Beyond serving as wedding registry bait, Crate & Barrel also makes quality furniture with a modern edge, from more industrial materials in matte finishes to cozy classics in neutral palettes. Either way, its bold architectural silhouettes can turn the back of your house into a power patio. And with more than 100 Crate & Barrel stores nationwide, it’s easy to swing by and test out the collections in person.
Design Within Reach
Best for: Heritage designs that could star in a Slim Aarons photo
The ethos of Design Within Reach is that home comes first. That said, the furnishings are not just darling little things, but are actually built to last, encompassing heritage designers like Herman Miller and Eames plus contemporaries like HAY. That high-design aesthetic will certainly appeal to those with a penchant for style and a willingness to spend more for it.
Frontgate
Best for: Understated patio furniture
Frontgate has an impressive inventory of outdoor furniture built to a high standard, with solid warranties (10 years on the furniture frames, two years on cushion fabrics) to back it up. The aesthetic here leans classic: in amongst all the teak and white cushions you’ll find plenty of wicker, chairs with scrollwork details, and printed throw pillows. If you’re looking to redesign your backyard hang spot in one fell swoop, Frontgate also gives deals on sets—with more money “saved” the more pieces you add. Might as well get that pool deck done all at once, you know?
HAY
Best for: Architectural designs and collaborations
Copenhagen-based company HAY focuses on Danish modern furniture in splashy colors and streamlined silhouettes. Whether you opt for vibrant powder-coated steel or lacquered pine, like its reproduction of the Gerrit Rietveld Crate chair, know that the materials are well-worth the investment. Hay’s outdoor mushroom LED lighting and stone-like composite planters are solid choices, too.
Industry West
Best for: Splashy, colorful pieces with plenty of personality
Industry West is all about craftsmanship paired with visual interest. And when it comes to outdoor pieces, chairs are certainly its specialty. You can find a rainbow-hued aluminum dining chair for a Brooklyn backyard, a bistro rattan chair for a pied-à-terre patio, or even a wildcard number like this bench that includes space for a planter.
Lulu & Georgia
Best for: Down-to-earth aesthetics and luxurious neutrals
Lulu and Georgia is all about making your home feel cozier, and the sentiment extends to its outdoor furniture collections, which are filled with vintage-esque, earthy pieces with sumptuous texture. In addition to dining sets and lounges, you’ll find teak furniture like sideboards and bar carts that can easily upgrade your terrace.
MoMA Design Store
Best for: Museum-worthy, Memphis-y loungers
MoMA’s not exactly known for outdoor gear, but it does offer a surprisingly well-stocked collection of loungers, folding chairs, and umbrellas for your backyard, like the tri-tone spaghetti lounge chair we anointed with a Home Award last year and this swervy, scooped-out folding chair for kicking back.
Neighbor
Best for: Easy-to-assemble, modular, not-like-everyone-else’s flatpack designs
