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Your al fresco setup doesn’t need pricey furnishings to feel elevated.
The right outdoor furniture can make your patio fun to use well after summer has passed. And when designers are looking to create a stylish, functional patio on a budget, they turn to IKEA. Scandinavian style is naturally airy and serene, which nicely lends itself to calming outdoor design. If you want a patio that feels like an escape, leaning into that aesthetic is a fast track to getting this vibe.
“It doesn’t take pricey, designer furnishings to craft an unforgettable outdoor room,” Robin Aebischer, interior designer and CEO of BUYnBLUE, says. “Instead, versatile pieces and intelligent planting, lighting, and textures bring it all together.”
IKEA is the mecca for affordable, Scandi-style outdoor pieces, and designers source everything from wooden decking material to seating for small-space balconies. Below, you’ll find the tables designers use to set the stage for elegant al fresco dining. Some designers even use IKEA pieces on their own balcony.
“The JUTHOLMEN is a modular design, so it can be styled as a single seat or built up into a sofa, making it a great option for different social occasions. It has a lovely European garden party feel, with subtle Parisian influences and a look similar to the wrought-iron furniture we are seeing everywhere at the moment. One caveat is that it needs to be purchased with the cushion for it to look its best.”
—Aoife Tobin, founder and principal designer at Aoife Maria Interiors
“I have furniture from the NÄMMARÖ collection on my balcony. I bought it a few years ago, and I liked the price. I also like darker wood, and furniture often comes in either black metal or light wood. NÄMMARÖ was the perfect color for me at the time.”
—Evelina Juzėnaitė, Principal Interior Designer at Planner 5D
“The DOFTRIPS watering can has a beautiful mid-century modern feel with an almost sculptural quality, and I especially love that it does not look like something you would expect to find at IKEA.”
—Aoife Tobin, founder and principal designer at Aoife Maria Interiors
“My favorite “blank canvas” for alfresco dining comes from IKEA’s NMMAR collection. I’ve outfitted it with large linen cushions, subtly colored planters, antique-style lanterns, and the overall effect is far more boutique courtyard than big-box patio.”
—Robin Aebischer, interior designer and CEO of BUYnBLUE
“Honestly, you just can’t go wrong with a beautiful olive tree. It brings such a timeless Mediterranean feel to any outdoor space, and the BRUNBÄR terracotta pot is the perfect finishing detail to complete the look.”
—Aoife Tobin, founder and principal designer at Aoife Maria Interiors
“I find many outdoor lights to be either far too bright, or far too much. SOLVINDEN manages a happy balance, and I tend to throw a bunch on steps, nestled into planting beds and massed on tables. The varying light sources create atmosphere, without feeling staged; good outdoor lighting tends to fade into the background experience.” —Robin Aebischer, interior designer and CEO of BUYnBLUE
“I also love the very simple light bulbs from the SOLVINDEN collection. They create a wonderful evening atmosphere without requiring an electrical outlet.”
—Evelina Juzėnaitė, Principal Interior Designer at Planner 5D
“I also love the IKEA balcony flooring. It's easy to install and perfect for removable floors, where drilling, gluing, and so on are not necessary, or you can’t do that in rental apartment.”
—Evelina Juzėnaitė, Principal Interior Designer at Planner 5D
“I like SEGERN simply for its visual subtlety. Instead of flashy color, the collection lets your accessories—table setting and greenery—do the talking, and I often set it up with large linen runners, rustic pottery, and piles of potted herbs, making every meal feel tied into the landscape.”
—Robin Aebischer, interior designer and CEO of BUYnBLUE
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