Choosing the right commercial outdoor furniture is a high-stakes investment for restaurants, wineries, and resorts, yet many hospitality operators fall into costly traps that hurt their bottom line. From prioritizing residential-grade sets over durable materials to ignoring the unique demands of the Pacific Northwest climate, these common mistakes can lead to premature replacement costs and a diminished guest experience. This guide explores the five critical errors—including poor layout planning and budgeting pitfalls—and provides a strategic roadmap for selecting high-performance furnishings that maximize revenue per seat and elevate your brand’s outdoor presence for years to come.

The High Cost of Getting It Wrong

Most restaurant, winery, and club operators don’t realize their outdoor furniture is costing them money until it’s already failing. Many times decisions in hospitality are rushed or not thought through well, and outdoor furniture often takes a back-seat to indoor furnishings when it comes to budgets and gets skimped on. The immediate thrill of seeing a newly updated outdoor space can turn sour in a matter of a year or two if inadequate products are selected. If you’ve ever purchased red umbrellas that turn pink in two years; or tables that wobble after a short amount of time; or chairs that guests will not sit in because they are too hot to the touch; then you know what I am talking about. 

Outdoor furnishings are faced with challenges that indoor furnishings are not faced with; not only is it most often the first impression that guests see, but it must be able to withstand weather conditions such as sun exposure, rain, extreme temperatures, and wind. It also necessitates 

I get it…you have a lot on your “plate”, literally…but not avoiding these mistakes before making buying decisions will cost you. It affects guest and staff experience, brand perception, maintenance costs, and revenue per seat. After working with hospitality clients across restaurants, wineries, resorts, and country clubs, I’ve witnessed firsthand the result of these mistakes that are completely avoidable.

Mistake #1: Choosing Residential-Grade Furniture for Commercial Use

There is a reason that there is a division between commercial and residential grade furniture… furniture selected for commercial outdoor environments must meet higher performance standards. Residential furniture is simply not designed for the usage and wear-and-tear that occurs in a restaurant, club, or public pool area. The furniture at your establishment will need to withstand consistent daily use, exposure to the elements, harsh cleaning chemicals, stacking and unstacking for storage, and guests and staff moving furnishings frequently (oftentimes without proper care). 

Making sure you choose products with the highest grade materials (see my blog article…) will add to the longevity of your furnishings. Likewise, the construction is of utmost importance…if the finishes, welds, joinery and hardware are subpar, it will not stand up to a commercial environment. 

I also recommend looking for products from reputable manufacturers with commercial warranties. 

Mistake #2: Prioritizing Looks Over Durability and Functionality

Before even entering your premises, outdoor furnishings are one of the first things guests (and outsiders) see, and they make a decision instantaneously about your establishment based on this. In addition,  it’s no industry secret that cohesion between the interior and exterior aesthetic of your establishment creates a unified customer experience and elevates your brand image. Selecting furnishings that can function well in the space and that can withstand the elements while still looking good for more than one or two seasons is the challenge.

And while it’s tempting to purchase that collection of trendy outdoor dining sets you see in that new catalogue, ask yourself these questions before you:

• Is it constructed of materials that can perform as well as it looks? Otherwise it may fade, peel, or scratch quickly and ruin the entire look before the maintenance team even has a chance to store it for the winter. 
• Is the style realistic for the purpose it is to serve? For instance, is your goal to turn-and-burn dining guests, but you are considering beautiful cozy lounge seating for that area? You may need to re-think your selection.
• Is the look going to be outdated relatively quickly? Opt for styles that are proven to stand the test of time as opposed to the “new hot look”.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Climate and Regional Conditions

Have you ever sat down on a metal chair in shorts on a sunny day and it felt like a third degree burn? Or witnessed an umbrella lift off and take out an entire dining table after a gust of wind, along with its guests? A big part of the selection process is considering the climate and elements that the furnishings will be exposed to…we can’t ignore Mother Nature, but we can work with her!

With the improved technology in materials available to us today, there are optimal choices for most every climate. Coastal, mountain, desert, and marine climates all require different materials to perform their best. 

Here in the Pacific Northwest where it is damp much of the year, here are a few tips of what to look for:

• Powder coated aluminum, Marine Grade Polymer, and High Density Polyethylene are my top 3 choices when it comes to helping my clients select their outdoor furniture. There are so many great finish options and looks that these materials can replicate, and they are very well-suited to our climate and low maintenance..
• Quick-dry cushions and performance mildew resistant fabrics like @Sunbrella. (see outdoor fabrics article…). In high-use areas, select commercial rated fabric…the industry standard is 30,000 double rubs. 
• Slings are a great option, especially in pool areas and casual dining settings. Slings are also a great choice where chairs are in direct sunlight and cushions are not desired.
• For umbrellas and canopies, a 9 oz marine grade acrylic fabric will not only allow nearly 100% shade factor on sunny days, but will also help to prevent water drips from coming through during a hard rain.
• Make sure to select commercial grade umbrellas and the appropriate bases or mounting systems for all table umbrellas and cantilever umbrellas…I tell my clients it’s like an insurance policy for your umbrella (and quite possibly the table and guests as well!)

Mistake #4: Not Planning for Layout, Flow, and Operational Use

Just like the interior, your outdoor space requires thought and planning for the layout and flow for it to function well. Striking a balance between atmosphere and efficiency is key. There are multiple seating options that can be created depending on the space and the purpose, and selecting the right style, scale, quality, configuration, and quantity of furniture can help alleviate staff frustration, slow service, and reduced seating efficiency.  Some things to consider are:

• What is the purpose of the space? Is it a relaxed lounge atmosphere? Or will it be a dining area busy with servers and bussing staff rushing through? Make sure to leave enough space between tables and for ingress/ egress to the kitchen, restrooms, etc. 
• Consider the scale of the furniture and how it will correlate to revenue per seat in a given space.
• Will the furniture need to be moved around?  Or will it be stationary? Consider the weight and structure…quality welds and molded plastics will wear better than products with more assembly points if it is being dragged around.. 
• Will it need to be multi-purpose and able to adapt to alternative surroundings, and possibly mixed with existing furniture in other spaces? ie: for an event.
• Will you need to add ADA compliant seating options? 
• Do you have a largely elderly clientele that will have difficulty sitting in barstools or low adirondack chairs?

Having a plan prior to placing orders can save you substantial money down the road, not to mention headaches.

Mistake #5: Not Budgeting Correctly

This is a common challenge…budget too little, and you may end up in a situation where the product will need replacing in a short amount of time. On the other hand, many designers or specifiers that are not educated in outdoor products may opt for luxury or name brand furnishings which are beautiful and good quality, but where the value is equal or less than a high-performance product that has less branding. This can result in spending your entire budget for a lesser amount of product. 

I always advise my clients to opt for high-performance furnishings when able, and phase in quality products over a span of a couple seasons. This is a wiser choice in the long run for your establishment than spending the entire budget on poorly made furniture. Many of my clients consolidate and repurpose existing furniture to less frequently used or less visible locations on the property, and allocate the new product to higher visibility spaces where it will have maximum impact. In addition, there is much more control and confidence when it comes to adding on to a furniture collection in the following seasons, part replacements, and warranty issues when purchasing from reputable brands. 

The Bottom Line: Protect Your Hospitality Investment

Successfully furnishing an outdoor hospitality space requires a strategic balance between high-end aesthetics and commercial-grade durability. In the unique climate of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, the cost of “getting it wrong” goes beyond the price of the furniture—it impacts your brand reputation, guest comfort, and long-term ROI. Don’t let unvetted materials or poor layout planning drain your budget. Whether you are launching a new restaurant patio, refreshing a winery tasting room, or upgrading a resort pool area, the right guidance ensures your investment works as hard as you do. Ready to stop scrolling through catalogs and start making confident decisions? Visit J. Michelle Designs to schedule a complimentary sourcing consultation. Let’s partner to create a high-performance outdoor space that drives revenue and leaves a lasting impression on your guests.