Hi friends! I don't need a calendar to know it's that time of year again. All I have to do is check my blog stats and see that a large surge of hits are coming through the outdoor dining posts published from the past two years, (here and here)! I had the same surge of hits at this time last year from the outdoor dining post I'd done the year prior. This only means one thing: Spring is coming and it'll soon be time to take our entertaining outdoors!

The past two years I've compiled a list of favorite pieces that caught my eye from the new Spring collection at IKEA. Matt and I had wonderful luck finding exactly what we wanted there a few years ago after our brand new deck was ready for furniture. Typically, their Outdoor line is colorful, affordable, and fun -which was exactly what we were looking for when we decked out our deck! This year it seems to be lacking a tiny bit in personality. There is definitely not as much color as in the past few years. So this year I'm going to expand a bit to include World Market. I love what they have to offer, although they are pricier. So I've combed through what both stores have to offer and come up with my own list of favorites based on affordability and personality!

Kicking things off is this colorful table from World Market. The metal base is such a cool punch of color, (and also comes in red)!

World Market Blue Beer Garden Dining Table
$229

A fresh and affordable pairing with this colorful table, (which I would consider a bit of a splurge), is the IKEA FEJAN Folding chair in white. Easy to wipe, easy to store.

IKEA FEJAN Folding Chair
$10

FEJAN Folding chair IKEA Perfect for your balcony or other small spaces as the chair is easy to fold up.

These two together with World Market's Orange Glass Wasp Catcher

Next up is this rustic wood table from World Market. Love the proportions of this and the slats on the top!

World Market Catalina Dining Table
$249

And back for the third year in a row is my favorite outdoor dining chair, the IKEA ROXO chair, (we have four in yellow around our grey FALSTER table, also by IKEA)

IKEA ROXO Chair
$20

Aren't they great together?! (Tin planter from IKEA)

For a more industrial, modern look I love this ENHOLMEN table from IKEA. And the price is not too shabby, either!

IKEA ENHOLMEN Table
$159

For such a simple table I paired a slightly more interesting chair from World Market. Also comes in blue, black, yellow, red and green!

World Market Koi Orange Cadiz Metal Chair
$119.98 for set of two

What a fun contrast between table and chairs! Tin planters from IKEA.

Trying to fill a smaller space? No problem! You can still squeeze style into a smaller outdoor space. This end table from World Market is clean and simple and won't make a large footprint.

World Market White Durresi Metal Side Table
$49.99

Now here's a chair for the long haul. I have a feeling once you park your caboose in this cutie you're not gonna be getting up anytime soon.

IKEA PS 2012 Easy Chair - Yellow, (also comes in white)
$149

I could spend a long evening out with this set. Green glass jars from World Market.

Another space saver, this stool from World Market would make a fun little table for a small area.

World Market Yellow Lailani Stool
$79.99

This funny IKEA chair really just made me laugh. But I like it! It looks comfy!

IKEA PS VAGO Easy Chair - blue, (also comes in white)
$29.99

Morning coffee would taste even better with this set, (or your evening drink, whatever it may be)! Paper lanterns from IKEA.

And lastly, for our loungers. This is an IKEA hack idea for anyone interested in a little DIY fun! IKEA hacks are basically transforming IKEA pieces into something a little different by use of paint, and/or minor reconstruction. Start with this cozy, cocooning sofa...

IKEA ENHOLMEN Sofa Combination
$308

...and spray paint it with your color of choice by Rustoleum exterior spray paint! Finish it with a bunch of outdoor pillows, (this handful is from World Market), and you've got yourself a uniquely boho outdoor lounge! I would totally throw a bright sofa in my outdoor area. Actually, I'm really digging this idea...Somebody, please do it!!!

Here is what we put together for our own deck two years ago from IKEA. 4 yellow ROXO chairs, 2 FALSTER armchairs, and a FALSTER table. We've loved how they've held up, how the yellow pops against the gray, and that it's a set we mixed together ourselves. Those are the best kinds in my opinion.

Hop over to see what IKEA has here. Check out what World Market's got here.
**(This post was not sponsored in any way. All thoughts and opinions are uniquely mine)

There you have it! Love anything you saw? Despise them all? What kind of look do you like to see in an outdoor space?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

~Chelsea

This post was originally published on Chelsea's Garage, now affectionately known as StyleMutt.

It is technically not even spring yet, but if you're in the market to do some outdoor furnishing we are approaching the time to shop! Stores will soon stock their new outdoor selections and if you wait too long you may miss out on first picks.

At this time a year ago my husband and I had a brand new deck to furnish and we just weren't having any luck finding anything we really liked. We were very excited to have built our deck within budget but there was little money left for furniture. Even looking at bargain stores and various resources for used sets, we could not find anything that was our taste for a reasonable price. So when we discovered Ikea's hip and inexpensive selection of outdoor furnishings we were on cloud 9! Our vision was to have some color and to sort of mix and match a set of our own. I posted about our mix-matched Ikea set last April and, according to blog stats, that post has been one popular Chelsea's Garage read lately! So, I figured this is a perfect time do a follow up of what Ikea has coming in this season!

Here are some of my favorite picks from what Ikea is offering this year for outdoor furnishing; specifically chairs. I could spend many a warm summer evening lounging in any one of these:

Roxo chair, $20, also available in gray or white: (we have these in yellow, which they do not appear to be offering this year)

A favorite because:I really like the clean lines, the fact that they're easy to wipe clean, stackable, and I love snap of color they add to the table!

Hasselon armchair, $45

A favorite because: This chair has a nautical swag that is so appealing! The crisp white with the natural wood armrests is so fresh and chic. It's a simple shape but this chair hardly blends in.

Vasman armchair, $39.99

A favorite because: As a born fidgeter I love chairs with a bit of movement. I'd be bouncing all evening long in this seat! It's a funky chair. Why not?!?

Hogsten armchair, $79.99

A favorite because: It's like a modern twist on wicker!!! I absolutely love the design; even if it's a completely different style from what's inside your home, the crisp white keeps it from going too far. Love this!

Haro folding chair, $14.99, also available in blue or white

A favorite because: For fifteen bucks each you can have an edgy punch of color around your outdoor table! Outdoor dining chairs don't need to be fancy so have some fun with it! They're easy to wipe clean, easy to store, and are available in multiple colors; what's not to like?!

*Ikea will have their first shipment of outdoor furniture available the first week in April. After that they will get only one more partial shipment, so the early bird really gets the worm!

Let me show you what we put together a year ago:

Falster table and armchairs + 4 yellow Roxo chairs = Our very own original set!