How to Display Outdoor Furniture

Think of your outdoor furniture as you would your indoor furniture, meaning that your outdoor furniture can be used to create an outdoor room.

Plan the space. In this case, it might be a back patio or deck where the furniture will be placed. Regardless of where it is, find or create a focal point. Many outdoor rooms feature fireplaces, for example. You would position your furniture around that.

Draw out a floor plan of sorts. Consider each piece of furniture that you would like to display. Include any accessories like pottery, fountains or outdoor artwork in the plan.

Coordinate the colors and themes of your furniture so that they match the lawn decor that is already in place.

Position the furniture in an arrangement that is conducive to both comfort and conversation.

Provide a container for items like blankets or pillows. These items can be draped over the furniture when in use and stored away at night. Nice options are wooden containers made from the same material as your deck.

Position comfy chairs next to lush floral blooms. These create nice spaces, particularly if they are in the corner of the yard. Add a tiki torch or outdoor lamp for a romantic feel in the evening.

Decide how you want to add lighting to the area. Tiki torches bring a different feeling to a space than paper lanterns do. Take a look at your outdoor furniture and ask yourself what kind of lighting accessories would go best with it.

Place three or four chairs in a circle. Add a coffee table in the center. Cluster potted plants to the outside of each chair. Tall candles add a soft romantic light, and if you use citronella candles, the bugs will stay away, too.

Consider buying a fire pit table. It does double duty as a coffee table, and it's a great feature for having coffee outdoors on a cool summer morning.

Use a backyard fence as a back wall, and hang outdoor artwork on it. If you position two chairs under it with a table in the middle, it creates a great place to read on a summer evening.

Buy outdoor curtains (if you have a porch) or a canopy. The material on these should either match the furniture's material or be of a harmonious color. Tie back the curtains using tassels, ribbons of vibrant colors or rope, depending upon the style of your furniture.