Discover Your Personal Outdoor Design Style, from Classic-Chic to Organic-Modern

Discover Your Personal Outdoor Design Style, from Classic-Chic to Organic-Modern
Magis Sam Son chair in Red and Anthracite, $795 each, Design Within Reach, dwr.com. Photo by Mark Seelen courtesy of DWR.

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Plus, tips for picking the best outdoor furniture material for your alfresco space.


Upgrading your outdoor escape? This compilation of open-air furnishings in a range of styles will help you curate your space and soak up Colorado’s natural splendor.

Bright + Bold

Funky-fresh furnishings in vibrant colors and unexpected forms.

1. lights: courtesy of dwr; 2. table: courtesy of Floyd; 3. sofa: courtesy of west elm;
4. side table: courtesy of creative living; 5. planter: courtesy of vondom adan; 6. raviolo chair: courtesy of dwr; 7. lounge chair: courtesy of west elm; 8. fire pit: courtesy of creative living; 9. rocking chair: courtesy of creative living; 10. spun chair: courtesy of dwr.

1. Santorini outdoor pendant – $817 each, Design Within Reach, dwr.com
2. The Outdoor Table – in Citrine, $845, Floyd, floydhome.com
3. Channel-tufted sectional – starting at $2,249 per piece, West Elm, westelm.com
4. Diamond Punch side table/stool – $695, Creative Living, clden.com
5. Vondom Adan face planter – starting at $325, Creative Living, clden.com
6. Magis Spun chair – in Red, $995, Design Within Reach, dwr.com
7. Paradise outdoor lounge chair – $999, West Elm, westelm.com
8. Cone moder fire pit – in Charcoal Gray, $1,995, Creative Living, clden.com
9. Click rocking chair – $659, Creative Living, clden.com
10. Magis Raviolo chiar – in Orange, $645, Design Within Reach, dwr.com

Organic Modern

Raw textures and quiet, earthy tones that connect with nature.

1. outdoor chair: courtesy of Denver Modern; 2. dining table: courtesy of harbour outdoor; 3. pendant: courtesy of made goods; 4. rug: courtesy of denver modern; 5. pots: courtesy of nature’s legacy; 6. lantern: courtesy of vincent sheppard; 7. roxy dining chair: courtesy of vincent sheppard; 8. loop dining chair: courtesy of vincent sheppard; fire pit: courtesy of frontgate; 10. end table: courtesy of denver modern.

1. Lane outdoor chair – in Sand, $2,195, Denver Modern, denvermodern.com
2. Victoria Teak dining table – in Natural, $6,750, Harbour Outdoor, harbouroutdoor.com
3. Myrleen pendent – price upon request, Made Goods, available through Design Wright Studios, madegoods.com, designwrightstudios.com
4. Chula outdoor rug – starting at $595, Denver Modern, denvermodern.com
5. Harvest pots – in Natural, starting at $39 each, Nature’s Legacy, natureslegacy.com
6. Tika lanterns – price upon request, Vincent Sheppard, vincentsheppard.com
7. Roxy dining chair – in Camel, price upon request, Vincent Sheppard, vincentsheppard.com
8. Loop dining Chair – in Moss, price upon request, Vincent Sheppard, vincentsheppard.com
9. Bryndle Root fire pit – $1,699, Frontgate, frontgate.com
10. Dante end table – $695, Denver Modern, denvermodern.com

Classic Chic

Pretty details and nods to traditional style add an element of sophistication.

1. bird feeder: courtesy of ballard designs; 2. dining chair: courtesy of made goods; 3. swivel chair: courtesy of serena & lily; 4. umbrella: courtesy of frontgate; 5. dining table: courtesy of janus et cie; 6. lanterns: courtesy of ballard designs; 7. coffee table: courtesy of made goods; 8. fixed chair: courtesy of yardbird; 9. hadley chair: courtesy of made goods; 10. planters: courtesy of frontgate.

1. Bunny Williams bird feeder – $99, Ballard Designs, ballarddesigns.com
2. Aurora dining chair – price upon request, Made Goods, available through Design Wright Studios, madegoods.com, designwrightstudios.com
3. Sundial outdoor slipcovered swivel chair– in Palm Coastal Blue, $2,298, Serena & Lily, serenaandlily.com
4. Bardot Designer umbrella – in Air Blue, starting at $1,699, Frontgate, frontgate.com
5. Amalfi stone top round dining table– in Slate, starting at $8,825, Janus et Cie, janusetcie.com
6. Bunny Williams outdoor lantern – starting at $99 each, Ballard Designs, ballarddesigns.com
7. Dagen coffee table – price upon request, Made Goods, available through Design Wright Studios, madegoods.com, designwrightstudios.com
8. Waverly outdoor fixed chair – with Silver upholstery, $610, Yardbird, yardbird.com
9. Hadley chair – price upon request, Made Goods, available through Design Wright Studios, madegoods.com, designwrightstudios.com
10. Classical Tuscany indoor/outdoor urn – in Black, starting at $349 each, Frontgate, frontgate.com


Picking the Best Outdoor Furniture Material for Your Alfresco Space

From teak and bamboo to powder-coated metals, we help you discover your material match.

When it comes to choosing outdoor furniture, materials matter. To help guide you to the best match for your outdoor space and lifestyle, we asked Micheline Stone—owner of Creative Living, an Art District on Santa Fe showroom brimming with modern patio furniture and accessories—for the key characteristics of four popular options. Follow the flowchart to find your alfresco fit.

For Outdoor Spaces That Get Lots of Sun

If you want something as soft as a cloud and versatile…
Try: Fully upholstered
For a nap-worthy lounge space, go for upholstered outdoor furniture that’s as cozy as your indoor sofa. Stone recommends choosing pieces with fade- and water-resistant Sunbrella fabrics, which stand up to sun and changing weather conditions (as well as kids and pets) and come in a variety of color and pattern options to suit your style.

If you prefer a seat with more of a backbone (and don’t mind annual maintenance)…
Try: Teak and bamboo
Most woods tend to splinter and dry out quickly in Colorado’s arid climate, Stone says, so if you love the au naturel look, she suggests these durable, crack- resistant options (which tend to be pricier than other materials). Denver’s intense sunshine might fade the coloring of these woods over time, but treating them once or twice a year with a natural wood oil will keep the color fresh.

For Outdoor Spaces That Get A Balance of Sun and Shade

If you still want structure, but prefer to keep it low-effort…
Try: Powder-coated metals
“These materials stand up to sun, snow, salt, water runoff, and depending on the size of the product, sometimes even high winds,” Stone says of powder-coated steel and aluminum furniture, which comes in a range of prices. The scratch- and chip-resistant finish withstands regular wear and tear and easily wipes clean—perfect for the whole family.

If you want the most kid-, budget-, and eco-friendly option…
Try: Recycled plastic
Furniture made from recycled plastics—“it could be milk jugs or plastics [pulled] from the Mediterranean Sea,” Stone notes—is both durable and eco-friendly, and it’s often more affordable than furniture made from other materials. Tips: Look for products that are color-dyed, not spray-painted—the latter will chip and scratch. And pigmented recycled plastic might be best for shady sitting areas, as it tends to absorb heat.

This article appeared in the April/May 2022 issue of 5280 Home.