Heated Outdoor Furniture To Warm Up Your Winters
What is heated outdoor furniture?
Heated outdoor furniture refers to patio or garden furnishings equipped with built-in heating elements. They are designed to provide warmth and comfort in outdoor spaces, especially during colder months.
The idea is that the heat radiating from the seat directly onto the user provides better warmth then fires or propane heaters.
There are various designs of heated furniture, usually in the form of chairs and sofas. The heating is powered by electricity, and the temperature can sometimes be adjusted to the user’s preference. This type of furniture is popular in patios, decks, and outdoor hospitality settings like cafes or restaurants, extending the usability of these spaces into the colder months.
Brands Leading the Way in Heated Outdoor Furniture
Galanter & Jones
The most recognizable brand, thanks to Instagram, where you see beautifully captured moments from rooftops to seaside showcasing the inviting heated furniture from Galanter & Jones. Their well-known products include the Helios Lounge, a smooth, cast stone lounge with adjustable radiant warmth, and the Evia Heated Lounge, inspired by classic leather sling chairs but with a more modern design with sleek lines and concrete construction.
The company was founded in San Francisco by siblings Aaron and Miranda Jones, and it revolutionized the outdoor furniture market by introducing the concept of heated seating to enhance outdoor living, especially in cooler climates.
The furniture is designed with comfort in mind, featuring ergonomic curves and contours that offer a relaxing seating experience. All the styles have a very organic, modern feel.
The furniture is made with high-quality materials, ensuring durability and longevity. They often use cast stone with pigments made from metal oxide, so they are naturally UV resistant. The stainless steel frames are powder-coated for excellent corrosion resistance. They are even durable enough for commercial settings!
The heat settings are adjustable, providing just the right amount of warmth per the user’s preference, up to 120 degrees fahrenheit. The furniture pieces typically take 20-30 minutes to fully warm, depending on the ambient temperature. In colder climates, placing a blanket over your furniture is advised to speed up the process.
Cost-effective with the most significant energy user, Helios Lounge, operating at about $1 of electricity per 8 hours on the highest setting. They also demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, using materials and processes that are environmentally conscious.
Wrmth
Wrmth is a Canadian company created to solve the issue of staying warm outdoors. Their Adirondack style chairs, the Muskoka chairs, are their foray into the heated furniture space.
Wrmth furniture focuses on providing comfort outdoors, even in cooler weather,
Their furniture is handcrafted in Ontario from modified stone, ensuring durability and a quality finish. They incorporate controlled radiant heating into their furniture, generating a warm and soothing experience. Built to withstand Canadian weather conditions. The chairs are available in a range of colors and patterns inspired by the Canadian shield.
Customers have reported high satisfaction with the comfort and warmth provided by Wrmth chairs, noting the benefits of the heat on their back and the overall enjoyment of the chairs.
Wrmth emphasizes a commitment to locally made products, contributing to local entrepreneurship and sustainability.
Dodeka Chairs
Dodeka is a Canadian outdoor furniture manufacturer known for its design, quality, and service commitment. The company prides itself on producing timeless furniture entirely in Victoria, BC, utilizing local trades and optimal materials. In their outdoor furniture collections, Dodeka offered the industry’s first cushioned heated seats.
Dodeka has a handful of collections with slightly varied designs. Their coffee and side tables have a smart hideaway underneath for cushion storage. They even have plans to introduce heated seats to their dining set collection.
Dodeka makes their furniture as an alternative to overhead heaters, keeping the people rather than the air warm. Their advanced technology has an occupant sensor, which ensures the heat is off when not occupied. How clever!
For the evenings, their under-seat daylight sensor LED lights up, providing a cozy vibe. Since Dodeka warms the cushions and not the actual furniture, there are quick release connections in each cushion.
Available cushion fabrics from Serge Ferrari Stamskin, a durable imitation leather, or Sunbrella, a performance fabric with UV-stabilized pigments. The frames are welded aluminum, etched, and powder coated to last generations. The Sandtex powder coating is textured with a matte finish, ideal for the outdoors.
Additionally, Dodeka provides custom furniture, planters, and screens, offering sectionals and sizes to suit various needs and preferences. The heated seats are patented and exclusive to Dodeka, ensuring users a unique and comfortable stay warm experience.
Outmore Living
Outmore Living is a brand that epitomizes the fusion of comfort, innovation, and luxury in outdoor furniture. Their offerings, notably the Solerno Collection, made from marine-grade teak wood, are designed to elevate the outdoor living experience.
The Solerno Collection consists of a chair, loveseat, and sofa or a combination of those in complete sets.
The teak frame is not the heated part of the furniture; the cushions are. The Sunbrella fabric cushions attach to the teak frame magnetically to prevent cushions from sliding. Then, the power bar is magnetically connected to the bottom of the teak frame to engage the heating pads within the cushions.
Bonus! The power bar is equipped with both USB-A and USB-C outlets. So you can charge all your favorite devices while enjoying the furniture.
Outmore furniture is designed for frigid climates. The heat settings are adjustable, ranging from 85 – 120°F, allowing users to find the perfect comfortable temperature. Depending on the ambient temperature, the furniture takes about 90 seconds to fully warm up. However, you will first feel the temperature after 15 seconds. If you are in freezing climates, it may take longer. You can help speed up the process by placing a blanket over or sitting on top of your furniture to trap the heat!
It is not necessary to use the battery; you can plug the furniture into a standard 12V outlet. All Outmore Living products come with a standard 6-foot cord to enable you to always have access to an ‘evergreen’ plug-in. However, the power bar is designed for durability on its own, with up to 20 hours of battery life off a single charge, ensuring prolonged outdoor enjoyment. The power bar takes 3-3.5 hours to charge from zero to full battery. Here is their battery life chart:
The power bar and heated cushions are outdoor grade and UCL certified. Although they recommend bringing your power bar inside to charge after each use, they should be fine if accidentally left outdoors in the rain. However, as they went to great lengths to make the cushions as water resistant as possible, they are not 100% waterproof, and it is best to bring them inside or cover them when not in use.
Heated Camping Chairs
For a more mobile option with a lower entry price, heated camping chairs could be a good solution for your backyard winter hangs.
Heated camping chairs are designed to provide warmth and comfort during outdoor activities like camping, tailgating, or watching sports events in cooler weather. These chairs typically incorporate heating elements into the seat and sometimes the backrest, offering a warm seating option to combat the chill.
Most use battery-powered heating elements, either with rechargeable batteries or standard batteries.
Like regular camping chairs, heated camping chairs are designed for portability. They are typically made with sturdy, weather-resistant materials to withstand outdoor conditions. They often have a robust frame, usually steel or aluminum, and a durable fabric like polyester.
Heated camping chairs are an excellent investment for outdoor enthusiasts looking to add comfort and warmth to their outdoor adventures during colder months or evenings. For more information, view our article about the best heated camping chairs.
