Whether you’re hosting large cocktail parties or casual midweek family meals, a smart seating plan is an essential part of designing an outdoor area. “A good setup creates intimacy, encourages conversation, and makes clever use of space,” says Chicago-based designer Tom Stringer . “You want to follow the same rules when furnishing outdoor rooms as you would when furnishing your interiors, with one main exception: Choosing cohesive pieces is key when planning an outdoor room,” he says. “With no walls to define a space and many beautiful distractions in nature or a garden , most of the seating should be a uniform material, such as teak or metal, so the space feels grounded.” Here, Stringer shares tips for designing functional seating for gathering spots ranging from a formal terrace meant for passing drinks and hors d’oeuvres to a family’s living-dining space.
Encourage conversation Reminiscent of an old-fashioned picnic setup, this farm table accommodates ten and promotes communality. “When you have a crowd, a long, narrow table trumps a round one,” says Stringer. “If you’re hosting 12 people or more, you can have multiple conversations up and down the table.” Round tables are ideal for six people and no more than eight. “Once you’re six feet away from someone across a round table, it’s too far—the experience is less personal,” he says. Lumbar pillows provide lower-back support for diners and introduce a touch of orange to the neutral palette.
Create separate zones In the same backyard, Stringer uses a pergola to define the living space and divide it visually from the dining area. “Building intimate spaces outdoors is a challenge,” he says. “There should be the same flow and room-to-room progression you have entertaining inside.” Creating focal points allows the eyes to have a resting point. Here, arranging the furniture in a U-shape around the fireplace makes the hearth the anchor. Stringer also suggests moving seating around so guests can look back at your house. “A well-lit beautiful home can be a pretty amazing focal point,” he says.
Let function drive the furniture plan A stylish seating area can turn your yard into an elegant oasis for entertaining. Here, cast-aluminum furniture and stone accents create a formal sitting area that can stand up to spills, thanks to high-performance outdoor fabrics. “There’s not a lot of seating, and that was deliberate; it’s a terrace meant for standing or perching elegantly with a cocktail,” says Stringer. The garden stools are cast concrete and perfect for setting down a drink or using as an extra seat. Even the floor has hard-set mortared joints so high heels won’t sink into gravel.
