Choosing Garden Furniture

By Katherine Sorrell

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Choosing garden furniture

Enhance your outside space with furniture that is handsome, comfortable, practical and long-lasting. Here are some tips on selecting the best options for you.

What could be nicer than relaxing over a coffee and a book on your balcony, enjoying drinks with friends in your courtyard or eating dinner with family in the garden? We all appreciate our outside spaces much more these days, and the trend is to treat them as extensions of our living areas, with lighting, soft furnishings and furniture that really suits the way we live. The good news is that huge changes in design and technology over recent years have brought about great improvements in the quality of outdoor furniture, ensuring that it is not only more comfortable to use but also looks better and lasts longer. There are endless choices, at all price levels, to suit any kind of outdoor lifestyle. When picking out new garden furniture, the first question to ask is who will use the space, and what for? Will it be for meals, socialising or relaxing in the sun? How many people need to be accommodated, whether regularly or occasionally, and do they have any special requirements? Thinking about this will help decide what furniture you need, whether a dining set for six or more, a bar set, a small bistro set for two, a sofa and pair of armchairs with comfortable cushions, or a hammock, swing seat or set of loungers. In larger gardens, you may wish to have several groupings of furniture, and where there are beautiful views it is nice to place an armchair, bench seat or swinging egg chair so as to enjoy them. In a small garden, corner and L-shaped sofas, slim benches and foldaway chairs can help make the most of the space, or another way to compromise is to buy a set in which the table can be raised to dining height and, afterwards, lowered to act as a coffee table. Consider where the furniture will be placed, as this will determine the largest sizes you can opt for.

You will need level ground, near the house, with enough space not only for the furniture but also to pull chairs in and out and to walk comfortably around the set-up. Pay attention to the way the sun moves around the garden and avoid any particularly exposed areas, and consider whether it’s either necessary for furniture to be so heavy that it doesn’t get blown away or light enough to be moved around easily. Scale is important, too – in a small space, chunky pieces may look out of place, while slender furniture can be ‘lost’ in a large garden. Bear in mind that, for a good proportion of the year, you won’t be using your new garden furniture – but you will be able to see it from the house. Does it look good from all angles? Will it need a cover of some sort? And some elements – e.g. cushions – will need to be stored during winter, so ensure there is enough space available, indoors or out, to do this. Finally, how will the furniture work with its surroundings and what styles do you prefer? Depending on the period of the house and the look of the garden, you may opt for a deliberately traditional look, something very modern, or a timeless style that’s somewhere in-between. The natural colours of rattan and timber, in classic, elegantly rounded shapes, work beautifully with country gardens and older properties, while brighter colours and minimal, angular shapes look great with modern properties and urban courtyards. Garden furniture can be a major investment, so it is worth spending time researching all the alternatives online and in person, asking the retailer about materials, durability, aftercare and any guarantees. Choose pieces that reflect both the interior of the house and your personality – and you will enjoy them immensely for many years to come.

What material is best for garden furniture? Metal

Choose rust-proof metal and it will be strong, durable and low maintenance, though will retain heat on warm days (don’t burn your legs when you sit down!). It can be powder-coated for a choice of colours.

Timber

Teak contains natural oils that enhance its durability, while solid oak is naturally long-lasting, provided some regular aftercare is carried out. All timber will wear naturally over time, but bear in mind that cheaper woods will not last nearly as long.

Weatherproof wicker

While natural wicker is not weather-resistant, this popular choice is made using a synthetic material that can be woven like real rattan, with variations of tone and texture, onto a lightweight aluminium frame. Quality versions look and feel like natural wicker but are completely weatherproof.

Plastic

Can be a cheap option, but not always. Look for sculptural shapes, cool colours and eco-friendly, recycled credentials.

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1 A classic foldable design in walnut-coloured timber, this dining set is practical, good-looking and affordable.

Copenhagen four-seat dining set, £599, Dobbies. 2 Give your garden a modern makeover with a dining set in powder-coated aluminium. Zuiver Vondel small garden table, £849; small garden bench, £439; and pair of garden armchairs, £518; all Cuckooland. 3 Hand-woven in synthetic rattan with waterproof cushions, this sofa set has a classic/contemporary look that works in many styles of outdoor space. Sussex mocha sofa and lounge armchairs with 113cm coffee table, £2,159, Bridgman.

STOCKISTS Bridgman: 020 8804 7474; bridgman.co.uk Cuckooland: 01305 231 231; cuckooland.com Dobbies: 0131 5616 406; dobbies.com