I spent more time than I’d like to admit on our affordable backyard furniture design. We planned to furnish our deck this year, however, with staying home more than we expected, it quickly became a top priority.
First, outdoor furniture is expensive!! Finding affordable backyard furniture is harder than you think. It appears to either be ugly (sorry, but true) or terrible quality. I hunted for hours and hours on Target, Walmart, World Market, Joss & Main, and Wayfair for hours and hours. I loved Danielle Moss’ list, but many of the items didn’t fit our size requirements or were out of our budget range.
My searching criteria
We have a pretty large deck – 16′ x 16′ – so I knew we could order quite a bit of furniture. I plan to use the space to work outside (a perk of owning your own business!), play with Emmie, entertain (in a non-social distancing world), and, of course, hang with Matt for cocktail hour!
Also, I didn’t want anything too nice so it’s kid-friendly and dog-friendly. My hope is that this furniture lasts 3 years and then we can consider upgrading some pieces.
Table material:
Searching for the table honestly took HOURS. Aluminum vs. wood vs. steel. So aluminum is the most expensive and was quickly knocked out of the consideration set. While steel looks pretty, it gets super hot and our backyard gets tons of sun. I was concerned Emmie could get hurt touching a hot table. So, the search was on for a wood table. I’m obsessed with this one from CB2, but the reviews are terrible. Ultimately, I opted for a brown wood table to contrast with our white deck.
Related posts:
- The actual cost of a kitchen remodel
- First floor design plans for #TheHerrmannitoHouse
- The Chicago homes we considered buying, but didn’t
Shop our affordable backyard furniture
- Target Britanna Patio Loveseat Natural – Opalhouse
- Britanna 2pk Patio Club Chair Natural – Opalhouse
- Acacia Wood Dining Table
- Light Blue/Grey Outdoor Rug
- Cabana Umbrella
- Cafe chairs (our white chairs sold out, but blue is available)
If you buy furniture, will you share the pics with me on Instagram pretty please!!

Affectionately known to her friends as Millennial Martha for her love of DIY and decorating, Jen can’t help but pour her heart + soul into everything she touches. She’s loved to entertain since acquiring a table and chairs, and giving gifts is one of her favorite hobbies. Jen is the creator of Girl Meets Party. Her dream is to share her passions with the world in hopes to inspire others by making the seemingly unattainable attainable.