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Hand’s up, who thinks differently about their garden after the year we’ve had? I’m lucky that I have a wonderful space, but I also have to be honest, I didn’t really appreciate it or utilise it, but I’m changing that this year. Staying home has shown how much potential our garden has. I’ve lots of plans when it comes to flowers, but I also want somewhere comfortable to sit and admire it – so I’ve been searching out the best outdoor furniture to make the summer perfect.
I find shopping for outdoor furniture trickery, mainly because there are so many options of the same thing, with wide-ranging price points – some gorgeous lounge sets are around £3,000 – so these are investment pieces. You also have to decide what you want, a sofa set, a trendy egg chair, a fun bar, elegant dining, or sun loungers, and also where it will go in your garden.
Outdoor Furniture Trends 2021
With so many options and styles, I thought I would break down this year’s biggest trends for all budgets.
The Outdoor Lounge
To fully enjoy a garden or outdoor space you need somewhere comfortable. This year it is all about adding those holiday vibes into your own garden with relaxing areas to lounge, enjoy a cocktail and read a good book. I’ve longed for a sofa set for many years, but I have found many to be old-fashioned, well outdoor furniture has moved on and there are a lot of contemporary designs to choose from.
The main thing to remember is that you want a sofa that is as comfortable as inside but made with water-resistant materials instead. Also, consider where it will go, a corner style can be great for maximising space and putting against a wall or fence, while bench styles are perfect for smaller spaces.
Price points fall anywhere between £300 and £3,000 so options for all budgets. I look at sofa sets as an investment and should be considered in the same way you buy a sofa for indoors – you want a piece that will last and is comfortable. Also, think about how many people will you need to accommodate, some sets have extra modules you can add to extend the size or some that come with cute footstools that can then double as an extra seat.
Just have space for one set of outdoor furniture and need your lounge area to also be somewhere to eat outside look for sets with adjustable tables – so you can go from coffee table to dining table with ease. Some styles have firepits in the middle to extend your time in the garden after dark.
Brands to check out John Lewis, Cox & Cox, Hartman, Bramblecrest, Next and your local garden centre.
Buy: John Lewis & Partners Basket Rope 4-Seat Garden Lounging Table, Sofa & Armchairs Set £1,199 (main picture) // Cox & Cox Ravenna Lounge Set, £1,250 // Bramblecrest Portofino, from £3,000 // Cox & Cox Stockholm Corner Lounge Set With Firepit, £2,750 // Next, Hosta Corner Living/Dining Set, £699 // Dobbies Austin garden firepit set, £2,699 // Gardenesque Repton Wooden Furniture Set, £1,049.99 //
Alfresco Dining
We’ve had our outdoor dining set for over five years, it is a metal round table with four chairs, and we bought it one year in the sale at a local garden centre. It isn’t anything special, but it still looks like new and importantly can stay outside all year round, which is great when you don’t have any storage. All we do each year is wash down from the winter grime.
When it comes to dining outdoor furniture there are two options – metal or wood. We have both and our hardwood table is still looking good and has the benefit of being foldable so goes into the garage until we need it.
For the best styles out there, which you can actually sit down and test out head to your local garden centre, if that fails try Next, Cox & Cox and Gardenesque.
Buy: Dobbies Tokyo 4-seat set, £999 // Next Bali Bench Set, £899 // Cox & Cox Villa Wooden Dining Set, £695.00 // Gardenesque Picnic Style Bench Set, £899.99 //
Paris-Inspired
With no travel in my calendar, I thought I’d bring it to the garden with these Parisian-inspired outdoor furniture options – inspired by the incredible sage green chairs scattered around the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. Like seriously, don’t all these stunning bistro sets take you back to wandering through the gardens in Paris?
I’m obsessed with the HAY Palissade collection, not only is it the right shade of green for that true Parisian vibes but it also available in so many options, different styles of chairs, tables and benches and I want it all.
However, while the HAY outdoor furniture may be authentically Paris-inspired, for cheaper options try Garden Trading, Sklum, Maison du Monde, and La Redoute.
Buy: HAY Palissade Dining Armchair, from £269 (Pictured above) // HAY Palissade Lounge Chair, from £389 // HAY Palissade Cone Table, from £335 // Garden Trading Rive Droite Bistro Set, various colours, £140 // Sklum Janti Garden Set, £139.95 // Maison du Monde Sage Green Metal Garden Chairs, £54.50 // La Redoute Set of 2 Boston Stackable Garden Armchairs in Mint Green, £150 //
The Egg Chair
When it comes to a hot outdoor furniture trend that everyone is talking about – it has to be the egg chair, a handing pod or a cocoon effect to create your own outdoor sanctuary. You know it is a key trend when even Aldi has a budget option, but if you aren’t lucky enough to snag one of their special buys, John Lewis, B&Q Argos, and Cox & Cox have great options.
Buy: John Lewis & Partners Garden Dante Hanging Pod Chair, £399 // Argos Rattan Effect Hanging Egg Chair, £250 // B&Q Apolima Rattan effect Egg Chair, £411 (Pictured above) // Cox & Cox Slim Black Hanging Chair, £399 // Garden Trading Hampstead Hanging Nest Chair, £400 //
The Bar
So for much of 2020, the pub was shut, so it seems for 2021 a key trend is making your own in your back garden. Planning a family gathering then this is a fun option and one that definitely brings the holiday vibes to your garden. My favourite has to be the Habitat Beach Bar Gazebo complete with bamboo detailing and a grass-style roof.
Buy: Habitat Beach Bar Gazebo, £350 // Garden Trading St Mawes Drinks/Planter Bar Tables, £1,050 // Wickes Build Your Own Garden Bar, £400 // Wayfair Middlet Tiki bar, £429.99 //
