There’s no time like the present to be spending extra time getting fresh air. Cue the outdoor furniture shopping. We may be in quarantine, but getting outdoors and soaking in the sunshine is still 100% okay as long as you’re maintaining social distancing guidelines. I’m doing everything I can to make my house a sanctuary and give us plenty of options for fun both inside and out. One area we’re lacking right now that’s more noticeable than ever is a laid-back lounge area on the porch or in the yard. We have no outdoor dining or patio lounging other than a couple chairs that I’ve had around for years.
Like so many others, I’m really watching the budget and avoiding frivolous purchases. If I can rationalize something that everyone in the family can use and enjoy, it might go to the top of the list. For outdoor furniture, I envision dinners on the porch, homeschool done from a cozy backyard spot and plenty of opportunities to get away from the TV.
For me, shopping for outdoor furniture (or anything really!) when I’m on a budget involves perusing the higher end catalogs and seeing what catches my eye. I try to get a general inspiration or style going in my head then search for a similar look without the price tag.
For instance, this pretty white chaise lounge chair from Frontgate comes highly recommended from friends who’ve had the chairs and know they stand the test of time. You most likely won’t be looking for new furniture by the time the next spring rolls around, BUT it comes with a higher price tag. I found this lookalike white lounge chair on Wayfair and thisnearly identical white lounge chair and this for a fraction of the price. No idea how they hold up, but it’s pretty convincing when I consider the budget!
white umbrella with fringe ($50!!) // minimal chaise lounge chair (high end) and white lounge chair (budget) // outdoor dining table and chairs // white and natural dining table and benches // black and white striped umbrella // wood chaise lounge // round umbrella stand // square umbrella stand // rattan conversation set // scalloped umbrella // light grey lounge set // stripe chaise lounge (multiple striped and solid options available)
The white umbrella with fringe has been one of my favorite recent finds. It’s easy for these to look cheap, in my opinion, but this one looks great. The fabric is slightly off white, which isn’t ideal, but for fifty bucks, it’s not very noticeable. I set this up over the girls’ play house we DIY’d to give them a little extra shade and I love the way it looks.
That’s as far as I’ve made it in terms of actual shopping. The rest is just a wishlist at this point.
What about you guys? What are you on the hunt for to make the most of this time? Board games and puzzles? Home organization? I’d love to hear!