The 1950s and 1960s were a time of exceptional style, and the outdoor patio furniture designed during that era was nothing short of stunning. For lovers of vintage style décor, finding inspiration from the iconic designs of that time can be a great way to transform any outdoor space into a mid-century dream. From charming metal chairs to wood designs that never go out of fashion, there are plenty of ideas to choose from.

In this article, you’ll discover how to transform your patio into a nostalgic wonderland and the types of furniture to look for when designing in the 1950s and 1960s style (thru vintage images & advertising).

Let’s begin!

1960s vintage catalog page for 1960s patio furniture featuring yellow flower pattern.

1953 Vintage photo of Harriet Smart modeling Jantzen bathing suit at the beach in front of a giant patio umbrella — 1953- Harriet Smart modeling Jantzen bathing suit at the beach. Source: Florida Memory

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites. There are 1000’s and 1000’s of items being listed daily.

1950s / 1960s Outdoor Patio Furniture Ideas

1950 Sears Spring / Summer Catalog featuring stylish 1950s furniture. Gliders (I love gliders), chairs, tables and more!

I personally have wanted metal lawn chairs for a long time (I love the bottom left ones), but I just don’t have the space and I don’t think my husband will understand why I think they are so cool. Ha!

1950 Sears Spring Summer Catalog page featuring 1950s patio furniture. All steel gliders, tables and chairs.

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

Here is a a 1950s / 1960s photo of a collection of various outdoor chairs at an outdoor bbq get together.

1950s / 1960s vintage photo of a family in their backyard cooking on an outdoor stove and sitting in various outdoor chairs.

Source: goretro.com

1955-People playing cards at a backyard party in Miami featuring those metal chairs I really love.

1950s vintage photo of People playing cards at a backyard party in Miami - 1955. Featuring 1950s patio furniture and 1950s summer fashion.

Source: Flickr-Florida Memory

1950s / 1960s Sun-Tan lawn furniture metal glider vintage ad. Fun!

1950s / 1960s Sun-Tan Lawn Furniture Metal Glider vintage ad. 1950s Patio Furniture/ 1960s Patio Furniture Ad.

Source: Pinterest

“Indoor or Outdoor Summer Furniture – Genuine Cane, Rattan Peel or Fiber. Cosy Hassocks” – 1954 Sears Catalog.

1954 Sears Spring / Summer Catalog featuring Indoor or Outdoor furniture. Rattan, Cane and Fiber. 1950s Patio Furniture inspiration.

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

Samsonite outdoor furniture 1954 Ad. The outdoor folding furniture with the weather-proof automobile finish!

Source: Pinterest

“Make a summer resort in your backyard” A 1956 Sears Spring Summer catalog patio furniture page for a “Gay Polka Dot Patterned Ensemble” & “Modern Summer Fantasy Leaf Pattern”. LOVE the polka dots!!

1956 Sears Spring Summer Catalog page for 1950s Patio Furniture. Polka Dot Pattern and Floral Pattern.

Marilyn Monroe with her bright orange patio set. Love that rose fabric detail on the umbrella!

Vintage Photo of Marilyn with her bright orange patio set. Love that rose fabric detail on the umbrella!

Source: Pinterest

September 1963, a woman is sitting by the lake in her bathing suit reading in sun lounge chair. Beside her is a floral lounger.

1960s vintage photo: Woman in Bathing Suit Reading in Sun Lounge Chair by the lake.

Source: Etsy- therescuedphoto

‘Better Homes and Gardens’, September 1954 cover featuring a Mid-Century patio / backyard design. Some great ideas in this image.

Source: Pinterest

“Make your lawn a pleasant spot for outdoor living”. Saran webbing & aluminum furniture (from the same 1956 Sears Spring / Summer Catalog).

1960s Patio furniture in green and yellow, red and with webbing or aluminum.

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

June 1952, an advertisement shot for homes in Winter Haven. There are the webbing chairs.

1950s vintage photo of an Advertisement shot for homes in Winter Haven June 1952 featuring 1950s patio furniture 1950s home and 1950s fashions

Source: Florida Memory

1959 Reynolds Aluminum ad: “Outdoor living is really living” featuring all the different 1950s outdoor furniture items you could own that uses Reynolds Aluminum.

1959 Reynolds Aluminum Ad for 1950s outdoor furniture like pools, loungers, tables and chairs. 1950s Patio Furniture & Lawn Furniture.

Source: Pinterest

1961 Sears Spring / Summer Catalog: Wrought metal furniture with Serofoam cushions. This is actually not even for the outdoors, the page is dedicated to the “casual indoor scene” aka the sun room. Same idea.

1961 Sears Spring / Summer Catalog: Wrought Metal furniture with Serofoam cushions. Casual Indoor furniture.

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

Vintage 1960s ad for Woodard….”style authority in wrought iron”. I love our hostesses green floral jacket and matching jacket.

Fun Fact: Woodard was a Canadian company that operated in Alberta and British Columbia, for 101 years, before its sale to the Hudson’s Bay Company (source). Stay tuned for a future blog post!

Late 1950s early 1960s Patio Furniture ad for Wrought Iron outdoor furniture. The vintage ad features a woman in a green floral dress with little jacket.

Source: Pinterest

1950s vintage photo of a family grilling hamburgers beside pool in their backyard.

1950s vintage photo of a family grilling hamburgers beside pool in backyard cookout.

Source: Pixels

“A fresh design in lightweight aluminum lawn furniture. The square tube frame with strong, cool woven plastic webbing” as seen in a 1961 Spring / Summer Sears Catalog. I love the yellow!

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

“Colorful, Smart and So Comfortable” Lloyd outdoor furniture for lawns and terraces, Mid-Century vintage ad.

The sunny hues are quite lovely!

Mid Century Vintage Ad for outdoor furniture for lawns and terraces 1950s 1960s vintage ad

Source: Pinterest

“Get set for summer relaxation” with glider sets & chaise loungers in fun patterns! 1961 Spring / Summer Sears Catalog.

1960s Patio Furniture / Lawn Furniture: glider sets & chaise loungers in fun patterns! 1961 Spring / Summer Sears Catalog.

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

I was thrilled when I saw the “basket chairs” in the 1961 Sears catalog. Why? Because I own the one I circled (see second photo)! In fact it was my grandmothers partners chair and when we downsized their home, I found this stored in the basement in a corner. I just knew there was something special about it and I was right! In the Sears catalog they are calling it a “Palembang Chair”

1960s Patio furniture: Butterfly chair, basket chairs, picnic tables, aluminum webbed chairs. Fun 1960s Mid-Century Style.

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

My own 1960s rattan basket chair, as seen on my balcony.

1960s vintage basket chair. 1960s Patio Furniture / 1960s Mid Century (MCM) Furniture.

I found this image of a early 1960s backyard and there are those chairs again. I never would of thought to add cushions to protect the seat. Great idea and matches so well with the rest of the patio furniture.

1960s mid century backyard patio image featuring 1960s patio furniture like a rattan basket chair

Source: Pinterest

1964 patio umbrella’s in various patterns and colours plus a directors chair. “Fully Automatic & Semi-Automatic”.

1964 Patio Umbrella's in various patterns and colours plus a directors chair as seen in a 1964 Sears Spring Summer Catalog

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

“Tailored….luxuriously styled and elegantly detailed”. “We’ve taken old-favorite redwood and treated it like fine furniture to add new grace to outdoor living. 1964 Sears Catalog.

1964 Sears Catalog Patio Furniture in Redwood. Chairs, Loungers and more.

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

“Loungers delight” & “Relax with year-round redwood”.

1968 Sears Spring / Summer Catalog. It’s fun to see how the furniture style is really moving into that 1970s look everyone knows so well.

1968 Spring Summer Sears Catalog featuring 1960s Patio furniture. Loungers, lawn chairs and more.

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

Shopping for Vintage Patio Furniture

Here are some fun examples of pieces you can pickup today (as of the time of the post) OR inspire you to be on the lookout for when your shopping (Antique stores / markets, etc).

Happy browsing!

Shopping Note: If you click thru to Etsy or, eBay and the item is gone, don’t worry! Search for similar items on the platforms and you might get lucky ! Also make sure you check places like Kijii or Facebook Marketplace AND there are loads of reproductions on the market today as well.

Folding green plastic webbing rocking chair made in the 1960s (avail as of June 13th, 2022 HERE).

Mid Century Patio Furniture: Folding garden rocking chair made in the 1960s. Aluminum base and nylon slats of green and white color and aluminum arms

Source: Etsy

Mid-Century Modern Vintage Folding Lawn Chairs (avail as of June 13th, 2022 HERE).

Mid-Century Modern Vintage Folding Lawn Chairs -vintage Patio Furniture 1950s / 1960s.

Source: eBay

1950s metal patio bouncy chairs in a dark green (avail as of June 13th, 2022 HERE).

Source: Etsy

Last but not least, you cannot have webbing furniture without the ability to fix them (gosh so many memories of falling thru a chair ha ha!). Now the below kit from Woodward’s only works if your chair is yellow BUT I did see other versions online that you can pickup (avail as of June 13th 2022 HERE).

Vintage 1960s RE-WEB-IT Lawn / Patio Furniture Webbing Repair Kit. Bright Yellow with White & Subtle Tan Stripes. A WOODWARD"S Canada Product

Source: Etsy

Question time: Do you love the outdoor furniture styles showcased above? Or do you prefer a modern style? Share any of your thoughts in the comment section below.

Further Reading:

“It’s Officially the Summer of the Old-School Lawn Chair”
“The 1950’s Birth of the North American Back Yard”
“A Buyer’s Guide to Vintage Patio Furniture“
Vintage Inn Blog Post: “Mid-Century Cool: Breeze Blocks“

One last image! I just had to share this last illustration as I thought it was just fantastic (but not in the timeline of this post), a Howell Outdoor Furniture Catalog cover from 1932.

Howell Outdoor Furniture Catalog cover illustration, 1932 — Source: Pinterest

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

For everyones reference, my dream home would be either a Craftsman (original, not new) or a Mid Century Modern. Both of which are impossible to find in my tiny budget in Toronto (outside of Toronto, Craftsman homes are easy (MCM homes are harder). The hubby and I do own a 1925 Craftsman in Windsor, Ontario but it’s rented out till we are ready to leave the big city (so like 30 years from now).

ANYWAYS….the chatter above is to lead into this fun 1958 house planning catalog, complete with interior design ideas you can do with wood (thanks Thorsen Lumber Company). The designs are lovely and really worth a browse especially if you are a fan of 1950s homes (or vintage architecture).

Note: This catalog was found at archive.org. Click the link to see ALL the homes you could of had built (today’ post is just a sample).

Mid Century Modern Home Catalog MCM Home layouts from 1958 catalog

1950s Home Interior Design Illustration living room with fireplace and mid century modern furniture

1950s Modern home Catalog featuring details on 1950s Interior Design and floor plans for your future 1950s house.

Choose your House from a 1958 Modern Living Homes Catalog

Modern Living Plan W-445

“An unusually efficient plan arrangement for a one-floor, three bedroom home.”

1950s Home Construction Floor Plan for 1950s house and 1950s Interior design ideas from a 1958 Catalog

Interior Design Ideas for your Living Rooms:

Room dividers, decorative fir plywood canopy over the fireplace & curved plywood screen to add charm to the fireplace.

1950s Home Decor Idea-Use a Room Divider to break up a large space.

1950s home decor idea have a decorative canopy over the fireplace and built-in bookcase.

1950s Home Decor 1950s Interior Design Idea for your fireplace

Modern Living Plan W-443

“An attractive exterior of horizontal siding and masonry complements the compact and effcient interior of this modern living home.”

More interior design ideas…

Floating storage units for the dining area (I like these!) or cantilevered seats (not a fan).

1950s interior design idea floating storage units for the dining area

1950s interior design idea cantilevered seats.

Here is a 1950s version of the now very popular barn doors you see in today’s interior designs. Plywood curtains or screens to close off glass areas.

Modern Living Plan W-447

“What the women want in a home was carefully considered in the planning of this design. For example, the large famly room with fireplace and adjacent terrace with barbecue pit provide the leisure living desired by today’s homemakers. Also, notice how the garden view living room between family room and bedrooms acts as a buffer for the active and quiet areas. Lavatory near side entrance eliminates traffic through the house-another feature the women appreciate and want in a home.”

1950s home featuring a floor plan for a 1950s modern home.

Modern Living Plan W-452

“A charming exterior that will make the modern living home oustanding in any neighbourhood.”

How to create a warm atmosphere in a living room? “Wood paneling, book shelves, shutters on the window and on a modern high-hearth fireplace of masonry.”

1950s Vintage Home Floor Plan illustration featuring a 1950s living room with wood paneling and fireplace.

According to the Women’s Congress on Housing, “three bedrooms located in front of this L-shaped design is an ideal and desirable quiet area.”

1950s Vintage Home Floor Plan illustration from a 1950s vintage catalog.

Interior layout tips to make living in your 1958 home even easier

1958 interior design tips from a 1950s catalog

Modern Living Plan W-457

A split-level home that’s perfect for a sloping site (love that Mid Century slopping roof line!).

1950s home plan illustration for a split-level home

Modern Living Plan W-463

This split-level design incorporates many of the American Women’s ideas of what a home should be. They are:

A separate dining room adjacent to the kitchen
Three bedrooms in the quiet area of the the upper level
Plenty of closet and storage space
A main level lavatory convenient to service entrance with another one serving family room and laundry in lower level.

Modern Living Plan W-466

“Simplicity & Beauty is a striking feature for this two-story home. The plan too, is simplicity itself and stresses Women’s Congress Homes features which make housekeeping and maintenance an easier task”.

1950s home plan illustration for a two-story home.

Modern Living Plan W-469

“A true Colonial design of modern flavor, this two-story home offers many desirable living advantages. Study and lavatory are appealing Women’s Congress Homes features of the first floor plan, a spacious living room with attractive bay window arrangement.”

1950s home plan illustration for a Colonial Design

Modern Livng Plan W-465

“This story and a half home has impressive exterior that will appeal to many people. The flat room garage (WHICH I LOVE!), the large front porch overhang and picture window combine to give a modern warmth to the appearance of the house.”

1950s home plan illustration 1950s home.

Wood Paneling

After my grandparents immigrated from Germany in the 1950s, and settled in their forever town (Sarnia,Ontario) they built their home. This house would of been finished late 50s, early 1960s I believe. It had a lot of wood paneling on the walls. So seeing this bedroom design with that paneling brings back many a memory of their home design choices.

Do you like this look?

1950s wood panel walls bedroom 1950s interior design

1950s Modern Homes home plan catalog illustration

Question time: What home design / floor plan would you chose from the above?

Thanks for stopping by!

FURTHER READING: Check out my archive of ‘Vintage Home Decor’ Posts HERE.

Liz

Category: Vintage Home