27 March 2021 back to article list

Purpose, space and place

What to consider when buying garden furniture.

Purpose

How will you use your furniture? Big family gatherings or cosy soirées? Formal dining or casual dining? L-shaped sofas or straight? Poolside lounging or simply putting your feet up with a good book? Keep warm with our firepit tables or sip cocktails on our bar sets

Space

Measure your available space and consider how much of it you want to furnish – you will need enough room for you and your guests to relax in comfort and allow an easy flow of people around the set. Be careful not to over or underwhelm a patio area – you may want to keep a clear area for other accessories such as planters and lanterns. Corner sofas make effective use of space and can be paired with a dual height table (dining and coffee table heights) or firepit table.

Place

Be aware of the outlook, and how the orientation of your furniture can maximise a lovely view or face away from an unsightly area. You also need to consider the direction of the sun – you may need to allow space for a side arm parasol if you need to add shade in a sunny spot. Find a “get away” place in your garden where you can enjoy a few moments of peace; smaller items of furniture such as a cocoon, bench or bistro set are perfect for this.