Outdoor furniture

GET YOUR GARDEN PREPPED FOR WARMER DAYS WITH THIS ESSENTIAL GUIDE FROM THE EXPERTS

- GINEVRA BENEDETTI, THEA BABINGTON STITT AND AMY LOCKWOOD

Finding the right seating for relaxing, entertaining and dining alfresco will transform your outdoor space, and extend your living area onto the patio or decking during the summer. However, there are so many options available and choosing the right type can be daunting.

So what should you be looking out for when you shop for outdoor furniture? We’ve asked the experts to share some of their industry know-how on what to check when parting with your cash.

1 LOUNGING OR DINING (OR BOTH?)

Begin by deciding what you plan to use your outdoor furniture for. Is it merely for soaking up the sun, relaxing with a book and a drink? Then a lounging set is best. If you plan to have garden parties focused around a barbecue, pizza oven and eating alfresco, then a dining table and chairs is the ideal choice.

‘If you’re looking to entertain family and friends, you are likely to opt for more casual dining options over a traditional dining set,’ notes Tim Penell, head of sales and marketing at Bramblecrest (bramblecrest.com). ‘These offer the versatility of dual-height tables (simple to switch from coffee to dining) or you could consider a set with a firepit table and be able to sit out long after sunset. Whereas, if you are looking for furniture for summer parties, you might consider bar sets or to keep drinks chilled with an ice bucket coffee table.’

2 PICK THE RIGHT STYLE