We asked Scout & Nimble founder Jesse Bodine, and other top designers, to share their expertise in wooden outdoor furniture as well as some of their favorite pieces from our outdoor furniture collection.
With its timeless and transitional characteristics, wood is the perfect material for outdoor furniture. If you’re looking for a little push to get going on upscaling your outdoor oasis, we’re here to help! We asked Scout & Nimble founder Jesse Bodine, and other top designers, to share their expertise in wooden outdoor furniture as well as some of their favorite pieces from our outdoor furniture collection.
Design and Photography by Shavonda Gardner
Why wooden outdoor furniture?
When used as a material for outdoor furniture, wood provides timeless versatility to any outdoor space.
Not only does it naturally (and beautifully) blend in with its surroundings, wood brings classic contemporary elements to your design with its clean lines and simplicity. From teak and cedar to eucalyptus and rattan, there’s a wooden outdoor furniture style for everyone.
Design and Photography by Sandra Cavallo
Aside from being durable and long-lasting, wood works beautifully with every style and provides a natural, organic feel to any outdoor space.
Design by Bodine White | Photography by Emily Sewell | SHOP THE LOOK: Sonora Outdoor Dining Table
Design by Bodine White | Photography by Emily Sewell | SHOP THE LOOK: Delano Outdoor Chair
Designer Tips & Picks for Wooden Outdoor Furniture
Sandra Cavallo of Old Silver Shed and Jenny and Kate with Taylor Hill Interiors, two of our favorite fellow designers, shared with us their favorite tips and top picks so we could pass them along to you. Check them out below, along with Jesse’s thoughts and advice on how to choose the best wooden outdoor furniture for your outdoor space.
Jesse Bodine | Design by Bodine White | Photography by Emily Sewell
Jesse’s Picks
Founder of Scout & Nimble and Bodine White
We are seeing this trend where outdoor spaces are being elevated to have more of an interior feel. You’ll continue to see pieces that traditionally have looked like interior pieces become outdoor-friendly, which is really exciting – we love to see the limits and boundaries in this area being broken.
“Recent styles are looking less like what we have come to expect in outdoor furniture – the frames and styles are more reminiscent of statement pieces that traditionally have been indoors. I love the versatility we are seeing in this arena.”
Design by Bodine White | Photography by Emily Sewell | SHOP THE LOOK: Dimitri Outdoor Double Daybed
Design by Bodine White | Photography by Emily Sewell | SHOP THE LOOK: Soren Outdoor Coffee Table
Jesse's Picks for Wooden Outdoor Furniture from Scout & Nimble
Pieces like the Soren and Sherwood outdoor coffee tables and the Dimitri Outdoor Double Daybed are some of our favorites for maximizing your outdoor space and providing the opportunity to infuse your style and personality.
Wooden stools are also great options for additional seating or table space for your patio, porch, deck, or poolside. We absolutely adore using the Teak Stool – it works perfectly as a little side table next to a modern outdoor sofa or between two small accent chairs.
Design by Bodine White | Photography by Emily Sewell | SHOP THE LOOK: Teak Stool
Wooden outdoor sideboards like the Lula Outdoor Sideboard are also an option for wooden outdoor furniture to give you elegant storage solutions and extra functionality, especially if you’ve got an outdoor dining area.
Design by Bodine White | Photography by Emily Sewell | SHOP THE LOOK: Lula Outdoor Sideboard
Sandra Cavallo | Old Silver Shed
Sandra Cavallo’s Picks
Designer Sandra Cavallo has some of the most beautiful outdoor spaces at her Cape Cod home. Given her extensive design experience and everything she’s put into turning the exterior of her home into a dreamscape, she has a lot to share on the topic of wooden outdoor furniture.
“I love the look of wood furniture outside. I really like to let the wood weather blend into our natural surroundings. And I love that wood feels warmer than metal!”
Design by Sandra Cavallo
Sandra and her family spend a lot of time enjoying their outdoor dining spaces, especially with friends and extended family. She recommends a bench or banquette on at least one side of your table if you do a lot of entertaining in your outdoor space.
Design and Photography by Sandra Cavallo
Design and Photography by Sandra Cavallo
Sandra's Wooden Outdoor Furniture Picks from Scout & Nimble
Jenny + Kate | Taylor Hill Interiors
Jenny + Kate’s Picks
Jenny and Kate love that wooden outdoor furniture can be paired easily with other styles to accomplish a cohesive feel while infusing personality.
“We love that wooden outdoor furniture is timeless and transitional. It can pair with more modern or traditional accents to achieve the desired overall goal for an outdoor space.”
Jenny and Kate recommend the mix-and-match method as a way to bring warmth, texture, and personal style to an outdoor furniture set. They often enjoy pairing a teak dining table with metal dining chairs or a wooden teak coffee table with wicker couches and concrete side tables.
“We strongly encourage our clients to look at teak wooden furniture for durability. We are located in the midwest and this furniture can withstand the elements of our four seasons! We especially love wooden teak dining tables, benches, and coffee tables.”
Design by Taylor Hill Interiors
Jenny and Kate's Wooden Outdoor Furniture Picks from Scout & Nimble
All-Around Wooden Outdoor Furniture Favorite: The Rudio Teak Stool and Rudio Teak Decorative Accessory
Jesse, Sandra, and Jenny and Kate all loved the Rudio Outdoor Stool – its diverse functionality allows you to use it, along with its smaller companion the Rudio Outdoor Decorative Accessory, in so many ways.
Image via Four Hands | SHOP THE LOOK: Rudio Outdoor Stool, Rudio Outdoor Decorative Accessory
“They are so diverse and functional. You can use them as a side table, extra seating, paired with a chair as a footstool for relaxation, or even as plant stands. When used together the difference in height adds even more visual interest.”
Ready to upstyle your outdoor space?
Time to put these tips and tricks to use and start transforming your outdoor space into an oasis! Hopefully the simple guide above will get you going in the right direction for a relaxing and functional outdoor space that’s all your own.
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