Thinking of Buying New Outdoor Furniture? 5 Questions to Ask Yourself
Will this be the year you take that empty backyard space and do something with it? Spring is a great opportunity for a refresh or reset, and with Memorial Day quickly approaching, sales for outdoor furniture and accessories will be very low despite tariffs. Whether you want to host parties or just have a chill summer vibe in your backyard space, you'll want to consider a couple of factors before doing anything.
I'm all for a great DIY project, especially during the warmer months. However, knowing where to even begin can be challenging. Whether you use ChatGPT or social media to find inspiration for the best layout for your outdoor space, this guide will help you gather the information needed to make your backyard space not only rewarding but also won't break your budget.
5 shopping questions to ask before buying outdoor furniture
What type of outdoor furniture is best suited for my space?
Before you consider buying any piece of outdoor furniture, measure the space you plan to place it in. This is true whether you intend to set up a single chair or a set of pieces. This way, you can rest assured that the products you ultimately pick will fit properly.
Also, note whether your chosen location is exposed to direct sunlight. A patio umbrella or sail shade could help cool things down in those hot summer months. Over time, the sun also tends to cause colors in plastics, fabrics and other surfaces to fade. In this situation, you may want to drape items with a tarp or other covering when not used. Another option is to store them inside, provided you have room, during the off-season.
Keep in mind that some materials are heartier than others. Don't plan to cover your furniture or bring it inside? Then go with tougher items made from teak or metal, not less sturdy wicker.
How will this outdoor area be used?
Another critical factor to ponder is how you plan to use your outdoor oasis. If you'd like to simply add seating around a fire pit, a few chairs or a couch will probably do the trick. Those with a more ambitious goal -- say, to create an outdoor dining area -- will have a heavier lift. You'll need a table large enough to entertain you and your guests along with adequate seating accommodations.
Can I stay on budget and get outdoor furniture that fits my needs?
It's true that you don't have to spend big bucks on an outdoor patio furniture set . Online retailers are packed with many low-cost options. That said, doing so is a bit of a gamble. Because you don't actually see and feel these products in person, it'll be difficult to gauge just how well made (or not) they really are.
And if you go with more established furniture brands, expect to pay several times more for each item. One positive with considering a traditional furniture store, though, is that it'll likely have brick-and-mortar locations to visit. That means you'll get to touch, prod and examine their furniture up close before committing.
Read more: Best Credit Cards for Large Purchases
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The Abaco collection of outdoor furniture from Crate and Barrel.
Crate and Barrel
What aesthetic do I want for my outdoor space?
Some of the more design-oriented furniture outlets group their outdoor offerings in fancy named collections. Others let you sort items simply by their material construction. The main types you typically find are basic woods, wicker and metals such as steel and aluminum.
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Teak is a hardy durable wood that's great for outdoor use.
West Elm
There's also teak, which is a kind of wood. Due to its high oil content, teak is particularly adept at withstanding the elements. But since the majority of teak trees are grown on plantations in Southeast Asia, imported wood costs much more than locally sourced varieties.
Ultimately, the style of furniture you settle on will be a very individual choice. I personally prefer as little ornamentation or embellishment as possible. You, on the other hand, might love the look of rattan, which apparently is all the rage.
When should I ask for help when shopping for outdoor furniture?
Your plans for deploying outdoor furniture may clash with the reality on the ground. For instance, you may crave a sprawling dining area complete with an expansive table plus multiple chairs to match. But while your yard has ample room, it's mostly all grassy lawn.
In this case the best way to proceed is to build a paved patio to serve as a solid base for your new furniture. This is a big job though, since it'll require excavating grass and sod and laying down a bed of gravel. The area must be leveled properly, too, to account for correct water drainage. And that's all before laying down pavers.
If you're not comfortable with handling any of these tasks, I don't blame you. At this point there's no shame in enlisting the help of a professional landscaper.
Now that you've considered all these factors carefully, you should be well on your way to choosing the perfect outdoor furniture that's best for your needs. And just in time too for all of your spring and summer festivities.
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Take your mobility level into account Many beach chairs sit notoriously low to the ground, which shouldn't be a problem if you don't have mobility issues. But if you struggle with getting in and out of the couch or up the stairs, I would get a model that sits higher — 12 or even 14 inches off the ground — as that will help a lot. Everything sinks in the sand, including you and your chair, so having a higher seat will give you a leg up, so to speak. How far do you need to travel with it? Many US-based airlines welcome beach chairs as a checked or carry-on item, as long as they meet the size and weight requirements. However, if you plan on regularly traveling with yours — even if that just means you have to hike a mile or so on sand to get to your spot or take it on road trips — I would seriously consider getting a more compact one (without sacrificing comfort, of course). Just know you might be making compromises, especially in storage and extra features. 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Tommy Bahama Wavy Marlin Deluxe Backpack Beach Chair A slightly cheaper alternative to the Tommy Bahama Ultimate, the Deluxe is comfortable, robust and feature-rich. It also offers five reclining positions and a backpack strap for easy carrying. If the Tommy Bahama Ultimate is a little out of your budget, its more affordable sibling, the Tommy Bahama Deluxe, may be a great alternative. Despite being $55 cheaper than the Ultimate, it comes with many of its trimmings. That includes a maximum load capacity of 300 pounds, five recline positions, a side pouch with a mesh drink holder and valuables pocket, a cushioned headrest and a massive insulated rear pocket. And just like the Ultimate, it's easy to clean, set up and collapse. It even has a slight advantage over the Ultimate in portability. It has backpack straps that make it easier to carry across the beach, though it isn't that much lighter. I've carried both models while walking on sand, and those backpack straps truly made the job a whole lot easier. The downside to the Tommy Bahama Deluxe is that if you want to take full advantage of its lay-flat feature, you might struggle to get comfortable. For one thing, that middle bar between the backrest and the seat presses against your back. For another, the seat angles upward, so when you're lying flat on it, your lap angles up, so it feels higher than your head and torso. Unless you angle the chair in the other direction, that makes lying completely flat awkward and the opposite of relaxing. That, along with its clunky recline adjustments, is more than enough to turn off some people. Kelty Lowdown Chair Sturdy, supportive and sufficiently portable, the Kelty Lowdown is an affordable minimalist option for beachgoers who don't care much about the extra frills. You might wonder what a camping chair is doing in my beach chairs guide. I normally don't recommend using camping chairs on sand, as they tend to sink faster because their feet and legs are designed for more solid ground. However, reviews and the competition name-dropped the Kelty Lowdown among the best beach chairs, so I wanted to see what the fuss was about. Sure enough, it fared better than most camping chairs, thanks to its flat feet. They're not that wide — just a little over an inch each — but that was more than enough to keep the chair from sinking too deep or being unstable. During my tests, the feet sank roughly half an inch in the sand and stayed put, even when I tried to rock the seat from side to side. Easy to set up and put away, the Kelty delivers more than stability. Its thin seat padding and supportive backrest ensure comfort, while its 12-inch seat height makes it suitable for those with limited mobility to get in and out. Meanwhile, its impressive maximum load of 350 pounds is higher than that of the Tommy Bahama Ultimate, and its carrying roll bag makes it easier to lug around on the beach as well. What ultimately kept it from the top spot is its lack of features. It has an insulated beverage holder with a divider for your valuables, but that's it. Considering you can get a lot more with the Homevative Folding Backpack Beach Chair for $5 less, the Kelty Lowdown just fell a little short. However, if you don't care for all the frills, it might just be the best beach chair for you. SunFlow The Shore Thing Chair My personal favorite, the SunFlow Shore Thing Chair, is the beach chair for the ultimate resort-like cossetting — but only invest if you have the means to splurge. Out of all the beach chairs I tested, the Shore Thing Chair from SunFlow may just be my personal favorite — and my top recommendation if money is no object and you want the ultimate cossetting experience. Get the completely outfitted version with the UPF 50+ sun shade and drink holder, and you might feel like you're vacationing in a luxury resort in Italy rather than just hanging out at the beach five minutes from your house. I don't just love the Shore Thing Chair because it's pretty; I also love its suspended seat, which offers a hammock-esque feel, gentle-on-the-skin armrests and three levels of recline, which are very easy to adjust. The seat is also decently spacious and sits 13 inches above ground, which makes it easy to get in and out of. It's not the lightest or most compact chair when collapsed, but the backpack straps do make it easy to carry. And since I'm a little lazy when it comes to maintenance, I appreciate that there aren't any wood bits here, and all I have to do to clean it is hose it down with warm water. Still, this chair is one of the priciest models in my pool. You'd think SunFlow would also throw in a pocket for valuables and an insulated one to keep drinks chilled, but sadly, those aren't on offer. So, it isn't as good a value as the Tommy Bahama Ultimate. Buy the cheaper bare-bones one, and all you get is a pretty chair. SunnyLife Take Anywhere Folding Chair Another portable option, this on-the-ground folding chair from SunnyLife gives you the best of the beach towel and beach chair worlds, with thick padding to boot. The portable SunnyLife Take Anywhere Folding Chair feels like the middle ground between a beach chair and a beach towel. Doing away with legs, it's designed to sit on the sand, keeping you close to the ground. That's nice in many ways, and you don't have to worry about sinking either. Add the thickly padded seat and backrest, and it feels like half a daybed or a lounger, making this my second-favorite chair of the lot. There are other things to love as well. The one-step folding and unfolding process is easier than any other beach chair I tested, while the reclining feature, which has six levels, is effortless to adjust. Better yet, when it's completely flat, there are no middle bars that press against my back — a major difference between it and its other lay-flat rivals. Carrying it across soft sand isn't an issue because it's relatively lightweight and small, despite the lack of backpack straps (there's just a sling strap). Plus, it has a maximum load of roughly 330 pounds, but the seat could be more spacious. Sadly, this chair's on-the-ground design also means those with limited mobility may have difficulty using it. Sitting down is hard enough, let alone getting out. It's also hard to clean, since it's spot-clean only. Combine those with its minimal features — there's just a large pocket in the back, and it doesn't feel like the best value of the bunch. Shibumi Chair The Shibumi Chair has many of the makings of a great beach chair, so naturally, the price of entry is a little high. Just make sure to put a towel or blanket over it before you sit. With the Shibumi Shade being one of the best beach umbrellas our team tested, I had high hopes for the brand's beach chair contender. And in many ways, it did live up to the hype. The Shibumi Chair is effortless to fold and unfold, it's spacious and breathable and it feels robust and made of top-quality materials. It's also very stable on sand. The feet sink a little, maybe by an inch, and the chair stays stable. It ticks off many other things on the list. It has a maximum load capacity of 300 pounds, a small drink holder that fits regular-size cups (but not big ones) and backpack straps, so its 8-pound weight isn't too much of a burden when it's a trek to the beach. Those with mobility issues will also appreciate that its seat is 12 inches off the ground. However, one thing kept it from topping this list. The mesh material that its seat and backrest are made of. Mesh is very breathable and supportive, but it also digs into your skin after a while, leaving marks that can be uncomfortable, if not painful. Sitting in this beach chair while only wearing your swimsuit might not be the best idea. KingCamp Low-Sling Beach Chair An even more affordable alternative to the Kelty Lowdown Chair, this KingCamp beach chair is dirt cheap, but there are compromises to be made. The KingCamp Low-Sling Beach Chair was one of the most underwhelming models I tested. While there's nothing bad about it, and its sub-$50 starting price point gives a lot of bang for your buck, it still leaves a lot to be desired. Its circular flat feet or pads and wide-legged design prevent it from sinking too deep and help with stability. Its 21-inch seat is spacious, the thin cushioning in the middle of its backrest offers a bit more support and the top edge of the backrest effortlessly flexes to moonlight as a nice little hammock for your head. It's also easy to fold and unfold, heavy-duty with its 300-pound max load and fairly easy to lug around thanks to its carrying bag. But compared to the other products in my testing pool, there's nothing about it that truly stands out. It's neither the most comfortable nor the most portable. There aren't many features either, just a cup holder. What's more, it sits too low to the ground, making it a little tricky for those with limited mobility. Overall, the KingCamp Low-Sling Beach Chair is middling at best. It's a good alternative to the Kelty Lowdown if money is a little tight, but that's about it. SunFlow The Tall Sand Dune Chair The SunFlow Tall Sand Dune Chair is a bigger, badder version of the Shore Thing Chair. Unfortunately, it's also heavier and pricier, though luckily it comes with backpack straps. As big and tall as the Shore Thing Chair is, SunFlow's Tall Sand Dune Chair is even bigger and taller. Its seat sits a lofty 17 inches off the ground and offers 18 inches of hammock-like comfort, tapering wider at the armrests for even more space. It's the closest thing to the Tommy Bahama Ultimate in size, though not in features. Don't get me wrong: Its accessories bundle makes it as feature-rich as the Shore Thing, with its sun shade and drink holder. It even comes with a footrest that's a nice extra to have if you want your feet off the sand for a little while. And naturally, it has three levels of recline for varying cosseting needs. However, its size is also its undoing. Despite its backpack straps, this chair is massive and weighs 10 pounds, making it bulky to carry, especially if you're on the shorter side. It's also expensive. Though it's only about $5 more than the Tommy Bahama Ultimate, that's just its bare-bones model. Buying the kitted-out version will set you back a whopping $225, which feels like a fortune, considering the competition. Business & Pleasure The Pam Chair Reminiscent of old-world luxury cossetting, the Pam Chair from Business & Pleasure is a splurge. It's beautiful and has some good features, though, if you're willing to pay the high price. Speaking of pricey propositions, the Pam Chair from Business & Pleasure is definitely up there. With a vintage bistro-style design, this beach chair is what I imagine Italian resort poolside chairs looked like back in the olden days (and that's probably accurate). So in a way, you're not just paying for the B&P brand here; you're paying for what the chair inspires — the old-world style of luxury beachgoing. But is it a good value for your money? It has a padded seat and a padded backrest, elevating your comfort. It offers five recline positions and is easy to set up as well as fold. Its seat is 12 inches off the ground. It has padded adjustable backpack straps, so it's a breeze to carry across sand. And while it does sink a little, it doesn't sink too low and has proven to be fairly stable on sand. It has some extra features too. There's a large rear zip pocket for storage, and a detachable drink and phone holder for your beverages and valuables. All that (and more) you can get from the other more affordable beach chairs in this guide, including my top picks, which makes the Business & Pleasure Pam Chair's lofty price hard to justify. Praia Chair Minimalist, portable, easy to clean and very pretty, the Praia Chair is another premium option if you care more about traveling light than getting all the frills. The Praia Chair received top marks for some things — namely, ease of use, portability and maintenance. Its one-step folding-and-unfolding process is intuitive and effortless, making its setup a joy for most beachgoers. It also happens to be one of the lightest models of the testing pool at just 5 pounds, and it's the smallest and easiest to clean. However, those who prefer a kitted-out chair, or at least one with storage, will be disappointed. This is just a chair, nothing else, and one with a very taut seat at that. The idea of using woven nylon for the seat and backrest is brilliant because nylon is lightweight but robust. At the same time, it also makes sacrifices in comfort — after 30 minutes of sitting in this chair, my bottom started to hurt. This also isn't a great chair for those with mobility issues. It not sits low to the ground but also tends to sink a lot in sand. It took less than an hour for the underside of its seat to start touching the sand during my tests. For a beach chair that sets you back more than $100, the Praia Chair has far too many compromises. It sure is pretty, though. Business & Pleasure The Tommy Chair With a beautiful, old-world luxury resort look, the Tommy Chair is a high-end beach chair with a price to match. However, the execution could be better. Much like the Pam Chair, Business & Pleasure's Tommy Chair is an attractive beach chair that reminded me of old-world resort luxury, and it's built for it too, with its UV, mold and water-resistant umbrella canvas and premium hardwood materials. This is a chair made for those with expensive taste — and it's priced like one too, at $299. To its credit, the Tommy Chair is easy to fold and unfold, has five recline positions that are effortless to adjust, comes with a large rear pocket for storage and has padded backpack straps for easy carrying. But at that price point, beachgoers expect a lot more, and sadly, several things could have been executed better. The armrests, while wide, are not perfectly sanded and have fine bits of wood sticking out, which could result in splinters. The canvas seat and backrest aren't as soft as advertised. The seat itself could be more spacious and sit a little higher off the ground. And the beach chair, while not kitted out, weighs a whopping 13 pounds. Can you check a beach chair on a plane? Can you check a beach chair on a plane? Most US airlines let you check a beach chair, as long as it's packed correctly and meets their size and weight requirements. You can also have a beach chair as a carry-on, as long as it fits under your seat or in the overhead bin. The Helinox Beach Chair is a great example of this. How much does a beach chair cost? How much does a beach chair cost? Beach chairs range from $50 to $300, but price is not indicative of their quality and value. Some beach chairs will set you back more than $100 yet offer very minimal features, while others that cost the same will be fully kitted out. When purchasing a beach chair, it's best to look at its price only after you've considered all of its features. Do I need a beach chair? Do I need a beach chair? That depends. Most people don't need a beach chair — a lot of people just bring a beach blanket or a beach towel. However, it's nice to have one if you want minimal sand contact or tracking. If you have limited mobility, on the other hand, it might be a good idea to invest in a beach chair that has a higher seat height to make it easier for you to sit and get back up. CNN Underscored editors thoroughly test all the products we cover and provide full transparency about how we test them. We have a skilled team of writers and editors with several years of testing experience who ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when relevant to make certain we are testing each product accurately and speaking about the pros and cons of each item. Testing writer Michelle Rae Uy boasts years of experience covering lifestyle products and writing product reviews. She covered beach essentials for various publications before joining CNN Underscored, and she wrote our best beach towels guide as well as cowrote our best-tested beach wagons and beach umbrellas guides.
