Where to Buy Affordable Outdoor Furniture & Decor

It’s been a while since my last post, between COVID, work, and a big move last month there has been a lot going on! In case you missed it, we moved last month to a new neighborhood. We’re still in LA, but living in a different part of town. So far we are loving it and taking every chance we have to walk around our new hood and explore everything this part of town has to offer. Because we are staying home more than ever, we knew we wanted a space that would be large enough for AJ and me to have our own space to work from home. (The competing Zoom calls at the same time got to be a bit much.) And after living in Hollywood/West Hollywood since I moved to LA six years ago, it was time for a change.

I thought finding a new spot to rent would be easy with the pandemic. But the housing market is surprisingly competitive for renting and owning! As much as we were hoping we’d find a great deal, we focused instead on the neighborhood and fell in love with our current spot. Since we rarely leave the house anymore, I’ve shifted all of my attention to home goods and making our new place feel like home as much as possible. Decorating is a process and takes a lot of time – and money – hence why I’ve been a little MIA! Ever since COVID hit I really haven’t been in the mood to shop for clothes. So home goods and furniture have filled the shopping void for me – from little pieces such as serving trays and throw blankets, all the way to outdoor furniture!

Where to Buy Affordable Outdoor Furniture

The best part of our new place is the private rooftop with incredible views of the city stretching from Century City to DTLA and beyond. Shopping for outdoor furniture was surprisingly difficult because we weren’t the only ones looking for it! Outdoor furniture is one of the winning categories during COVID (along with at-home fitness equipment, gardening supplies, and toilet paper) which makes it tough to get your hands on at times. We finally got our outdoor couch (which is unfortunately sold out now) but are still waiting on our outdoor rug and some additional seating, which was all back-ordered.

I’ve gotten a lot of questions about my outdoor furniture so I wanted to share where we’ve been shopping for outdoor furniture and how you can furnish an outdoor space without breaking the bank. Outdoor furniture can be tough. If you go too cheap it will break easily. But price is not always indicative of quality, and higher-priced pieces can still be ruined by Mother Nature.

Where to shop for affordable outdoor furniture

+ Target

I’ve been really pleasantly surprised by Target’s home decor. They have a great variety of home items at great prices and their patio furniture has rave reviews. The set we wanted was sold out when we were shopping for our outdoor furniture (to be honest, a LOT of their furniture is sold out) but it came highly recommended by several people. This egg chair seems to be a crowd favorite, although I really love their conversation sets and sofas as well. If you’re looking for outdoor decor as well (think throw pillows, blankets, rugs, etc.) I highly recommend Target.

+ Wayfair

Wayfair has great prices, although the quality can be hit or miss. Be sure to read the reviews and take measurements before ordering anything. We ordered this couch and despite some so-so reviews we really love it! I would also suggest getting a cover or treatment for your outdoor furniture in the event of bad weather.

+ Ikea

I say this somewhat cautiously because a few weekends ago we tried to go to Ikea. And the line to get into the store was an hour long. And we had gotten to the store 30 minutes before it opened. I don’t recommend Ikea for most things. But they do have some items that are great. If this were pre-COVID times and you could walk in and leisurely stroll through the store, I would say it might be worth it. We specifically had our eye on these stools and chairs. But decided they weren’t waiting in line for almost 2 hours to buy. You really can’t beat Ikea prices. But chances of their outdoor furniture lasting longer than a couple of years is probably slim.

+ Resale

If you need something sooner, it’s always worth checking out a resale app or site. I’ve found great items on Craigslist, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace. It’s worth checking all of those sites and putting up alerts if there is anything you want in particular. You can find great items from Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, West Elm, and even Restoration Hardware at a steep discount if you’re patient and willing to take a drive. Always negotiate, but know that popular items will go quickly!

+ Vintage Stores & Flea Markets

This takes a bit more effort and time, but it can be oh so worth it. I’m not the best at thrifting, but now that the flea markets are open again I want to swing by to find a bistro set for the patio and some other pieces for indoor as well. Vintage is the way to go when you want something unique that will make your place stand out. Flea markets also often have local furniture makers that will build things custom for you – another great option if you want something a little different. Personally, I like to mix some big box store pieces with more unique finds.

Where do you like to buy affordable outdoor furniture?