Luxury Outdoor Furniture That Survives a Texas Summer
An Austin patio has to deal with months of strong sun, sudden storms and humid nights. Good outdoor furniture handles that, but not every piece labeled "outdoor" is built for it. This guide covers what to look for in frames, weaves, cushions and shade, using pieces from Kettal, Tribù, B&B Italia Outdoor, Carl Hansen & Søn, Moroso, GandiaBlasco, Expormim and TUUCI that you can see in our downtown Austin showroom.
Start with the frame: aluminum or teak
Most luxury outdoor collections are built on one of two frames, and each has a different personality.
Powder-coated aluminum is light and stays clean-lined. The Tribù Natal Alu 1-Seat Sofa uses an aluminum frame powder coated with a UV- and scratch-resistant textured lacquer for a matte finish. Aluminum is also the signature material at GandiaBlasco, where the Solanas sofa and the Chill daybed both sit on aluminum frames. At Expormim, the Atrivm dining tables combine a high-resistance aluminum structure with a polyester powder finish and tops in HPL Trespa or Dekton.
Teak is the classic choice if you like natural wood. Carl Hansen & Søn's AH Outdoor series, designed by Alfred Homann in 2022, is made of FSC-certified teak, a hardy wood that patinas over time. The AH601 Outdoor Lounge Chair starts at $1,180 and the two-seat AH701 Outdoor Lounge Sofa starts at $2,107, with cushions sold separately. Tribù works in teak too: its Pure modular sofa uses teak from Indonesian plantations, and the Elio sofa by Yabu Pushelberg pairs a solid teak frame with a handwoven seat.
A practical note for Texas: untreated teak will weather to a soft gray in full sun. That is part of its appeal for many people, but if you want it to stay honey colored, plan on regular care.
Woven rope and cord let the air through
On a humid evening, an open weave is more comfortable than a solid seat. Several of the best outdoor collections are built around braided rope or cord.
Kettal's Bitta collection, designed by Rodolfo Dordoni, combines aluminum structures with braided polyester cord seats. Dordoni's goal was dense braiding that still lets air through, inspired by the ropes used to moor boats. The Bitta Club Outdoor Lounge Chair pairs that weave with teak details and outdoor fabrics, and it is made in Spain.
At B&B Italia Outdoor, the Ray Outdoor Sofa by Antonio Citterio uses an interlacing ribbon of polypropylene fiber that resists UV rays and weathering, on extruded aluminum feet or a teak base.
Moroso takes a more playful approach. The Tropicalia Outdoor Lounge Chair by Patricia Urquiola wraps a stainless steel frame in polymer cords and starts at $2,289.80. Moroso's M'Afrique pieces, designed by Tord Boontje, are woven in nylon cord by craftsmen in Senegal.
Cushions that dry out after a storm
A frame can last for decades, but cushions are where cheap outdoor furniture usually fails. Look for fillings designed to shed water.
Tribù's Natal cushions use a ventilating, water-repellent filling, with an extra inside cover at the seams and a thread that swells when wet to help keep water out. Tribù offers more than 100 outdoor fabrics for the collection. GandiaBlasco's Chill daybed uses waterproof polyurethane foam mini-mattresses with covers in a range of textures and colors.
Even with good cushions, store them or cover them when you won't use the space for a while. They will look better for longer.
Shade is part of the plan
In Austin, shade decides whether a patio gets used in July. TUUCI makes umbrellas for that job. The Ocean Master Max line uses commercial-grade construction, and the F-1 Max adds high-tension stainless steel reinforcement cables and aluminum construction for wind resistance. The Ocean Master Max Classic can be custom made up to 17 feet wide, large enough to cover a full dining table.
Plan the shade and the furniture together. A large umbrella over a dining set or a lounge group protects fabrics and keeps metal frames from heating up in direct sun.
Need it before next summer?
Most outdoor collections are made to order in Europe. If you are working to a deadline, start with our Quick Ship outdoor collection, which includes Carl Hansen & Søn teak pieces and B&B Italia Outdoor designs such as Ray, Mirto and Borea. For everything else, it pays to order in the fall or winter so pieces arrive before the heat.
As an authorized dealer for every brand we carry, including Kettal, Tribù, GandiaBlasco and B&B Italia, we can quote any finish, fabric and configuration the factory offers.
See it in Austin
Outdoor fabrics, weaves and finishes are much easier to choose in person. Visit our showroom in downtown Austin to sit in the pieces, compare teak and aluminum side by side, and look through fabric samples with our team. If you are furnishing a full terrace or pool area, our designers can help with layout, shade and quantities, then put together a quote across brands.
