Being stuck at home during the pandemic really did teach us a few lessons. One, being, that you can actually do a lot at home, especially in your backyard! It definitely made us realize we shouldn’t underestimate our backyards, they can be locations of major fun, recreation, and relaxation…depending on how we do them up. You can turn your backyard into an ideal date spot for you and your partner, or host a barbecue party! We’ve curated a collection of furniture designs to help you transform these exciting ideas into a reality. These designs will turn your yard into the ultimate relaxation destination. We bet you won’t want to step out of your yard, once you introduce these furniture pieces to it. From a reimagined picnic table to a minimal Scandinavian outdoor chair that will weather over time – these furniture pieces will majorly transform your humble backyard.
1. The Mass Table
Designed by Australian designer Alexander Lotersztain for Derlot, the Mass Table is what you would get if you reimagined and recreated the stereotypical and, to be honest pretty boring picnic table.
Why is it noteworthy?
Alexander took the typical picnic table and transformed it into a unique flat-packed table in an almost fluorescent yellow color. Made from a sturdy combination of powder-coated steel and aluminum, the Mass table is ideal for both indoors and outdoors.
What we like
- The designer drew inspiration from the iconic garden table and used it as a visual reference to design the Mass table. The table was designed to be minimal, sturdy, and contemporary
What we dislike
- Can be used indoors, but we don’t think it would be a suitable fit
2. The Bungalow Luggage
Whether you’re backpacking, planning on fishing, or want to spend time at the lake, foldable and easy-to-carry furniture is definitely going to be on your top priority list. A collapsible furniture range that is relatively luxurious, ultra-lightweight, and packs up into a travel trolley you can tote after you; the Bungalow Luggage by designer Eunsol Lee sets the stage for unique camping experiences.
Why is it noteworthy?
There is no shortage of foldable camping chairs and tables out there. You could even pick a set of tables and chairs off the shelf but this idea of a portable furniture set has its own merits. Unlike the other metal rod collapsible furniture for the outdoors, this one designed for National Geographic is convenient to transport. Just fold up the two chairs and the table into their bags and the trio sits evenly inside a suitcase you can lug along. This ease of portability also comes in handy when you want to fit the furniture in the car’s boot.
What we like
- Packed in a travel trolley-style sturdy case
- The metal spokes aligned as hollow table legs become the base for a wooden plank tabletop
What we dislike
- Seems uncomfortable for extended sitting hours
3. The Bello! Bench
Fjetland designed the Bello! bench for the aluminum producer Hydro. And what was his muse for this piece? You got it right – pasta, or to be more precise penne rigate!
Why is it noteworthy?
Informed by the design and form of pasta, the Bello! bench is a versatile piece of furniture that can be used indoors and outdoors. It’s been created from nearly ninety percent recycled and hundred percent recyclable aluminum.
What we like
- Aluminum was the material of choice for Bello!, this instantly makes the bench sturdy, strong, and durable and not to mention lightweight
What we dislike
- The shape of the bench is opposite to what we usually have, ergonomically speaking, which makes it difficult for sitting comfortably and could lead to a slipping sensation
4. Foldable Lander
Power stations help us carry electricity to the outdoors, tactical EDC helps us service in life-threatening situations, and chairs like the Foldable Lander make sitting much more comfortable in the outdoors.
Why is it noteworthy?
Designed to be compact and lightweight, the Foldable Lander measures a little over 13 inches in length when closed and weighs 2.8 lbs. Open it up, however, and it transforms into a comfortable chair with a backrest, capable of taking up to 100x its weight.
What we like
- Bases itself on the principles of origami and the design of the Moon Lander’s four-legged landing mechanism
- Compact enough to strap to your backpack and weighs less than a 6-pack of beer
What we dislike
- Lack of multiple colour options
5. TableBag
For this year’s Milan Design Week, McDonald’s released a limited edition TableBag which serves as not just your takeout box but can also be turned into an outdoor table, provided you have a post to place it on.
Why is it noteworthy?
The takeout box doesn’t look like the usual one you get from the fast food chain. In fact, it is pretty big considering that you will turn it into a sort of table. Once you’ve unfolded your cardboard tabletop, it’s enough to fit in two sets of burgers and fries and cup holders for a pair of drinks as well. When you’re done using it as a table, you can bring it to a recycle bin since the entire thing is fully recyclable.
What we like
- Recyclable + sustainable design
What we dislike
- If you’re expecting this table top to be available at the McDonald’s near you, sorry to say that these were only for a few, lucky people who ordered through their app in Milan
6. The Chair-A
The Chair – A can be “half folded” into a form that almost resembles a “jigae” or a traditional Korean carrying tool. It is practically a frame that lets you load more things on your back without having to cram them into your backpack or have them dangling precariously from bags.
Why is it noteworthy?
This kind of tool has been used to easily transport loads of firewood, and its design hasn’t really changed at all in the past centuries. This chair, however, applies an A-frame design that makes the carrier look a bit more aesthetic while also providing more stability.
What we like
- It folds completely flat so that it can be conveniently stored in cramped spaces
- The arms do help shift the weight a bit to prevent strain and injury
What we dislike
- Not very comfortable for prolonged use because of the fabric seat
- Absence of a backrest
7. Plint
Italian design studio Pastina created Plint, a collection of urban furniture for Punto Design. Pastina describes Plint as “more than just a street bench”, and I wholeheartedly agree. The colorful and quirky pieces of this collection are a far cry from the dreary brown benches, we often see scattered around cities.
Why is it noteworthy?
Plint plays with diverse materials, geometrics, and visual perceptions, highlighting the interesting contrasts between them. This makes Plint anything but boring!
What we like
- The base is modular, hence allowing each piece to be used individually, or to be combined with other pieces to create compositions of various lengths
What we dislike
- The ridges on the surface help trap dust easily, which is a problem for outdoor/public furniture design
8. The PINCH Chair
Designed by Medium2 Studio, the PINCH chair is your typical and traditional plastic chair with a major redesign.
Why is it noteworthy?
Plastic stackable chairs are a pretty common sight these days, you see them almost everywhere, and you have been seeing them for ages galore. They’re practical and convenient, although they aren’t the most sustainable. However, Medium2 Studio decided to give the plastic chair a new look, creating a unibody and completely stackable plastic chair.
What we like
- New and improved version of the traditional plastic chair
What we dislike
- Not a sustainable option
9. The Böste Lounge Chair
Designed by Stefan Borselius for the Swedish furniture company Skargaarden, the Böste lounge chair is a minimal and sturdy lounge chair that is designed to weather over time
Why is it noteworthy?
The lounge chair is named after the designer’s hometown in Southern Sweden. It is inspired by the classic Westport Chair and is in fact, a Scandinavian version of it. The form of the chair is pretty unique, with the back and seat meeting at an interesting angle, which invites and welcomes users to sit in a gently reclined pose which is great for relaxing and socializing with family and friends.
What we like
- Features a separate footrest that allows users to lie down fully and comfortably
- Built using sustainably sourced teak
What we dislike
- Aesthetically quite similar to other outdoor chairs on the market
10. Transforming Table
Sporting an industrial aesthetic with its powder-coated stainless steel and aluminum construction, the transforming table offers an environment that can quickly adapt to the owners’ needs.
Why is it noteworthy?
On the one hand, it functions as a standing table that creates an atmosphere conducive to quick discussions and meetings. On the other hand, it can also be a place for more relaxed conversations, with friends or families lounging over meals. You could, of course, also have only one side of the table opened with the two seats, leaving the other side free for wood, work, or other things.
What we like
- The top of the standing table opens up in the middle and folds backward to reveal benches that can seat two people on each side
What we dislike
- Transporting the table indoors and outdoors doesn’t seem too easy
