How to Choose Patio Furniture: Space, Materials, Comfort and Care Guide

Here's how to choose patio furniture without regretting it next season: measure your outdoor space and decide what you'll actually do out there (eat, lounge, sunbathe, sit round a fire), pick materials that suit your weather, make sure every seat is comfortable for more than ten minutes, and plan where the cushions go when it rains. Looks come last. The best patio set is the one that gets used every warm evening, not the one that looks good in a photo and ends up under a tarp.

We sell outdoor furniture at Easy Life Markets, from folding Adirondack chairs and a wicker chaise lounge to a gas fire pit table, a freestanding patio swing and a 200 gallon deck box. This guide walks through space planning, materials, comfort, shade, fire safety, storage and care, then shows which of our pieces fit which kind of garden, balcony or terrace. Where we rely on an outside fact, we link to the source so you can check it.

What This Guide Covers

• How to choose patio furniture: the quick checklist
• Plan your space and how you'll use it
• Materials: wicker, wood, steel and fabric
• Comfort: seats, cushions and loungers
• Shade and umbrellas
• Fire pit tables and gas safety
• Storage and protecting your furniture
• The outdoor furniture we sell
• Frequently asked questions

How to Choose Patio Furniture: The Quick Checklist

1. Space: measure the area and leave room to walk around and pull chairs out.
2. Use: dining, lounging, sunbathing, gathering round a fire, or a quiet corner for one?
3. Climate: strong sun, heavy rain, wind, salt air or frost all change the right material.
4. Comfort: seat height, depth and cushions matter as much outdoors as indoors.
5. Shade: plan an umbrella or shelter for hot afternoons.
6. Storage: decide where cushions and small pieces go in bad weather and over winter.
7. Weight and movement: heavier pieces resist wind; wheels and folding frames make moving easy.
8. Assembly: check what arrives flat-packed and how long it takes to build.

The rest of this guide goes through each point properly.

Plan Your Space and How You'll Use It

Most mistakes in how to choose patio furniture happen before anyone looks at a product: people buy for the space they imagine, not the one they have.

Measure First

• Measure the usable area, not the whole patio. Subtract steps, doors that open outwards, drains, planters and the barbecue.
• Mark where the sun falls in the morning, afternoon and evening. A seat in full afternoon sun gets very little use in summer.
• Note where the wind comes from. Exposed corners need heavier furniture and a sturdier umbrella base.
• Check the ground. Gravel, lawn and decking each behave differently under chair legs and wheels.

Leave Room to Move

Leave a clear path from the door to the garden, room to walk behind chairs, and space to stretch your legs out from a lounger. As with indoor rooms, the spacing rules in our living room layout guide are a good starting point: you want a walkway that doesn't make people turn sideways, and a table within easy reach of every seat.

Decide on Zones

Bigger outdoor spaces work best split into zones, the same way an open-plan room does:

• A lounge zone with a sofa or chairs, a low table and maybe a fire table.
• A sun zone with loungers on the sunniest stretch.
• A quiet zone with a hammock chair, swing or a single Adirondack in a corner.
• A storage zone with a deck box or storage bench near the door.

Balconies and Small Patios

In a small space, how to choose patio furniture comes down to scale and doing more than one job. A storage bench gives you seating and a place for clutter. Folding chairs come in when you need them and go flat against a wall when you don't. A small table like our 30.75 inch wicker coffee table with a glass top holds drinks without taking over. On a balcony, also check any rules your building has about weight, open flames and items over the railing.

Materials: Wicker, Wood, Steel and Fabric

Material is the biggest decision in how to choose patio furniture, because it decides how the furniture copes with sun, rain and time. There's no single best material, only the best match for your weather and how much maintenance you're happy to do.

PE Rattan and Resin Wicker

Most modern "wicker" outdoor furniture is woven from a synthetic polyethylene (PE) strand over a metal frame, rather than natural rattan or cane, which don't like being left out in the rain. PE wicker is light, easy to wipe down and doesn't splinter. Quality varies with the thickness of the strand and the frame beneath it. Our wicker chaise lounge, two-person wicker Adirondack chair, rattan storage bench and wicker coffee table all use woven wicker or PE rattan over a frame.

Wood

Wood looks warm and natural and stays cooler to the touch in the sun than metal. It needs more care: an occasional clean, and oil or sealant depending on the finish. Our folding wooden Adirondack chairs and the carbonized brown wooden patio swing are wooden pieces. The Adirondack chair itself has a long history: Wikipedia notes it was invented by Thomas Lee between 1900 and 1903 in Westport, New York, and the low, sloping seat and wide arms have stayed popular ever since.

Steel, Galvanised Steel and Powder Coating

Steel frames are strong and stable, which helps in wind. Bare steel rusts, so outdoor steel is usually galvanised, powder-coated or both. The Galvanizers Association, the trade body for hot dip galvanizing in the UK and Ireland, explains that a zinc coating protects steel in two ways: it forms a barrier against air and moisture, and zinc corrodes in preference to the steel, so a scratch doesn't automatically mean rust spreading underneath. Paint on its own doesn't do that, which is why chips in a painted frame should be touched up quickly. Our two-person wicker Adirondack chair lists a galvanised steel frame, the 200 gallon deck box galvanized steel panels, and the hammock chair stand and folding tanning chair powder-coated steel.

Glass Tops

Tempered glass is tougher than ordinary glass and breaks into small pieces rather than sharp shards. Our wicker coffee table has a tempered glass top about 5 mm (0.2 inches) thick. Glass is easy to wipe clean, but in very windy spots secure the top or bring it in during storms.

Outdoor Fabrics and Cushions

Cushions make outdoor seating comfortable, but they're the part that suffers most. Look for removable, zipped covers you can wash, and plan to bring cushions in or store them when it rains. Our chaise lounge cushion has a zip cover in the supplier's photos, and the tanning chair uses Oxford fabric on its steel frame, so there's no cushion to store.

Materials by Climate

Comfort: Seats, Cushions and Loungers

Outdoor furniture often gets judged on looks and price and not much else. Comfort is the part of how to choose patio furniture that decides whether you actually sit outside or just look at it through the window.

Seat Height and Depth

Lounge-style outdoor seats sit low and lean back, which is lovely for relaxing and harder to get out of. Dining chairs sit higher and more upright. Our two-person wicker Adirondack chair lists a seat height of 13 inches and a seat 39.25 inches wide by 19.75 inches deep, which is low and roomy, made for leaning back with your feet up on the matching footstools. If anyone in the household finds low seats hard, add at least one higher, more upright chair.

Recline

Adjustable backs make one seat do several jobs: sitting up with a coffee, half back with a book, flat for a nap in the sun. Our wicker chaise lounge reclines through five levels and has a curved "S" shape that supports your knees, and the folding tanning chair locks in five positions too.

Lying Face Down

Most loungers only work on your back. Our tanning chair with a face cavity has a hole in the backrest for your face and slots for your arms, so you can lie on your front and read without twisting your neck. It folds to under 4 inches thick with a carry strap, which makes it easy to take to a pool or beach.

Swinging and Hanging Seats

A gentle sway is one of the nicest things about sitting outside. Our hammock chair with stand brings its own steel C-frame, so you don't need a beam or tree; the supplier rates it at 265 lb and the stand is 75.6 inches tall. For two people, the wooden patio swing has its own A-frame about 78 inches wide and 67 inches high, with two contoured seats and a small table between them.

Weight Ratings

Check the listed weight rating for each seat, especially for hanging and folding pieces. From our range: the hammock chair is rated at 265 lb, the chaise lounge at 264 lb, and the folding Adirondack chairs show a 220 lb rating in the supplier's photo. Where a listing doesn't give one, ask us before ordering.

Cushion Comfort

Thicker cushions are more comfortable but take longer to dry. The rattan storage bench lists a 2.8 inch seat cushion, and the two-person Adirondack comes with seat cushions, back pillows and footstool cushions. Throw a couple of outdoor pillows on harder seats, and keep a basket by the door so cushions can come inside quickly when the sky turns grey.

Dining Sets vs Lounge Sets

One of the big forks in the road when you work out how to choose patio furniture is whether the space is mainly for eating or mainly for relaxing. You can do both in a large garden, but most patios suit one better than the other.

• Dining set-ups need a table at around normal dining height, upright chairs and enough space to pull chairs back. They suit people who eat outside a lot and host meals.
• Lounge set-ups use low sofas, deep chairs and a coffee-height table, often round a fire. They suit evening drinks, reading and long conversations.
• Hybrid set-ups pair a few comfortable lounge chairs with a low table that's good enough for a casual plate of food. This is how many smaller patios end up, and it works well.

Our outdoor range leans towards lounging: the woven patio sofa set with its round coffee table, the two-person Adirondack, the fire table at coffee-table height and the wicker coffee table. If you also want to eat outside, a simple dining table from elsewhere sits happily alongside these pieces.

Shade and Umbrellas

Shade turns a hot patio into one you can use at midday. It's an easy thing to forget when you think about how to choose patio furniture, and then you find the new loungers are only usable after six in the evening.

Centre-Pole vs Cantilever Umbrellas

• Centre-pole umbrellas go through a hole in a dining table or stand in a base. Simple and stable, but the pole sits in the middle of the shade.
• Cantilever (side-post) umbrellas hang the canopy from an arm, so there's nothing in the middle. Good over loungers, a sofa set or a hot tub. Our 3 m cantilever patio umbrella has eight iron ribs, a 160G polyester canopy with a vent, and a crank to open and close it.

Choosing Size

A 3 m umbrella like ours casts a good-sized patch of shade, but the shadow moves with the sun. Place it on the side the afternoon sun comes from, and expect to adjust it during the day.

Bases and Wind

Umbrellas catch the wind like a sail. Always use a properly weighted base, close the umbrella when you leave it, and take it down in strong wind. Read the options on our cantilever umbrella listing carefully: one option includes the bracket and the other doesn't, and the product page explains the difference.

Other Shade Ideas

Pergolas, awnings, sail shades and trees all work. On a balcony, a wall-mounted awning or a small tilting umbrella is often allowed where a large freestanding one isn't.

Fire Pit Tables and Gas Safety

A fire turns a patio into somewhere you'll sit well into autumn evenings. A gas fire table is the tidiest way to do it: no logs, no smoke drifting into the neighbours' washing, no ash. It also comes with responsibilities, so safety is part of how to choose patio furniture if a fire is on your list.

Our Propane Fire Pit Table

Our 56 inch propane fire pit table is a long, low rectangular gas fire, about 56 x 26.4 x 13.6 inches, rated at 50,000 BTU. A stainless steel burner sits in lava rocks, and you light and adjust it with one knob. At coffee-table height it sits in front of a sofa or between lounge chairs. It comes with a rain cover, lava rocks, a gas hose with regulator, a tank seat and touch-up paint. The propane tank isn't included and doesn't fit inside the table; it stands outside, connected by the hose.

Gas Safety Basics

Fire services give clear, consistent advice on propane:

• Store cylinders outdoors, upright. The San Francisco Fire Department advises you to store propane cylinders outdoors in an upright position, never indoors or in an enclosed space such as a basement, garage, shed or tent, and warns that exposing cylinders to heat above 120°F may cause a flash fire or explosion.
• Check for leaks with soapy water, never a flame. Quebec's building authority recommends that you test for leaks whenever you connect a cylinder by spraying soapy water on the hose and fittings; bubbles or a smell of rotten eggs mean a leak.
• Never use outdoor gas appliances indoors. The same Quebec guidance warns against using outdoor propane appliances indoors, even during a power cut.
• Close the valve after use and never leave a lit fire unattended.
• Keep clearance from walls and overhangs. The SFFD page notes open-flame devices shouldn't be used on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction, with some exceptions. Local rules differ, so check yours and follow the fire table's manual.

Placing the Fire Table

• Put it on a level, non-combustible surface, away from overhanging branches, awnings and umbrellas.
• Keep cushions, throws and paper a sensible distance from the flame.
• Use the rain cover only once the table has fully cooled.
• Keep children and pets supervised around any fire.

Our folding Adirondack chairs and the two-person wicker Adirondack are both shown round a fire in the supplier's photos, and it's a classic pairing.

Storage and Protecting Your Furniture

Where things go when it rains is the most forgotten question in how to choose patio furniture. Cushions that live outside get damp, mouldy and faded. Small pieces blow around. Plan storage from the start.

Deck Boxes

A deck box is a weatherproof chest for cushions, pool toys, garden tools and the like. Our 200 gallon metal deck box is 54.3 x 29.8 x 33.9 inches, with galvanized steel panels, a lid on gas struts that stays open while you reach in, wheels, side handles and a hasp for your own padlock. It arrives flat in a carton of 35.04 x 8.66 x 30.31 inches, which makes it easy to get through a house to the garden.

Storage Benches

If space is tight, a bench that opens up does two jobs. Our rattan storage bench seats two, with a backrest and armrests, a 2.8 inch cushion and a lift-up seat on gas struts.

Folding and Wheeled Furniture

Furniture that folds or rolls is much easier to put away. The folding Adirondack chairs fold flat against a shed or garage wall, the tanning chair folds to under 4 inches, and the chaise lounge has two wheels at the head end so you can tip and roll it.

Covers

For pieces that stay out, a fitted cover keeps off rain, leaves and bird droppings. Make sure covers are breathable or vented, and let furniture dry before covering it so moisture isn't trapped. Our fire pit table comes with its own rain cover.

Delivery and Assembly

Outdoor furniture usually arrives flat-packed. That's good news for getting it through the house, but it's worth checking before you order, because it's part of how to choose patio furniture that suits your time and tools.

• The folding tanning chair needs no assembly at all.
• The folding Adirondack chairs arrive with backrests already built; the supplier puts the rest at about 30 to 40 minutes per chair.
• The wicker coffee table needs assembly, with the tools included according to the supplier.
• The rattan storage bench goes together in six steps with a hex key and spanner shown in the supplier's photos.
• The deck box, hammock chair, chaise lounge and patio swing all need assembling; the swing's frame is large, so a second pair of hands helps.

Build furniture close to where it will live, on a flat surface, and keep the packaging until you're sure every part is there.

Caring for Outdoor Furniture Through the Year

Spring

• Wash frames with mild soapy water and a soft brush, then rinse and let dry.
• Check bolts and fixings and tighten anything loose.
• Touch up chips in painted or powder-coated metal. The fire table comes with touch-up paint.
• Re-oil or reseal wooden pieces if the finish needs it.

Summer

• Bring cushions in overnight and before rain.
• Move pieces into shade during the hottest weeks to slow fading.
• Wipe spills from wicker and glass quickly.

Autumn

• Clear leaves from seats and joints; trapped wet leaves stain and rot.
• Check gas hoses and connections on fire tables before the cooler evenings start.

Winter

• Store cushions indoors or in a deck box.
• Fold and store anything that folds.
• Cover or store larger pieces, and take umbrellas down.
• Store propane cylinders outdoors, upright and away from heat, never in the garage or shed.

The Outdoor Furniture We Sell

Here's our current outdoor range, with figures taken from each product listing. Prices, options and current availability are on each product page. If you're still working out how to choose patio furniture from our range, the "best for" column is the place to start.

Outdoor Patio Sofa Set

Rounded, basket-woven lounge pieces with deep shells and loose cushions. You can buy one piece or a full group: the listing offers nine combinations, from a single sofa chair or footrest up to two single sofas, a triple sofa and a round coffee table. Check the style number carefully, because it decides what you receive.

Short spec: single, double and triple sofas, round coffee table and footrest; woven strand in pale grey-beige with dark grey cushions in the photos; 9 style options.

Two Person Wicker Adirondack Chair

A double-width Adirondack in brown PE wicker with cream cushions and two footstools. Push the stools in to make a lounger for two, or pull them away as extra seats.

Short spec: 45.25 x 32.25 x 35.5 in; seat 39.25 x 19.75 in; seat height 13 in; galvanised steel frame; 2 seat cushions, 2 back pillows, 2 footstools with cushions; assembly required.

Folding Adirondack Chair Set of 2

Two classic wooden Adirondacks with fan-shaped backs and wide arms that fold flat for winter. The backrests arrive pre-assembled.

Short spec: 31 x 28 x 36 in each; light brown wood; 220 lb rating shown in the supplier's photo; about 30 to 40 minutes assembly per chair, per the supplier.

Hammock Chair With Stand

A freestanding hanging chair with a steel C-frame, a padded seat basket, headrest pillow and armrests. A tether is included to steady it when you want less sway.

Short spec: overall 46.5 x 38.6 x 75.6 in; chair 27.6 x 29.9 x 39.4 in; seat base 18.9 in from the floor; rated 265 lb; gray cushion; assembly required.

Wooden Patio Swing

A complete two-seat garden swing with its own log-style A-frame, so there's no need for a beam. The two contoured seats have a slatted table between them.

Short spec: A-frame about 78 in wide and 67 in high; two Adirondack-style seats with centre table; chains and S-hooks; carbonized brown finish; assembly required.

Folding Tanning Chair

A light folding lounger with a face hole and arm slots for reading face down, and a backrest that sits up when you want it to.

Short spec: face cavity with removable pillow; 5-position backrest; dark blue Oxford fabric; powder-coated steel; side pocket; folds to under 4 in; carry strap; no assembly.

Want help putting a set together? Contact us with the size of your space and how you'd like to use it. You can browse the full range in our outdoor furniture and garden and outdoor collections.

Building a Set Over Time

You don't have to buy everything at once. A practical way to approach how to choose patio furniture on a budget is to start with the piece you'll use most, then add to it season by season.

1. Start with seating. Two comfortable chairs, like the folding Adirondack pair, get you outside straight away.
2. Add a table so drinks and books have somewhere to go, such as the wicker coffee table.
3. Add shade before the hottest months, with the cantilever umbrella.
4. Add storage as cushions and toys start piling up: the deck box or storage bench.
5. Add a focal point like the fire table, swing or hammock chair once the basics are in place.

The modular patio sofa set works the same way: start with one or two single sofas and a coffee table, then add a double or triple sofa later in a matching style.

How to Choose Patio Furniture for Different Spaces

Small Balconies

One or two compact seats, a small table and storage that doubles as seating. The wicker coffee table, a folding chair or two and the rattan storage bench work well. Check building rules before adding any fire or large umbrella.

Patios and Terraces

Room for a lounge zone. A patio sofa set round a fire table, with a cantilever umbrella for daytime shade, is a set-up you'll use from breakfast to late evening.

Lawns and Large Gardens

Freestanding pieces that create a destination: the patio swing at the end of the garden, a pair of Adirondack chairs under a tree, a hammock chair in a shady corner. Check that frames stand level; on soft lawn, a few paving slabs under the feet help.

Poolside

Loungers that dry fast and move easily. The wheeled chaise lounge and tanning chair suit pool decks, and the deck box swallows towels, floats and pool toys.

Sunrooms and Covered Porches

Sheltered spaces let you use softer pieces. The hammock chair works indoors as well as out, and many people use outdoor sofas on covered porches all year.

Bringing the Indoors Out (and Back In)

A patio feels most inviting when it works like another room. Knowing how to choose patio furniture is half of it; the other half is the small touches that make it feel lived in:

• A side table within reach of every seat. Our 2-tier side table can come out on dry evenings and back in afterwards.
• Throws and cushions brought out for the evening and taken in afterwards.
• Soft lighting: solar stake lights, string lights or lanterns.
• Plants in containers to soften hard paving and give some privacy.

If you're also refreshing the living room, our guides on how to choose a sofa and living room layout use the same ideas about scale, spacing and comfort, and our coffee tables and living room collections cover the inside of the house.

Common Mistakes When Buying Patio Furniture

Most patio regrets come from a short list of slips. Keep these in mind as you work through how to choose patio furniture.

• Buying too big. Oversized sets crowd small patios and block paths.
• Ignoring the sun. Loungers in full afternoon sun with no shade get used for ten minutes.
• No plan for cushions. Cushions left out in rain go mouldy fast.
• Light furniture in a windy spot. Choose heavier pieces or store light ones away.
• Not checking weight ratings on hanging, swinging and folding seats.
• Treating a fire table casually. Follow the manual, store gas outside and keep clearances.
• Skipping assembly details. Check whether furniture arrives flat and how long it takes to build.
• Not reading options. Some listings, like our umbrella and sofa set, have options that change what's included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the first step in how to choose patio furniture?

Measure the usable space and decide how you'll use it: dining, lounging, sunbathing or sitting round a fire. That rules out more pieces than any style choice.

What is the best material for outdoor furniture?

It depends on your climate. PE wicker over a coated metal frame is low-maintenance in most weather; wood looks warm but needs occasional care; galvanised or powder-coated steel is strong and suits windy spots.

Can patio furniture stay outside all year?

Frames often can, with a cover, but cushions should be brought in or stored in a deck box during rain and over winter. Folding pieces last longer when stored.

How do I stop patio furniture blowing away?

Choose heavier pieces for exposed areas, close and take down umbrellas in wind, fold light chairs away, and store cushions when you're not using them.

Is a gas fire pit table safe on a deck?

Many are designed for decks and patios, but follow the manual, keep clearance from walls and overhangs, check local rules, and never leave a lit fire unattended. Store the propane tank outdoors, upright and away from heat.

Does the propane tank go inside the fire table?

Not on our 56 inch fire table. The tank isn't included and stands outside, connected by the supplied hose and regulator; a tank seat is included.

What's the difference between a cantilever and a regular patio umbrella?

A regular umbrella has a pole in the middle; a cantilever hangs the canopy from a side arm, so the shade is clear underneath, which is useful over loungers and sofas.

How much weight can a hammock chair hold?

It depends on the model. Ours is rated at 265 lb by the supplier. Always check the rating and assemble the stand exactly as instructed.

Do you sell outdoor furniture?

Yes. Easy Life Markets sells patio sofa sets, Adirondack chairs, loungers, a hammock chair, a patio swing, a gas fire pit table, a cantilever umbrella, an outdoor coffee table and deck storage. Browse the outdoor furniture collection, and see our shipping policy, return and refund policy and FAQ.

The Bottom Line on How to Choose Patio Furniture

Measure the space, decide how you'll use it, match the materials to your weather, check comfort and weight ratings, plan your shade and storage, and treat any fire with respect. Do that and how to choose patio furniture stops being guesswork: you'll end up with an outdoor space you use from the first warm morning to the last cool evening of the year.

When you're ready, have a look at the woven patio sofa set, the propane fire pit table, the two-person Adirondack chair and the rest of our outdoor furniture.

Sources and References

• San Francisco Fire Department: Outdoor grill, fire pit and heater safety
• Régie du bâtiment du Québec: Propane use safety advice
• Galvanizers Association: Barrier and sacrificial protection
• Wikipedia: Adirondack chair