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

In 2022, Canada celebrates the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 70^th anniversary of her accession to the throne. She is Canada’s longest reigning sovereign and the first to celebrate a platinum jubilee.

As a Canadian, the monarchy is very much a thing in our country. The Queen is on our money, on stamps, in songs, history (good & bad) etc. etc. etc. So as a Canadian and a lover of vintage, I knew I needed to share some of the ways Canada is marking this special anniversary.

1950s Vintage Photo of Queen Elizabeth the 2nd.

First up, I did a post a few years ago showcasing a collection of vintage images of Queen Elizabeth over the years (on her 90th Birthday). You can find that post HERE.

vintage photo of Queen Elizabeth the 2nd & Prince Philip wedding day. — Photo: Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2014.

In honour of this special day, Canada Post has released a special Platinum Jubilee stamp.

ABOUT THE STAMP:

Celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with this upper left corner block of Permanent^TM domestic rate stamps.

This commemorative stamp features the Royal Mail’s classic “Machin” profile of The Queen. It was created by sculptor Arnold Machin, O.B.E., R.A., for a definitive stamp first issued in 1967, and has been used on British stamps ever since. It is the first time that it has appeared on a Canadian stamp.

According to Robin Harris, an Elizabethan philatelist and editor of Unitrade’s Specialized Catalogue of Canadian Stamps, The Canadian Philatelist and the Corgi Times (collector newsletter):

“The United Kingdom’s iconic Machin series of stamps is the largest definitive series ever produced. Stamp collectors the world over collect and study this series perhaps more than any other series of stamps. New values required for postal rate increases, along with myriad colours and other printing differences, have resulted in more than 2,000 different specimens for both novice and specialist collectors.”

A special jubilee emblem, created for use in Canadian celebrations, is used on the stamp issue and OFDC cancel. It was drawn by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin, Fraser Herald, of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

This year marks the 70th^th anniversary – and Platinum Jubilee – of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. No previous British monarch has reigned long enough to celebrate a platinum (70-year) jubilee. At just 25 years old, she ascended the throne on the death of her father, King George VI. On that day, February 6, 1952, came the proclamation from St. James’s Palace in London that “the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary” was now “Queen of this Realm and of all Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, has appeared on more than 70 Canadian stamps during her reign. She also appeared on four Canadian stamps when she was Princess Elizabeth (Source).

Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: PermanentTM domestic rate stamps

Source: Canada Post

The Canadian Platinum Jubilee Emblem:

Source: Government of Canada

ABOUT THE EMBLEM:

The Royal Cypher of Her Majesty The Queen, EIIR, appears at the centre of the emblem. It makes a personal reference to the Queen as a way of marking this significant anniversary of her reign. Below the Royal Cypher is the number 70, depicted in silver white to allude to the rare and precious metal platinum, the name of a jubilee marking 70 years.

These elements are framed by a 7-sided shape, along with 7 maple leaves and 7 pearls to mark the 7 decades of Her Majesty’s reign. Depicted in red and white, the national colours of Canada, these elements make several allusions to the idea of celebration. The Royal Crown appears at the top of the emblem.

The emblem was designed and painted by Cathy Bursey–Sabourin, Fraser Herald at the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

Learn more: Symbolism of the Canadian Platinum Jubilee emblem

The Royal Canadian Mint is also doing a few special coins marking the occasion. Here is a silver coin featuring a double portrait of the Queen and I think it’s pretty fantastic!

ABOUT THE COIN:

When Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II began her reign in 1952, the 25-year-old monarch could not have known the kinds of challenges Canada and the world would face, or how much progress she would witness. In many ways, the Queen of Canada came of age alongside this nation, embracing new and exciting developments, and adjusting to an ever-changing world with grace and dignity. Now, as Canada celebrates the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, this special edition proof silver dollar reflects upon the journey of our modern monarch and celebrates her 70 years of service (Source).

Source: The Royal Canadian Mint

The other collection is a two-coin set from The Royal Mint and the Royal Canadian Mint.

The coin from The Royal Mint features the commemorative jubilee portrait of The Queen created by renowned sculptor John Bergdahl. The artist also designed the coin’s reverse, which was inspired by the coinage of William IV and makes use of the royal mantle surround.
The coin from the Royal Canadian Mint features a reverse design by Pandora Young, who has captured Her Majesty as she looked in 1952, the year she became queen. The obverse features Susanna Blunt’s effigy of Her Majesty and shows the much-loved monarch we know today (Source).

Take a look at the coins in the video below (video link):

A Corgi parade in Ottawa was held on May 22nd (our Victoria Day long weekend) and it was a cute as it sounded (the Queen has had numerous corgis throughout her life). (video link)

I wanted to share the below image from October 16th, 1977 of the Queen visiting Ottawa during her Silver Jubilee tour. Why? I was born in May of 1977 and so I was around in the world (oblivious to it all LOL) during this time.

Special note: A Silver Jubilee endowment fund set up at the time Elizabeth marked 25 years as monarch in 1977 provides grants for university students to study in a second official language.

1970s photo from 1977 of Queen Elizabeth II visit to Ottawa Canada on her 25th Silver anniversary of being on the throne.

Source: cbc.ca

The Government of Canada has put together a list of actvities and resources for the Canadian celebration of the Jubilee and you can find that HERE.

Last note: I’m not oblivious to the issues the Monarchy has brought to this country (especially our Indigenous community) and so I will also be reflecting & learning more on these topics during this time.

Thanks for dropping by and if you are interested, join the conversation online! Use the hashtag #PlatinumJubilee to share your celebrations and stories!

Liz

Month: June 2022