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!
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!
Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com
Here is a a 1950s / 1960s photo of a collection of various outdoor chairs at an outdoor bbq get together.
Source: goretro.com
1955-People playing cards at a backyard party in Miami featuring those metal chairs I really love.
Source: Flickr-Florida Memory
1950s / 1960s Sun-Tan lawn furniture metal glider vintage ad. Fun!
Source: Pinterest
“Indoor or Outdoor Summer Furniture – Genuine Cane, Rattan Peel or Fiber. Cosy Hassocks” – 1954 Sears Catalog.
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!!
Marilyn Monroe 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.
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).
Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com
June 1952, an advertisement shot for homes in Winter Haven. There are the webbing chairs.
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.
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.
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!
Source: Pinterest
1950s vintage photo of a family grilling hamburgers beside pool in their backyard.
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!
Source: Pinterest
“Get set for summer relaxation” with 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”
Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com
My own 1960s rattan basket chair, as seen on my balcony.
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.
Source: Pinterest
1964 patio umbrella’s in various patterns and colours plus a directors chair. “Fully Automatic & Semi-Automatic”.
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.
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.
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).
Source: Etsy
Mid-Century Modern Vintage Folding Lawn Chairs (avail as of June 13th, 2022 HERE).
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).
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.
Thanks for dropping by!
Liz