Great things to make the most of the great outdoors
There's a concept at the heart of Scandinavian life called friluftsliv — literally "open air life". It's simply the idea that being outside, connecting with nature, is good for you. It's less of a hobby, more of a way of living. Scandinavians don't wait for the sun to come out (and if we did, we might be waiting a while!). They just make sure they've got good things to take outside with them.
We're not a specialist outdoor retailer, and most of what we stock is designed to live indoors all year round. But not all of it — we've a good assortment of things which are not only lovely in themselves, but also portable and practical enough that you can quickly grab them or pop them in a bag and head off to make the most of the weather. Here are some of our favourite things for taking outside.
The outdoor rug: your garden's best accessory
A good outdoor rug transforms a patio or decking area from something utilitarian to a space you want to relax in. Pappelina's PVC rugs are hand-woven in Sweden, weatherproof (as you'd expect), and look as good inside as out. Wipe them clean or pop them in the washing machine — they're built to last for years rather than one season. We're running down our remaining stock, so if you've been thinking about one, now's the time to grab a great rug at a great price.
Music for the garden — and beyond
A sunny afternoon outside is better with a soundtrack. Kreafunk's Bluetooth speakers come in a range of sizes, from pocket-sized upwards, and all deliver excellent sound quality. The larger models are ideal for the patio or garden, and the smaller ones can easily be popped into a bag for a picnic or a day out. Clean Danish design, fully wireless and rechargeable, in a range of colours — it's no surprise they're so popular.
Drink it all in
You're not relaxing outdoors without a drink. At least, we're not. And whatever's on the menu — coffee, tea, a cold one — our preference is to drink it from something that is considered and…nice. We have some very nice travel cups from Aya & Ida and design icons Stelton, as well as robust but lovely water bottles, flasks and lunch boxes that keep things hot or cold for hours.
And they say that we should all get some natural daylight as early in the day as possible — so what better way of looking after yourself than popping out to the garden with Eva Solo's stainless steel cafetière for your morning cup of coffee?
See travel cups, bottles and flasks →
For the birds
Support your local wildlife while you're spending more time in the garden. Eva Solo's sleek bird feeders are a lot more attractive than your run-of-the-mill feeder — they look like baubles hanging from a branch, and will hold either bird seed or suet balls, so you'll be extremely popular with your garden birds. The robust borosilicate glass globe means you get a good view of your visitors, and they're dishwasher safe — which matters, because we're told that washing feeders regularly is one of the best things you can do for your garden's birds.
Outside light for longer evenings
The best outdoor afternoons tend to drift into evening, so flexible lighting is a good idea. The extremely portable Rosendahl Soft Spot is solar powered (or you can use a USB if you can't wait) and casts a warm, diffused glow once the sun goes down — no cables, no fuss, no reason to head inside. It's a well considered piece of Danish design, just as happy on a shelf or side table in the house as it is on a table in the garden.
If you want something a little more quirky, the Piffany Norbitt rechargeable lamp has a lot of personality. Even better, you can buy a magnetic hanging string for it, letting you suspend the lamp from a branch, a pergola or a fence — which makes it genuinely one of the most versatile bits of outdoor lighting we stock.
Want one good-looking piece of kit that does both? The Kooduu Sensa Play Mini is a compact Bluetooth speaker and dimmable lamp combined, from Danish-Dutch brand Kooduu. Smart, portable, and genuinely clever — equally at home on a garden table or a bedside table.
And we've got more portable lamps and lanterns suitable for outdoor use if you want to explore further.
The finishing touches
The difference between sitting in the garden and actually relaxing in the garden is often in the details. A good cushion turns a hard garden chair into somewhere you actually want to spend a bit of time (or an afternoon). We love Broste Copenhagen's cushions for something a bit special, and their Dora floral or koi carp cushions would both work well outdoors. Or bring a bit of fun to any outdoor seating with the illustrated character cushions from Spira of Sweden.
And if you're eating outdoors, throwing a linen tablecloth over an outdoor table is one of the quickest ways to create a real sense of occasion — effortless, but it makes everything feel more considered.
See cushions and soft furnishings →
Bring the outdoors in
If the weather isn't playing ball, there's always the windowsill. Growing herbs indoors is one of the easiest ways to stay connected to the seasons, and we love a good pot. These Rosendahl plant pots are made from recycled materials and come in dark green or sand — understated and practical in equal measure.
For something with a bit more character, the Broste Copenhagen Mika pots have a lovely retro 70s feel and come in two sizes, while the Iittala Nappula is a Finnish design classic available in white or blush pink. And one of our very favourites: the Dottir Samsurium spruce pots, which are just gorgeous.
And if you're keeping things watered, the Stelton Bloom watering can is a lovely thing — practical, well made and stylish enough to leave out on display rather than hiding it away.
See our full outdoor collection →
Browse our dining collection →
Want some more inspiration? Have a look at our other product and style guides for more ideas. See The Scandi Edit →
We originally published this in June 2025, and updated it May 2026.
