The perfect furniture for your patio

Your terrace is not just an outdoor space. It is a natural extension of your home, a place where time stands still, where design dialogues with light, and where every piece of furniture has the ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Choosing outdoor furniture well is no small decision. Exposure to sun, rain, humidity, and wind makes this choice much more than a matter of aesthetic taste: it is also a question of durability, maintenance, and long-term profitability. At Kubu, we have been selecting pieces for years that exceed these demands without sacrificing a millimeter of design.

This guide covers the key points you should consider before making any decision, from the most resistant materials to the styles that best suit each type of space.

 

Start with the space, not the furniture

The most common mistake when furnishing a terrace is falling in love with a piece in a store and then trying to fit it in at all costs. The result is usually an overcrowded space that restricts movement and loses all its potential.

Before choosing anything, take some time to honestly analyze your terrace. How many actual square meters do you have? Are there mandatory walkways? Where does the sun hit at different times of the day? What views do you want to take advantage of and which ones do you prefer to block?

1/  Measure accurately

Draw a scaled sketch of your terrace, indicating doors, windows, pillars, and unevenness. A piece of furniture that seems reasonable in a catalog can completely block access to the terrace or prevent a door from opening.

2/  Define usage zones

Are you looking for a dining area, a relaxation area, or both? On small terraces, intelligent zoning (with a good compact table and chairs, for example) can make the space seem twice as large.

3/  Calculate corridors and circulation

A minimum corridor of 80 cm between pieces of furniture is essential for comfortable movement. Around a dining table, 90–100 cm of clear space per chair is recommended to allow people to get up without disturbing others.

 

Material is everything outdoors

Unlike indoor furniture, outdoor furniture coexists with agents that rapidly degrade low-quality materials: UV radiation fades, humidity corrodes, and temperature changes deform. Knowing what each material offers is key to avoiding surprises after six months.

⬡  Aluminum

Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and virtually maintenance-free. Ideal for structures and frames. No additional protection needed. 

◈  Porcelain

For table tops. Extreme resistance to stains, heat, and UV rays. Maintains its color and texture for decades. 

◉  Technical fabric

High-quality outdoor fabrics resist moisture, mold, and fading. Quick-drying and easy to clean. 

◎  Teak and treated woods

Warm and natural appearance. Requires annual maintenance with specific oils or varnishes to maintain its condition. 

▣  Synthetic rattan

Handcrafted look with modern resistance. Quality rattan does not deform or lose color with direct sun. 

△  Stainless steel

Very resistant but heavier than aluminum. Ideal for coastal areas with exposure to sea breeze if it is 316 grade.

Investing in quality materials is not a whim. It is the difference between renovating your terrace every two years or enjoying it for a decade.

 

Choose a style and carry it through

The perfect terrace does not come from mixing a little bit of everything: a chair here that I liked, a sofa there that was on sale, and a table I inherited. The result of that process is usually an incoherent space that never quite works, neither visually nor in terms of use.

There are three major aesthetic trends dominating outdoor design today that adapt to different types of space and personality:

Contemporary Mediterranean

Warm whites, lacquered aluminum in neutral tones, fabrics in beige and ecru. This style works best on terraces with intense natural light. Not overloaded, but not cold either. It conveys calm without sacrificing character. KUBU's Santa Ana and Carson collections respond exactly to this philosophy.

Nordic design applied outdoors

Clean lines, honest materials, and achromatic color palettes with a warm touch. It works extraordinarily well on small terraces because minimalism provides visual spaciousness. Every piece has a reason to be. 

Natural and organic

Wood, rattan, linen, stone. This style embraces imperfection and texture. It is especially suited for terraces with a garden or surrounding vegetation, where the furniture wants to blend in with the environment rather than contrast with it.

Key to consistency: the color palette

• Choose a neutral base color (white, sand, anthracite) for the main pieces
• Add a second tone for fabrics and cushions that adds warmth or contrast
• Limit accent colors to a maximum of two, in small doses (pots, textiles, lighting)
• Maintain consistency with the visible interior: the terrace is seen from inside and vice versa
• Consider light variation: colors change a lot between midday and sunset

 

Comfort is not optional, it is the starting point

A beautiful terrace that is uncomfortable ends up not being used. The best investment you can make in your outdoor space is to ensure that the pieces that make it up invite you to stay for hours, not just for a moment.

In relaxation furniture, seat depth and backrest recline are crucial. An outdoor sofa with a seat depth of 60–65 cm and high-density cushions allows for a relaxed posture without being difficult to get up from. If you are looking for something more upright, a relax-type armchair with a reclining back combines the best of both worlds.

In the dining area, the standard table height (74–76 cm) should be combined with chairs whose seat height is around 44–46 cm. An extendable table multiplies the versatility of the space: it works for morning coffee and for a dinner party for ten on the weekend.

 

Cushions make all the difference

Quality outdoor cushions have silicone hollow polyester fiber filling, which does not absorb moisture and maintains its shape for years. Look for covers in technical fabrics with anti-pilling and UV treatment. Avoid indoor decorative cushions designed for the garden: they deteriorate in a single season.

 

Designed to last: maintenance and care

Mid-to-high quality outdoor furniture does not require intensive maintenance, but it does require certain basic care that makes the difference between it lasting 5 years or 20.

→ Regular cleaning

For aluminum and technical fabrics, soapy water and a soft cloth once a month during the use season are sufficient. Avoid abrasive products or solvents that can damage finishes.

→ Store cushions when it rains

Although technical fabrics repel moisture, storing cushions covered or indoors when not in use significantly extends their lifespan and prevents the appearance of difficult-to-remove moisture stains.

→ Protective covers for winter

If your terrace is exposed during the colder months, specific protective covers protect the furniture finishes from frost, constant rain, and accumulated dirt. It is a small investment with a huge return.