Aside from landscaping
(at which I'm no expert) selecting the right furniture is probably the biggest decision when designing your outdoor space. You want it to be functional, comfortable, stylish and able to stand up to whatever weather it may encounter. With so many possible directions to go in
(bohemian, modern, retro, classic....) the task can be quite overwhelming, as I've discovered! So, here are just a few of my current favorites and sources that I hope will help you on your way...

No matter what your space looks like on the inside, the outdoors is a chance to mix things up a bit! Choose some more funky pieces that pop like this
pod stool, or
cutout bench. Even without color, unique textures like this modern take on a
woven chair can inject a dose of originality.

There's no better place to go natural than the outdoors, and these pieces offer alternatives to traditional wicker or wood chairs. The
wood chair's open weave and rounded corners soften a modern shape, while the
egg chair lends a whimsical retro style. Prefer your natural textures in small doses? A
rattan pouf will do the trick nicely and can double as an ottoman or side table!

Forget red-hot. Orange is the color of the season this year! Whether it's in a simple frame like the
Missoni lounger, a classic
Marais, or a
simple modern chair it's the perfect pop to add to your garden setting - especially in these metal options!

If your in it for the long haul with your patio, then it's never a bad idea to invest in more traditional pieces. The
Hampstead Hill collection at Smith & Hawken
(a fabulous outdoor resource!) offers this preppy take on a lattice design - a pattern that has been making quite the comeback recently. Teak is always a fabulous choice for the outdoors, and searching online can help you find more affordable alternatives like the
St. Tropez chair. For modern lines,
West Elm always provides an excellent selection of options for outdoor pieces as well!
A few other sites to browse? Try
Curran for one of the most comprehensive selections out there, as well as
Brown Jordan. Don't forget about places like
Pier 1 and
Cost Plus as well! Happy patioscaping!