Outdoor Furniture Styles and Designs

Furniture design and history are fascinating subjects. Today, there are many beautiful styles and designs of garden furniture out there. New durable materials are available and there are less construction and design limitations than ever. While classics like the chaise lounge and Adirondack chair are still quite popular, there are many unique outdoor furniture styles to explore. Here, we’ll look at some of the most common styles of garden and outdoor furniture. We’ll explore both modern and classic outdoor furniture styles.

If you’d like to share anything about the history of garden furniture or design, let us know by leaving a comment!

Adirondack Chairs:

History

The Adirondack chair is a popular piece of outdoor furniture with a unique design. It is one of the few pieces of furniture out there with a specific name based on its design. Most outdoor furniture names are pretty generic. For example, there’s the table, chair, picnic table, etc. But not the Adirondack chair! It has a really cool name with a fascinating history.

This unique chair (also called the Muskoka chair by our neighbors to the north), is thought to be based on a design by Thomas Lee from 1903. Thomas Lee and his family enjoyed vacationing during the summers in Westport, New York, near Lake Champlain. Lee decided to create his own comfortable outdoor furniture for these visits. The name “Muskoka” is a region in Ontario that is popular with outdoor enthusiasts. I guess Mr. Lee must have sold his secret design to the Canadians during the Cold War, or maybe I’m getting my history a little mixed up. Anyway, who knows how those crazy Canadians gave it that name!

Anyway, lets’ move on!

Supposedly, the first design was made from a single wooden board cut into eleven pieces. It was positioned at a slight angle so that it would work well with the terrain of that region. The wide arm rests were are also an original design feature. Although there are many kinds of chairs with wide arm rests, many people associate this feature with the Adirondack chair.

While the original Adirondack was thought to have a straight back, modern designs often include more curves.

Lee called his first design the “Westport plan chair.” He gave the design to a carpenter in Westport named Harry Bunnell. It appears that Mr. Bunnell was a little strapped for cash and thought that the chair would be a great way to make money. So, he filed for a got the patent in 1905, and made a batch of “Westport Chairs” out of hemlock and basswood. I’m not sure what happened to Mr. Lee, but he was indeed the first one to come up with the design.

You can see Adirondack chairs in many different settings these days, on the beach, on the patio of your local café, and of course, in your neighbor’s yard. Heck, I just went for a walk and saw several in my neighborhood! They’re great for setting food on, relaxing with a book and a smoke, reading the newspaper, nude sunbathing, etc.

If you’d like more info on the Adirondack chair, here’s where to look:

Miriam Ellis wrote an interesting article about the history of the Adirondack chair. You can read it here.

Wikipedia also has an entry on the Adirondack chair.

Folding Chairs

Folding chairs are handy portable furniture that you can use for when company arrives, or when you go with your family to a picnic. There are many different kinds, many with metal frames and plastic type backings and seats. Folding canvas “director’s chairs” are ideal for using outdoors but won’t do well when kept out in the sun and rain for long periods of time.

Chaise Lounges and Long Chairs

These comfortable chairs are great for lounging on the beach or in your backyard. The main feature that makes a chair a chaise lounge is the fact they are long enough to put your legs up on. The outdoor versions typically don’t have upholstering, although some have cushions.

“Deck Chairs” are another kind of long chair. The name comes from the fact that they were often used on a ship’s deck. I have read that a simple folding deck chair design may have existed as early as the mid 19th Century.

Please see this furniture design website for some great photos and drawings of early deck chair designs.

Rocking Chairs

A rocking chair on your patio is a great way to cool off on a warm summer day. If you have a covered patio, a rocking chair made from wood and natural fibers will hold up to the rain, sun, and wind. If you place your rocking chair away from shelter, make sure it is made from a durable weatherproof material.

DesignBoom.com has a very interesting website with photos and drawings of different rocking chair designs. They also talk a bit about rocking chair history.

Ottomans

Ottomans are a great patio furniture accessory. According to Wikipedia, an ottoman is an unattached piece of furniture that can be padded or not, that does not have arms and that serves mostly as a kind of footstool. Many patio and lounge chairs come with an ottoman stool, which is a great way to kick up your feet and relax. You can also use an ottoman much like a side table.

Seat and Bench Cushions

Cushions are a good way to increase comfort, but can end up looking tattered, faded or stained after long exposure to the elements. Purchase water repellent poly acrylics, which will hold up to the sun and rain better than other fabrics. They are also resistant to mildew.

The filling of cushions is also important. Polyester is the best. Make sure there is some way that the cushions can drain out rain water and dry out.

Please see this website from the Michigan State University Extension Service for tips on buying and taking care of outdoor furniture cushions.

Remember, a cushion may look great in the store but colors may fade in the sun. If you use seat or bench cushions, make sure to clean them regularly and store them during the winter and prolonged periods of bad weather.

Outdoor Bars, Bar Chairs and Tables

Outdoor bars are an excellent way to enjoy the outdoors. They are also great for hosting parties. You can build an outdoor bar yourself out of tile, brick, concrete, wood, etc. If you have an outdoor bar, you can choose to get a set of sturdy weatherproof bar chairs.

Pick a durable material depending on if your bar is in a covered, shaded area or an exposed area. If your bar is partially covered, you can get wooden chairs that are untreated wood. If your bar is uncovered, a more weather resistant material is recommended.

An alternative to a large bar that can also be a less expensive option is to buy a smaller, elevated table and a couple of bar chairs.

Tables

There are many different designs of outdoor tables. Many tables are small and are about the height of a chair so that you can sit comfortably and use your table to hold drinks, a book, etc.

Adirondack chairs are a great piece of furniture because they have wide arms that double as tables. Picnic tables and round patio tables are also very popular designs.

What table you choose for your yard largely depends on the space you have and what you’d like to use it for. A picnic table is ideal for a large family who likes to enjoy summertime meals together. Smaller patio tables are great for couples. A patio chair and side table combination is perfect for a single person who likes to read and relax outdoors.

Tables with Parasols

A design typical of outdoor furniture is a table with a built in parasol (umbrella) to help shade the table. Some tables have very large parasols, others have a smaller parasol.

When you’re looking for tables with parasols, I would recommend getting a very heavy, sturdy table, and a parasol that is easy to fold down and store. You may find yourself in a situation where winds pick up and you’ll need to store your parasol as quickly as possibly or risk damage. I prefer the look and feel of canvas parasols but there are many different materials out there to choose from.

Whatever you decide, look for something heavy, durable, and easy to store. My friend recently bought a huge parasol that she has trouble folding because it is difficult to reach and is quite heavy. It provides lots of shade, but for maintenance, it’s a little impractical.

Another nice feature to look for is parasols that you can rotate and tilt at an angle so that you can keep your table shaded as the sun moves throughout the day.

Benches and Love Seats

A strategically placed garden bench can create a comfortable place for you and a loved one to curl up together and enjoy the outdoors. Wrought iron and wood park style benches are a great pick.

Remember to consider comfort when choosing a bench! Look for benches with sturdy backs and plenty of space for two people. Many benches on the market are more decorative than functional so make sure to test them out first before you buy!

Benches can come with or without arm rests. Benches with arm rests make it easier to read, lounge, etc.