Imagine your family room was furnished with only a few armchairs, a sofa and perhaps an ottoman. Where would you place a lamp? Or set a drink or a book?
While tabletops and serving spaces are must-haves for the great indoors, they’re often overlooked in outdoor living areas. So if your alfresco space is feeling a little less than inviting, consider these finishing furniture pieces that will make any patio, deck or porch feel like a room where you can settle in.
Coffee Tables
Want to ground a seating area, boost its function, and make it feel like a destination, all in one swift step? Add a coffee table.
Some styles would look just as comfortable indoors, like our Amherst Tables, and those with a minimalist, sculptural look, like the Henley table. Our Brooks Coffee Table does double duty by featuring a removable beverage tub that keeps your favorite drinks within easy reach.
Side Tables
More than just a convenient tabletop within the reach of every seat, side tables bring both function and style. Each option brings something unique, like the modern aesthetic brought by the Ensoleille Table and the space-saving function of our Teak Nesting Tables. Another space-saving option is our Newport Slider Table, which conveniently slides under lounge chairs, chaises, and sofas, making the perfect perch for coffee or a laptop.
Accent Stools
We love accent stools. And here’s why: They’re the ultimate multifunctioning outdoor furniture piece. They can serve as end or drink tables when positioned to the side of a seat. Cluster two or three together in the center of a seating area, and you’ve got a pseudo coffee table.
And lest we need more reasons to adore these lightweight heavy-hitters of outdoor design, let’s not forget they’re accents, after all. Each can be a means to introduce fun colors and shapes into your space.
Buffets and Serving Carts
To truly make an outdoor room feel like its own entity – not tethered to the kitchen for drink refills and serving supplies – you’ll want a buffet or serving cart with a built-in beverage tub and plenty of storage space.
Like their indoor counterparts, stationary pieces like the contemporary Luca Buffet Table go beyond providing serving surfaces and stowing bottles and glasses. They become critical elements of your outdoor room’s style and layout. For extra function, consider the Westport Teak Ultimate Entertaining Station, which features two tall drawers for stowing waste and recycling bins, an umbrella holder, and a beverage tub. Other options, like our Ultimate Serving Cart, showcase a wheeled design that makes it easy to set up a serving station wherever you gather.
With everything you need close at hand, expect to spend a lot more time living in your outdoor room. Shop our entire collection of tables and buffets and serving carts to find a style that meets your needs.
