How to mix and match patio furniture (examples & favorites)

Last week I showed you guys my favorite cheap patio tables and the one that I purchased. I mentioned that I really dislike sets, so I had to see what I would pair with our new patio table.

Another scenario could be that your chairs broke and you don’t have money to replace the entire set and just want to buy new chairs to go with your old table or vice versa. Budget restrictions can definitely be a big reason to replace your outdoor furniture pieces gradually over time.

How to mix and match patio furniture with examples and favorites

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I mix and match outdoor patio furniture, the same way I do with my indoor spaces inside my house. This approach creates extra interest and character. The inside of our home is a good example, like our dining room, the table chairs and antique settee are all from different sources and I love the collected look.

As I mentioned earlier, a lot of people also don’t have the funds to give their outdoor living space a complete makeover. Adding different pieces over time is a more affordable way to achieve the individual style you want. This might scare some people because they don’t even know where to start.

So if you’re here because you are looking to mix and match different types of outdoor furniture, you’re in luck – it’s totally doable! But, just a heads up, there are some limits to what you can combine. Let me give you some of my favorite tips.

1. Use the rule of three

For a great way to successfully pull off a mix-and-match look and to strike the perfect balance, I recommend following the “rule of three”. This means choosing three different material types. You could even break it down further and choose three materials for your furniture, three for soft furnishings, and three for decorative accessories and finishings.

In design, the number three is super important. It shows that you’ve put some thought into your choices and that you’re making a deliberate decision rather than just throwing things together. By sticking to this rule, you can create a cohesive outdoor space that looks great and feels comfortable. So go ahead and get creative – just remember to keep it within those three guidelines! Sticking to this can also help you not to go too overboard with your different materials.

So go ahead and get creative with your material choices, just remember to keep that balance in mind. You’ll end up with a beautiful outdoor space that reflects your personal style and is perfect for relaxing and entertaining.

Here is our outdoor dining space and the three materials: faux bamboo/rattan of the bistro chairs, the wood top of the table (although it’s actually tile that looks like a wood table top), and the metal legs of the table. The colors are white, blue, the taupe/brown of the umbrella, stonework, and wood tones.

side view of patio umbrella replacement with boho fringe with wood look metal patio table

My furniture placement: We have a round paver patio and no deck. While we used to have a round table, I switched it up this time with a rectangular patio table. Across from that outdoor dining area on our patio space, I added a lounge area with some teak chaise lounges that repeat the metal and wood combination. None of the furniture pictured came in a set and was accumulated over time. I grounded the small lounge area with an outdoor rug.

metal mesh patio table with macrame between two sun lounge chairs with blue accents and a lot of plants in terracotta pots — The best way to restore teak outdoor furniture and metal patio table makeover using macrame yarn

2. Bring everything together through color and texture

When it comes to choosing colors for your outdoor space, it’s important to find a good mix. You might not be able to stick to the “rule of three” completely, try to choose three main colors that work well together.

To really tie the space together, consider choosing one main color which is blue for my backyard that runs throughout, and then adding in some accent tones. This will help create a cohesive theme and give your outdoor space a more put-together look. Just remember to choose colors that complement each other and help create a unified look. You’ll end up with an outdoor space that’s uniquely you and perfect for relaxing and entertaining!

You can definitely already see in my above photos how the blue and white patterns bring the space and design style together. Since I have so many plants and accents, I didn’t want to throw more colors in there. The reddish plant is a substitute for another accent color which I repeated in flowers throughout the yard and occasionally even food as you can see ;).

outdoor table setting for summer in red, white, and blue

refinished spindle leg bench on paver patio with blue and white decor — I recently refinished the above bench and you can check out my post about how to sand spindles for all the details.

3. Mix in accessories and finishing touches

When it comes to mixing and matching outdoor furniture, the little details can make a big difference. Accessories and finishing touches like colorful flowers (as I already mentioned), statement plants, and table settings can help tie everything together and highlight your favorite pieces. I just showed you my red-leaf plant and I have many others on and around my outdoor area. I even hang things inside my umbrella for extra interest.

close-up of seashell wind chime chandelier lit at night hanging inside fringed patio umbrella

We still have the same furniture but had to recently replace the above umbrella cover. Check out my favorite patio umbrella replacement canopies and how to measure a patio umbrella replacement canopy.

DIY tassel umbrella on patio with woven French bistro chairs — Find out how to make the tassel umbrella! I love the look. Or check out my 9 favorite blue and white French woven bistro chairs.

seashell wind chime with fairy lights turned into a chandelier for patio umbrella lighting — seashell windchime with solar fairy lights and coconut hanging planter with plant inside the umbrella

seashell wind chime chandelier lit at night hanging inside fringed patio umbrella

I also added a lot of solar lanterns throughout the yard that look pretty during the day and add extra ambiance at night.

solar lights used in and around the stock tank pool — DIY outdoor hanging solar lantern tutorial

wooden lounge chairs with metal table with macrame details — DIY metal patio table makeover using macrame yard for some visual interest. This was a set of metal end tables that I broke apart so I could change the look to my own unique style.

You could even use throw cushions to unite two different styles of sofa, or a cozy throw to soften a modern chair and make it work with your more rustic furniture. It’s amazing how these little touches can really bring an eclectic style together!

stock tank pool with blue and white accessories — Check out our stock tank pool if you are new to my blog.

top view of patio umbrella replacement with boho fringe, stock tank pool in the background, and a variety of tropical plants

And don’t forget – your outdoor space is your own personal sanctuary, so be sure to add some personal touches that make you happy.

The possibilities are endless outdoors and fun to put together especially when you see your own personality shine through to get the vibe that you want.

Here is another seating area in our backyard with teak chairs:

garden seating area with small teak folding chairs — stylish slingback patio chairs

Mix-and-matching furniture quick tips

have fun with it
stick to the rule of threes
coordinate the colors with the rest of your house and decor
don’t be afraid of mixing different finishes
watch out for the scale, you don’t want the table to swallow up the chairs or vice versa
and don’t be afraid to mix styles – yes you can mix modern, boho, and country or whatever floats your boat, just don’t overdo it.

black metal furniture set up for a woodsy summer patio dinner — Our second small flagstone patio is under the trees.

My favorite patio chairs to mix with any patio table

Let me give you some examples of chairs that I considered with our table. I found so many good ones and really like that they are somewhat different from the table style.

8 different patio chairs that would match any patio table

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 (our outdoor dining table) | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

I’ve always loved bistro-style patio chairs. Maybe that’s because I grew up in Europe. So I chose number 3 but unfortunately, the same color combo isn’t available anymore.

I applied the same principles to my porch decor with the vintage rattan outdoor sofa that I found on Facebook Marketplace. I know the plants grew in a lot but can you spy the metal table and some of the other furniture pieces? The velvet accent pillows I bought to coordinate with the original vintage cushion fabric from the 80s. Rattan and wicker furniture pairs nicely a variety of different furniture styles because it is so timeless.

fire column lit on cozy fall porch with terracotta pumpkins — I painted the concrete last year and love it. You should check out the tutorial about how to repaint a painted concrete porch.

I hope this blog post gave you some good examples and simple guidelines that will help you put your own outdoor space together to fit your needs, style, and personality.

Tschüß,

4 Comments

Rachel says:

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You are so creative! What lovely outdoor spaces. I also just read your post about restoring teak furniture. Thanks for the inspiration!

1. Julia says:
  
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  Thanks for reading Rachel!
  
Alice Mcmiller says:

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Your guide on mixing and matching patio furniture is a game-changer! The idea of using a common element like color or style to tie different pieces together is brilliant. Thanks for sharing this creative approach to designing a stylish and unique outdoor space!

Lian says:

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Thanks for sharing these insights to help homeowners achieve a personalized and inviting patio ambiance.