Tempted to use garden furniture in your living room, but worried what the neighbours might say? Send them this article!
Have you thought about bringing a garden chair into the dining room instead of buying a new one? What about swapping the cushions in the kids’ room with bomb-proof outdoor ones?
Is outdoor furniture an interior design faux pas?
Who knows — but I like to make full use of my garden furniture outside and inside my home! My husband has a gorgeous squidgy outdoor sofa in his office — it was much easier to get through the door than a heavy cumbersome indoor sofa. It looks fabulous covered with vibrant orange outdoor cushions (with the added bonus that when coffee is inevitably spilt over them, they won’t stain!)
Image: the Armadillo Sun outdoor modular sofa we use in the corner of my husband's study. It is lightweight, so easy to move into position, and exceptionally comfortable. I have added pops of colour with luxury garden cushions in Medina Tropic fabric and Sigma Paprika. The cushions are stain-resistant and wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Can you use outdoor furniture indoors?
Absolutely! Outdoor furniture is made to be durable and hardwearing, excellent in high footfall areas or where it’s likely to be vulnerable to spills. Outdoor accessories are often bright and colourful and will inject a dose of dopamine into a room. Or they’re made of natural materials with a weathered aesthetic that lends an autumnal room a cosy earthy ambience.
Instead of tucking beautiful garden furniture away for winter, you can get more from your investment by giving it a second life indoors during the colder months. Mixing outdoor furniture with indoor décor is the sign of a savvy purchaser!
There are many advantages to putting outdoor furniture to use indoors — and a few important considerations too. Here’s my take on when outdoor furniture is a great option indoors; what you need to bear in mind; and some top outdoor-to-indoor styling tips.
What's the difference between outdoor and indoor furniture?
Image: an Armadillo Sun Garden Sofa Set in Palm Pumice, accessorised with luxury outdoor cushions in Summer Stripe Grey and Waffle Charcoal. I designed this set to mix indoor comfort with outdoor durability.
Why is furniture categorised as “indoor” or “outdoor”? It comes down to a prioritisation of characteristics.
Outdoor furniture, by definition, requires some durability against the elements. Of course, the extent of its weather resistance varies with the material and construction. (Find out what to look for to ensure your comfortable outdoor furniture lasts outdoors.)
Some outdoor furniture will be covered with specific chemical treatments to improve their tolerance to soggy conditions, which can impact the hand-feel and how comfortable it is to sit on. (I chat here about why I think that waterproofing outdoor cushions is not necessarily the best route forward for comfy garden furniture.)
Outdoor furniture also tends to be sturdier, although not necessarily heavier as Armadillo Sun’s bean bag furniture is super-lightweight.
Indoor furniture prioritises comfort and style. It can utilise plush fabrics and delicate finishes.
However, the move towards transitional spaces and cohesion between outdoors and indoors (think bifold doors and clever kitchen tiling options that flow seamlessly onto the patio), has pushed garden furniture to be more comfortable and stylish.
With advances in modern outdoor fabrics, it’s now possible to create a successful indoor-outdoor aesthetic with your garden furniture and furnish a patio to be as visually appealing, and as comfortable, as your living room.
However, a notable point of difference between outdoor and indoor furniture is the intended frequency of use. A living room sofa, for example, is (or at least should be!) designed and constructed with daily use in mind — compared to an outdoor sofa that, whilst hardwearing, is expected to be used much less often. The bounciest, comfiest indoor sofas will have a base that includes metal springs to prevent sagging. Outdoor seating, to avoid rust and deterioration, will not include these supportive springs.
Why use outdoor furniture indoors? Ten reasons to bring garden furniture inside
- DURABILITY: outdoor furniture is designed to face the elements. Armadillo Sun fabric furniture can be left outside in all weathers so it’ll easily cope with a muddy boot room or a kids' playroom.
- STURDINESS: untippable garden pouffes, designed for uneven ground outdoors, make brilliant, secure, side tables indoors.
- SPILL AND STAIN-RESISTANCE: outdoor furniture and fabrics are water resistant so worries about spills in a busy household are removed.
- SPACE-SAVING: folding patio chairs, armless outdoor sofa chairs, and small neat garden tables, all offer the option to furnish small or awkward spaces indoors.
- 'OUTDOORS-IN' DESIGN: embracing nature-inspired design trends and bringing the outdoors in with wooden or rattan garden furniture enhances a cosy indoor atmosphere.
- VERSATILE AND MOVABLE: outdoor furniture, depending on what you choose, is often easier to shift around and rearrange. So you can add a chair somewhere you wouldn’t normally put permanent furniture — in an entranceway, or perhaps in front of other seating or a large window.
- A COLOUR BOOST: deliver a daily dose of endorphins with a liberal application of colourful outdoor cushions, indoors. This can be especially effective in a gloomy winter.
- REVITALISING UNDER-USED SPACE: turn an unused formal dining room into a cosy TV room or give yourself extra space for winter entertaining. The joy of a sectional or modular garden sofa is that it can be rearranged to suit the space or the occasion.
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A STYLE YOU LOVE: the very best reason to use outdoor furniture indoors is because you like it. Outdoor furniture indoors is a style statement!
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GETTING MORE FOR YOUR MONEY: when you’ve invested in beautiful garden furniture it’s a shame to see it lie idle over the cold wet months. Bring it indoors and you’re getting more for your money!
With the changing of the seasons, creating a cosy nook in a bedroom or study is another way you might get more out of your outdoor furniture.
Image: bringing an outdoor bean bag inside for a spot next to the fire is an excellent way to enjoy the changing of the seasons.
Want to use outdoor furniture indoors? What to consider before you do.
Comfort is critical. A loungey living room sofa will probably have an internal construction of springs to support and distribute weight. Springs cannot be used outdoors and, whilst the foam used in premium outdoor furniture is very high quality, it will eventually sag if used on a daily basis.
Armadillo Sun garden furniture takes an entirely different approach and, rather than outdoor foam, uses high-quality expanded polystyrene beads. Not only do these not absorb any water when used outdoors but will mould like a hug around you. We are particularly pernickety about the filling of our bean furniture — making sure there are just the right amount of beans to achieve maximum comfort. It took rounds of experimentation to find the perfect quantity of filling and the best shape for our bean bag chairs — we are proud of where we have got to!
If, over time, the beads become compressed with use they can be simply and easily topped up to maintain the firmness you want.
When bringing outdoor furniture into your home it’s sensible to consider how it fits with your interior décor style. Whilst you might want to achieve an eclectic look, it’s unlikely you’ll want pieces that jar or are obtrusive. I’d suggest, for example, avoiding using a whole patio set indoors. Instead, mix and match.
From a practical perspective, make sure the feet and edges of hardwearing outdoor furniture will not damage floors or walls. Luckily this is not a concern with Armadillo Sun furniture which, being based on the bean bag concept, is soft and lightweight.
Opt for outdoor furniture in these seven indoor spaces
Or at least consider it as an option!
Somewhere messy… when you don’t want to worry about mess, spills, and stains. A TV room, a kids room, a games room, or a boot room.
Somewhere sunny… if bleaching from the sun is a concern then choosing outdoor fabric furniture or cushions will put your mind at rest. Perhaps a conservatory or in front of a large south-facing window.
Somewhere with high footfall… when there’s a spot that needs to handle a lot of boots trekking over it, or perhaps grubby little fingers trailing past it, outdoor accessories and furniture provide a solution. A hallway, entranceway, stairwell, or kitchen perhaps.
Somewhere humid… when you’d love to add a touch of relaxed opulence to a bathroom but don’t want to worry about water-damage or humidity. An outdoor bean bag or sofa corner chair would look inviting.
Somewhere indoors you want to feel outdoors… along with plenty of plants, what better way to create the outdoors-in aesthetic than with outdoor furniture!
Somewhere that transitions from indoors to out… the trend continues for spaces that draw you seamlessly between indoors and out. Using modern outdoor furniture, which marries all the style and comfort of indoor furniture with durability, makes sense in these areas.
Somewhere that’s tricky to get furniture into… lightweight outdoor furniture is the perfect fit when you want a sofa for a room with difficult access. Perhaps an attic room or basement, or a room down a narrow corridor.
Tips for Styling Outdoor Furniture for Indoors
Image: I styled this modular garden sofa for use indoors with a soft lambswool throw and matching blue patterned cushions, I added pops of colour with orange outdoor cushions.
Outdoor furniture will make a statement indoors — but you’ll not want it to shriek jarringly from the corner!
To bring your indoor and outdoor furniture together and create a gorgeous stylish space, make sure to do the following.
Mix & match
Using outdoor coffee tables as side tables next to a plush living room sofa is an interesting juxtaposition. Replace a few indoor dining chairs with patio dining chairs for an eclectic look. Or use outdoor seats as the two end chairs at a table for visual interest. Avoid using a whole patio set indoors.
Contrast textures
Layer soft lambswool throws with bright outdoor cushions and plush faux fur pillows. I love taking, what is often more minimalist, outdoor furnishings and adding over-the-top opulent accessories. It creates a balance that is lovely to look at, and gorgeously comfortable to sit on!
Identify your ‘vibe’
Whilst I hate the fact that I’ve just used the word ‘vibe’, it is important to consider the atmosphere and ambience you love. Is it modern or classic? Minimalist or maximalist? Choose your outdoor furniture to fit your vibe. If you consider this when you choose outdoor furniture then the personality of your home will flow naturally into your outdoor space. With the added benefit that it’ll be easy to pull these pieces indoors if and when you need them!
