Patio Furniture for Bluffton Homes: A Guide for Screened Porches, Pool Decks and Lanais

Bluffton has changed a great deal in twenty years, but one thing has not: people here live outside. Old Town cottages have deep front porches. Newer homes in Palmetto Bluff, Hampton Lake, Berkeley Hall, Belfair and Sun City were designed around screened porches, lanais, outdoor kitchens and pool decks. For much of the year, that outdoor room gets more use than the formal living room inside.

That makes choosing patio furniture in Bluffton a bigger decision than it looks. It is furniture for a room you will use nearly every day, in a climate that is hard on anything left outdoors.

We are a short drive over the bridges on Hilton Head Island, and a lot of our customers are Bluffton homeowners. These are the questions we walk through with them.

Every outdoor space in Bluffton falls roughly into one of four types, and each one calls for different furniture.

• The screened porch. Protected from direct rain and most sun, but still humid. This is where deep seating, woven pieces and more generous cushions belong. It is the closest thing to an indoor room outdoors.
• The covered lanai or loggia. Open on one or more sides, so wind-driven rain reaches the furniture. Choose frames and fabrics that can get wet regularly and dry quickly.
• The open pool deck. Full sun, pool water, sunscreen and afternoon storms. Chaises, low-maintenance materials and quick-drying slings or minimal cushions.
• The front porch. Rockers, a swing, maybe a small table. Pieces that look right from the street and can take the weather without being fussed over.

Bluffton sits on the May River and the marshes, so salt air, humidity and heat are part of the deal. The frame material matters most.

• Hand-woven all-weather wicker. Lloyd Flanders has woven outdoor furniture by hand over aluminum frames since 1906. It is light enough to rearrange, it will not rust, and it gives a screened porch the relaxed Lowcountry look most Bluffton homes are designed for.
• Poly lumber. The Amish-built collections from Berlin Gardens are made from recycled poly lumber that resists fading, cracking and moisture. It is our first recommendation for front porch rockers and for open decks that take the full weather.
• Marine-grade polymer and aluminum. Telescope Casual, a family-owned maker in Granville, New York since 1903, builds collections that shrug off salt, sun and pool water. Their chaises and slings are a natural fit for pool decks.
• Wrought iron. Hand-forged pieces from O.W. Lee bring weight and craftsmanship to a patio, and their fire tables become the gathering point on cooler evenings.

For a deeper comparison, see our guide to Lowcountry outdoor furniture materials.

• HOA guidelines. Many Bluffton communities have architectural guidelines for what is visible from the street or the water. Check before choosing bright colors for front porches and dock areas.
• Hurricane season. Plan where cushions and umbrellas go when a storm is coming. Our hurricane season furniture guide has a full checklist.
• Pollen and mildew. Spring pollen and summer humidity are facts of life here. Choose fabrics that clean with mild soap and water and frames that can be hosed down.
• Made in the USA. Every furniture brand we carry is made in America. That matters for quality, for lead times, and for many of our customers personally. Read more in our U.S.-made outdoor furniture guide.

Outdoor furniture is about comfort, and comfort cannot be judged from a photo. Sit in the lounge chair. Rock in the rocker. Feel how heavy the dining chair is when you pull it out. See the actual fabric colors in daylight. It is the difference between a porch you use every day and one that looks nice from the kitchen window.

Not sure where to start? Our outdoor living quiz matches your space and style to the furniture lines that fit, and you can bring your results to the showroom.

We would love to help you plan your Bluffton porch, lanai or pool deck. Bring measurements and a few photos of your space, and we will walk the floor with you.

Terrace + Tide is at 13 New Orleans Road on Hilton Head Island, Tuesday through Friday 10 to 5, Saturday 10 to 4, and Monday by appointment. Call us at (843) 715-0927. You can also find more on our Bluffton outdoor furniture page.