Summer House Furniture Ideas

Summer is a time of great activity, and many of us spend the months leading up to it looking forward to, and making plans for, our leisure time. For some, it’s the perfect season for installing or redecorating an outbuilding, and it can be great fun to come up with summer house furniture ideas and themes, ready for your summer parties or for all your friends and relatives that are coming to stay.

A summer house can also be the ideal place to escape for some peace and quiet, or for the kids and grandkids to hang out away from the main house. It’s likely it will have many different uses, sometimes changing from week to week or even day to evening. That means furniture for summer houses should be durable, versatile, look great and, perhaps most importantly, be comfortable enough for the whole family to enjoy.

1. Indoor seating for a summer house
2. Indoor beds
3. Outdoor furniture
4. Summer styles and themes for your home

Indoor seating for a summer house

When making a list of summer house furniture ideas, the first issue to consider is that you and your guests will need something to sit on. If you plan to use the space as a quiet retreat, you might like to install a comfy recliner chair where you can escape for an afternoon nap or to read your morning paper. Or if you see the space as more of a family room for movies and games nights, then a 2- or 3-seater recliner sofa will be the best option for sprawling and snuggling up.

When thinking about summer house seating ideas, there are a few environmental factors to take into account. You’ll need a power source to operate any electric motors, and if you’re limited for space you could look at wallhugger models that don’t need much clearance. If your summer house has a lot of windows then you might want to upholster your new sofa in a lighter fabric such as polyester or faux leather which isn’t as vulnerable to sunlight as natural leather or wool. Customise your summer house seating options by choosing a cooling material for your cushions, such as Liquiform which dissipates heat, Celliform which restricts heat absorption or Coolform, which allows airflow through the gel cells. All these cushions are highly supportive and promote pressure distribution, making them suitable for anyone who may need to sit for longer periods of time.

Indoor beds

If you are using your summer house as an extra bedroom, your guests will of course need somewhere to sleep. Sofa beds are clever because they eliminate the need for a separate couch or recliner – they simply can convert from one to the other. Electric models can do this with just the touch of a button. With our electric sofa beds the seat and cushions are incorporated, so you don’t have to remove them first or store them, and our superior quality pocket sprung sofa bed mattresses will provide comfort and support for many years.

If you are using the summer house as a bedroom long term, then you might want to consider something adjustable and more permanent – especially if the occupant is an ageing parent, someone who can’t use the stairs, or even yourself if you suffer from back pain, indigestion or any of several other complaints. Adjustable beds come in double or single models and are great for sitting up in bed or sleeping with the head and knees slightly raised. And, of course, they’re also very comfortable when flat.

Outdoor furniture

If your summer house has an outdoor space, make the most of it by adding some outdoor furniture to match your indoor theme. Keep in mind that if it’s going to stay outside permanently or move in and out, it will need to be made of lightweight and weatherproof materials such as plastic or aluminium. Cane or wicker armchairs and cosy 2-seater love seats always look classy and are easy to move around, and waterproof cushions are available in many different colours and patterns. Should you imagine yourself curled up with a book enjoying the peace and quiet, perhaps you’d prefer a rocking chair, swing seat, bean bag or even a hammock!

On the other hand, if your summer house furniture ideas involve a group of family and friends sitting together enjoying the warm evenings under a string of fairy lights, why not consider a conversation set that you can change around according to the occasion and number of guests? You could add a wicker and glass coffee table, upcycle an old wooden box or even opt for some outdoor bar stools to add to the party atmosphere.

Summer styles and themes for your home

Once you’ve decided what use (or uses) your summer house will have you can have some fun choosing a theme and decking it out. You could adopt a scheme that matches your existing home décor, or pick a new theme altogether so it feels a true escape from reality. Some popular ideas include:

Coastal: Nothing evokes feelings of summer holidays as much as a beachside theme, and it’s easy to achieve with blue and white tones, rough textures like cobbles or wood and shell-motif cushions and wall art. Extend the look into your garden with palms and grasses, sand-coloured ground surfaces and your most comfy loungers.

Country cottage: This is a great theme to match a cottage garden with lots of wildflowers, spring bulbs or old cast iron chairs and benches. Choose bold floral prints for your large furniture upholstery and more delicate designs for cushions or sundry items (mugs and tea towels for example). Upcycled or vintage décor, including old picture frames and ceramics, will add a touch of nostalgia, while lace curtains and doilies, sparingly placed, finish it off nicely.

Scandinavian: This is a contemporary look and perfect if you’re more of a minimalist. Scandinavian style uses simple colour schemes such as stone or beige, whites, black and grey, with natural materials like wood, leather and stone. To brighten it up, choose one contrasting colour – perhaps bright green or citrus yellow – and add splashes of it here and there, maybe with a cushion, bed throw or feature wall.

The bottom line

There are so many ways you can use a summer house… as a family hangout room, an extra bedroom for house guests, an evening gathering place for friends or even as your own private getaway. However you use it, decking it out with the right furniture will make a big difference to how comfortable it is – not to mention it can be a rewarding and creative process.

If you need some summer house furniture ideas for someone who needs a bit more support from their bed or recliner chair, talk to the team at the Mobility Furniture Company. We can give you advice on the best product for your space and even give you a demonstration at home – so you can see exactly how a recliner or sofa bed might look in your summer house. Perhaps you’ll pick your furniture based on your theme, or choose your theme based on the new furniture – either way, the choice is entirely up to you!