Best Outdoor Sofas: Where to Buy the Most Stylish Seats

(Image credit: The Home Depot; CB2; Wayfair)

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Current Outdoor Sofa Discounts
Best Modular Outdoor Sofas
Wicker sofas
Outdoor love seats
Best indoor/outdoor sofa

By Hugh Metcalf

last updated 29 May 2024

Contributions from

Julia Demer

in Buying Guides

Shop our selections by category:

1. Current outdoor sofa discounts
2. Best modular outdoor sofa
3. Best wicker sofas
4. Best outdoor love seats

Spending time outdoors is something most of us enjoy when the weather's nice, but traditional outdoor furniture often lacks the comfort of indoor decor, making it harder to truly relax in your backyard. Even the best outdoor sofas rarely provide adequate R&R. This led me to think, ‘There has to be a better way!’

Fortunately, recent advancements in outdoor textiles have made them softer to the touch, opening up a whole new world of brilliantly cozy outdoor furniture that can transform your backyard into a true outdoor living room.

Interior designer and furniture expert Shawn Zar says, ‘An outdoor sofa anchors your space. It’s where everyone will naturally gather.’ To enhance that resort-like, outdoor living feel, Shawn suggests positioning your sofa ‘with a view, maybe facing the garden or pool.’ Sound relaxing? Exactly.

I consulted experts, read reviews, and sifted through countless offerings from the best outdoor furniture brands to make my final selection. Here are the 12 most durable, stylish, and comfortable outdoor sofas available. You’re just one scroll away from creating the outdoor living room of your dreams.

Current Outdoor Sofa Discounts

Save $100

Bhairavi 6-Person Outdoor Seating Group

12% off might not sound like the most exciting discount, but considering it shaves $100 off one of Wayfair's most top-reviewed seating groups and that it comes with cushions, it is certainly not one to be overlooked.

56% off

Acacia Outdoor Patio Daybed

Loving the classic look of this antique white outdoor sofa/daybed. In fact, it's so elegant it looks as if it deserves a place indoors. Add an outdoor rug underneath and you have outdoor living at its finest. Partial to the navy cushions, but there's a range of colors to pick from.

Save $500

Outdoor Convertible Daybed

Acacia wood and a durable upholstery makes this one of the most long-lasting sofa picks on this list — impressive given its less than $400 price tag. The perfect spot for your afternoon slump, simply fold down its sides for a quick snooze.

Best Modular Outdoor Sofas

Modular outdoor sofas are systems that allow you to build your perfect seating arrangement by piecing together individual elements. They often include armchairs, too, so that you can round out your outdoor seating in a cohesive way.

Corvos Modular Sofa in Saffron Red

While it's best to store this modular sofa indoors in rainy and cold climates, this design is covered in olefin knitted textile, which makes it super soft but durable outdoors.

Sorrento Outdoor Corner Sofa

With plump, removable cushions and a black aluminium frame, this outdoor corner sofas looks as comfortable as it does modern, laidback yet refined.

Oana 4pc Acacia Modular Sofa and Table Set

The best thing about opting for a a modular sofa set like this one from Target isn't the price, it's that you get a readymade seating area all-in-one, coffee table included.

Best wicker sofas

Wicker gets a bit of a bad rap for outdoor furniture, and yes, while some examples of this type of outdoor sofa can feel a little dated, there are plenty of designs that use wicker, rattan and more in modern, interesting ways.

Bacio All-Weather Rattan Outdoor Sofa with Sunbrella Cushions

A bit of a splurge, but if you have the budget, this all-weather rattan outdoor sofa is an absolute showstopper. It even comes with durable white Sunbrella cushions, which cost a pretty penny on their own.

Selma Outdoor Sofa

This interesting modern loveseat is a bold take on the wicker sofa, but would make a brilliant focal point for your outdoor seating area.

Burchett Outdoor Acacia Wood and Round Wicker 5 Seater Sectional Sofa Chat Set

Combining wicker with acacia gives this outdoor corner sofa an interesting materiality, and undoubtedly feels like a more luxurious take on standard rattan furniture.

Best outdoor love seats

Loveseats aren't only a better fit for small backyards, but they're also often more budget-friendly, too. Here are three that are perfect for compact spaces, while bringing a taste of the luxuriousness of an outdoor sofa.

Louise 43" Wide Loveseat with Cushions

This Adirondack-style loveseat is far more comfortable and cool than its $256 price tag. It'll be perfectly at home on the patio of a minimalist backyard.

Novogratz Poolside Gossip Seat

A sleek white aluminum loveseat, this design by interior designers the Novogratz just needs a few of your favorite outdoor throw pillows to be an on-trend, comfortable addition to your backyard.

Emma & Oliver Beige Outdoor Loveseat

This outdoor sofa by Emma & Oliver has the sense of a much more expensive couch, but costs just over $350. With its beige upholstery, it's on trend for a modern backyard design.

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As outdoor textiles evolve, furniture that doesn't look or feel like traditional outdoor furniture is becoming a huge trend for patios and decks. Think plump, fully-upholstered sofas and textiles you wouldn't expect to see outside.

'Deep and comfy sectionals with great lines and great fabrics like boucle and linen-like materials are now possible for outdoor upholstery,' explains interior designer Amy Kalikow. 'Rounded sofas, creatively designed chairs, and unique coffee tables in concrete or stone are all possible to help make outdoor living as great as indoors.’

Best indoor/outdoor sofa

What is the best outdoor sofa material?

According to Rafi Friedman, President of Coastal Luxury Outdoors, ‘Materials, and to a lesser extent finishes, are key to durability.’ He elaborates, ‘Aluminum is a great material, as long as it's thick enough to withstand some stress and covered with a high-quality paint or enamel to prevent corrosion. Injection-molded plastic is cheap and light, but a composite material like Trex is much more durable. Natural materials like wicker or cedar can also be good choices’ for an outdoor sofa.

So, which should you pick? Consider your needs and the look you’re aiming for. If you want something low-maintenance and have the budget, a teak wood or metal outdoor sofa might be your best bet. On the other hand, if you’re looking to save some money and don’t mind a bit of upkeep, there are excellent plastic options available too. Always read the product descriptions to ensure the material fits your lifestyle and requirements.

When is the best time to buy outdoor sofas?

The best discounts on outdoor sofas typically appear right after prime buying season — a.k.a. when summer ends. In the Western Hemisphere, this means September through October.

However, you can still find excellent outdoor sofas throughout the year! June, July, and August are when retailers unveil their latest outdoor sofa collections, making it the perfect time to buy the most design-forward, on-trend pieces. Plus, you can still score deals during this window — Memorial Day and post-Memorial Day sales often feature significant discounts in the outdoor furniture sector.

Check back here year-round for updated deals and the latest on-trend outdoor styles to keep on your radar.

Hugh is Livingetc.com’s editor. With 8 years in the interiors industry under his belt, he has the nose for what people want to know about re-decorating their homes. He prides himself as an expert trend forecaster, visiting design fairs, showrooms and keeping an eye out for emerging designers to hone his eye. He joined Livingetc back in 2022 as a content editor, as a long-time reader of the print magazine, before becoming its online editor. Hugh has previously spent time as an editor for a kitchen and bathroom magazine, and has written for “hands-on” home brands such as Homebuilding & Renovating and Grand Designs magazine, so his knowledge of what it takes to create a home goes beyond the surface, too. Though not a trained interior designer, Hugh has cut his design teeth by managing several major interior design projects to date, each for private clients. He's also a keen DIYer — he's done everything from laying his own patio and building an integrated cooker hood from scratch, to undertaking plenty of creative IKEA hacks to help achieve the luxurious look he loves in design, when his budget doesn't always stretch that far.

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