and-tan color scheme.
Bolinas Concrete Outdoor Coffee Table Bolinas Concrete Outdoor Coffee Table
The Bolinas coffee table is adorably compact, but it still manages to make a statement with its half-sphere design and textured exterior. It’s almost small and low enough to use as a side table, and it goes without saying that you’ll want to feature it in all of your aesthetically pleasing home pics. We would highly recommend this piece for outdoor snacking if your space could use a little extra storage.
Terassi Sofa Terassi Sofa
As far as outdoor sofas go, the Terassi has relatively deep seats and an ultrawide frame, which make it perfect for lounging. Its quick-drying foam cushions are also plush without being too voluminous and add a laid-back appeal. What’s more, you’ll love the sofa’s wide plank arms, which come in handy when you need somewhere to set your drink, phone, or sunscreen.
