Portable outdoor furniture for summer lawn lounging

July 17, 2020 2:27 PM

Apartment dweller here. I'm looking for easy portable furniture that I can set up on the lawn for maximum summer enjoyment and lounging!

We have a small lawn that we can use in front of our apartment. I share it and it's on a main street so whatever I buy must be easy enough to pack up at the end of a few hours AND compact enough to fit in my little apartment. I was considering: a shady tent or structure, a few lounge chairs, possible a little coffee table or something steady to hold drinks or snacks. Not too big, lightweight, comfy, easy to pack up things would be best. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Thank you!

posted by biscuits to Home & Garden (6 answers total)

We use wooden tv trays when we camp because they are heavy enough to stand up to the wind and are the right height for plates and cups.
posted by soelo at 3:19 PM on July 17, 2020 [1 favorite]

I'd get a couple of foldable camping chairs like this with a shady top and a cup holder. They come in a case with a handle so you could hang them up when not in use or maybe stash in a closet.
posted by selfmedicating at 4:22 PM on July 17, 2020 [3 favorites]

Check out pop up canopies like this. A $55 one might not last more than a few years, but if it lasts a few years that’s decent value for this context imo. I have a bigger/sturdier model that I have left up for 1.5 summers now and is holding up great, but I haven’t tried the lighter weight models, YMMV.
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:47 PM on July 17, 2020

We have these, and they're fucking fantastic because they're rigid and the parts nest into each other. They're really easy to move around and store inside the back of a closet or under a bed in the off seasons. Lots of manufacturers make the same style, to the point where I'm sure they roll out of the same factory. Byers of Maine carries ones strikingly similar to the ones we have.
posted by furnace.heart at 4:53 PM on July 17, 2020

I am partial to metal-frame folding chairs like this. They are more supportive than those umbrella types, and take much less time to fold and unfold. When folded, they don't use much room. They are light, too. For tables, I like these little wooden ones. They are light, fold up flat, and are a good height for putting a drink on. Both chairs and tables are available all over the place.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 9:54 AM on July 18, 2020

These recline, fold flat, and have a tray that attaches on the side for drinks and snacks.
posted by metasarah at 1:34 PM on July 18, 2020