Like some sort of reverse, summer-fun werewolf, when the sun comes out in early May, we turn into patio-obsessed monsters. (In a fun way! Who wants a margarita?? Say you want a margarita!)

This year in particular, we know we’re going to be spending a lot of time with our own outdoor spaces, so there’s never been a better time to invest in making your patio or yard look its best. Here are the pieces that are making us forget that we can’t be spending the summer afternoons on our favourite restaurant patios, and welcome us to embrace our own little piece of the great outdoors in style.

The perfect outdoor armchair should be wide enough to curl up with your summer read, and cushy enough to accidentally take a nap in the sun. This oversized modern Hamilton Lounge seat from Harbour Outdoor does just that. 

A daybed, like this on-trend rattan number from Article, offers serious flexibility: it’s lounging space for one or seating for two, and can be pulled up to a table to act as additional dining seating, indoors or al fresco. 

BoConept’s Adelaide chair looks like it would be perfectly at home indoors, but the eucalyptus-wood legs and weather-resistant seat make it a great fit for your outdoor living space, too.

A wide selection of Extremis are available at Livingspace, but our favourite has to be the Sol+Luna, which transforms from sleek solo lounge seat to cushy outdoor sofa in a snap.

Put Solus Decor’s Pacific Rim fire bowl at the centre of your outdoor seating action: here, the flame flickers surrounded by a ring of water for a double dose of hypnotic natural beauty. 

Easier to maintain than hedges, these Pot Inc powder-coated aluminum privacy screens can be tucked right into planters to protect your oasis from prying eyes. 

This Lambrate Terrazzo table from CB2 is made from stone and finished with a protective top-coat to withstand the elements. Think of the speckled terrazzo finish as joyful confetti: a celebration of all things summer

You’re not going to be entertaining a group anytime soon, but when the time does come for you to share your patio perfection with outsiders, you’ll want this teak-frame Malta sofa from Restoration Hardware€”complete with oh-so-summery linen-weave cushions€”to sit down and catch up on.

The Rilly Cocoon chair brings those resort vibes home. Whether you’ve got a pool or not, kicking back in the covered woven seat will make you feel like cool waters are somewhere nearby. 

Great accessories pull an outdoor space together, and this super-sized woven outdoor lamp by Talenti adds both texture and lighting to warm things up.

Stacey McLachlan

Stacey McLachlan

Stacey is a senior editor at Western Living magazine, as well as editor-in-chief of sister publication Vancouver magazine. She loves window shopping on the job: send your home accessories and furniture recommendations over to [email protected]