With the sunshine months looming, it’s time to start thinking about those summer evenings al fresco and with it, the right outdoor garden furniture and garden accessories to accommodate you and your guests. So what do you need to think about before your purchase?
How much to spend?
This depends on you and your budget, but cheap garden furniture doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad – you just have to be selective – it’s definitely worth keeping an ear to the ground for an upcoming garden furniture sale. If you do have more to spend, then look below to our guide on materials.
Size matters
How much room do you have? How many people will you need to accommodate? Garden and patio furniture now comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you should be able to find something that suits your requirements whether it’s square, oval, rectangular or another shape entirely.
Materials
Aluminium garden furniture– light weight and practical and also really durable. But be careful if you live in a windy area as the tubular ranges are not going to stay put.
Wrought iron furniture – This is very heavy in weight, so is good for windy areas, but this can also make the sets more difficult to move around. Iron is also prone to rust so look for rust resistant, or something with a powder finish.
Wooden garden furniture – with so many timbers to choose from there really is something for everyone, and wood always works nicely in an outdoor setting. Wooden furniture usually requires treatment at least once a year to keep it in good condition, but it can be left outside all year round which saves any laborious shifting!
Plastic garden furniture – perfect if you are on a budget and also highly practical. Plastic furniture comes in a range of colours and designs, is durable, easy to clean, and is lightweight.
Rattan/wicker furniture – natural in appearance, lightweight and usually very comfortable! Often wicker furniture is damaged by sunlight so it usually needs treatment.
Now that you’ve got your furniture sorted, don’t forget the eye candy. Water features, garden sculptures and a well mown lawn will really set the scene. And why not go green with some solar garden lights – saving your electricity and environmentally friendly!