We Found Inspiration for Furnishing Your Backyard in Our Favorite Summer Movies

Beads of sweat and warm night winds. Smoke from the grill, the rip-roar of ice in a blender, and the sweet, sweet taste of turning on your out-of-office for a week or two. Summer’s (almost) here, and we’re getting ready by watching some of our favorite sun-soaked movies. In case your old lawn chairs are no longer compelling or your patio has lost the plot, we took some inspiration from a selection of what we think are classic summer films and found a few new outdoor accoutrements that will bring a cinematic atmosphere to your backyard.

Blue Crush

Picture this: Foamy waves tumble across white-sand beaches as you catch your crush’s gaze for just a little too long. No Doubt is blaring out of your radio, and Britney is hand-in-hand with Justin on the covers of all your favorite magazines. It’s 2002, and there are no higher stakes than in the world of sun, surf, and teenage infatuation.

But if you’re landlocked and loveless, no sweat. Bold colors and blocky lines transform any outdoor area into a piece of paradise fit for a flirty, fleeting fling. Splurge on a wavy teal Tupelo Goods chair or a radiant, canary-yellow sun lounger from MoMA. Let your rash guard dry in the sun while you sit next to a hot-pink side table from Heller and rest on one of Sferra’s extra-large terry-cloth beach towels. Just don’t forget your sunblock—Dune’s award-winning gel has got you covered. Soon you’ll be all set for a summertime romp in the sun. Just remember: It’s just a little crush.

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Wet Hot American Summer

Enamel plates, mosquito nets, and a dinner bell ringing off in the distance. Where are we going? We’re off to summer camp. School’s out, and we’re ready to kick it full-time with a healthy dose of absurdist 1970s and ’80s nostalgia. I’m talking s’mores and short-shorts. I’m talking card games and Mitch, a can of mixed vegetables dispensing wisdom to Christopher Meloni. It’s going to be hot, it’s going to be wet, and it’s going to be a summer we won’t forget.

But if you want your backyard to evoke camp without being too campy, you can capture a grown-up version of the vibe with a bench from Fritz Hansen or an elegantly utilitarian pendant lamp from Fermob.

Want to go all the way this year? It’s all in the details: Add a pair of Nocs binoculars, a Crow Canyon mug, or a bell from Schoolhouse.

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Something’s Gotta Give

There are some things in life that just feel expensive: Big bay windows looking out on a beach. Picnics on the sand with your daughter’s much older (and richer) ex-lover. Diane Keaton, dressed in white linen and bucket hat, walking on the dunes. Does this sound like Nancy Meyers’s entire oeuvre? Well, you’re right on the money.

If you’ve ever dreamed of summering in an idealized version of the Hamptons, here’s a secret: The coastal-grandma aesthetic is easy to nail. You’ll want stripes aplenty. Opt for shades of cocoa and cream, like on an Autumn Sonata towel or paired with an expertly woven armchair from B&B Italia. Natural wood tones are key, too. You’ll find furniture from Gloster, Food52, and DWR that combines refined East Coast rustic with modern shapes.

If you really want to feel like you’re in an early-2000s rom-com set in Southhampton, go for some knowing details, like a maritime-themed sconce from RBW or a striped pickleball paddle from Tangerine. With these touches and a little imagination, any outdoor space can feel like summer out east.

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How Stella Got Her Groove Back

Bored? Stressed out? Overworked? If you don’t know what you want, we know what you need: a steamy resort romance that’ll put a spring in your step and some sun on your skin. Grab your pool towel and pack a straw hat.

The resort-ready look is all about big patterns and bigger statements. Sink into an Utrecht XL outdoor chair by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for Cassina: The recycled PET upholstery won’t let water in, and the tropical print fits into a beachside all-inclusive just as well as your own backyard paradise.

If you want something that will stand out, you can’t go wrong with a Missoni bathrobe, a towel from OAS, or a striped Yellow Leaf hammock. With one of these head turners, you’ll be the talk of the town in no time.

When it’s time to cool down, you might consider setting up a relaxed seating area with pieces like a Gubi x Mathieu Matégot chair or the RH wicker lounger. Want to kick it up a notch? Slather on the recently revived Orange Gelée sunscreen from Vacation. It smells as good as breakfast.

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Curated by Julia Stevens

Prop styling by Sean Dooley

Photo assisting by Zach Smith

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