Tick a job off your to-do list and transform your exterior with beautiful garden furniture.

When the spring sunshine hits the UK, so do the bank holidays. At LeisureBench, we know this means it’s time for garden parties, barbeques and sweet cocktails. With the prospect of entertaining a crowd, selecting garden furniture that extends your interior tastes is vital. But where to begin? 

We’ve rallied together and created a comprehensive guide to choose the best home garden furniture to spruce up your exterior and carry your space from spring parties to mild summer evenings. 

Our step-by-step guide to finding the perfect furniture 

1. Consider your use 

Before you go out on a whim and purchase just any garden furniture, consider what you want from your exterior space. For example, opt for a dining set if you enjoy alfresco summer nights and entertaining guests. Alternatively, if you create a relaxing sanctuary, choosing sunloungers will help bring calm to your day. 

Decide how many guests you'd like to host, the atmosphere and mood you'd like to create, and what would satisfy your family's demands. For the socialites, choosing bar furniture makes an inviting exterior space for hosting summer barbecues. When combined with our attractive outdoor lighting and bar stools, yours will be the garden everybody flocks to.

2. Material/Durability

Consider suitable materials, storage and how much time you can dedicate to its maintenance. You should also consider; price, aesthetics and durability, which of these is most important for you, or if you want a combination of all three. With this in mind, we’ve crafted a list of garden furniture materials to help you make the right choice. 

Wood:

The original master of them all, wooden outdoor furniture remains classy and elegant throughout decades, even as trends in the industry come and go. A classic wooden dining set can elevate your garden from average to aesthetic goals. 

Wood requires a little more maintenance than other materials but is worth the effort, as it will bring a certain flair to your outdoor entertaining. 

LeisureBenches’ Style Tips: Wooden furniture is versatile and looks great, especially when married with various furnishings, such as metal chairs, for an industrial vibe.

Teak 

Teak furniture possesses timeless style and high durability. If left uncovered over winter, teak will naturally oxidise into a silvery patina due to its high oil content. It can come with a hefty price tag; however, this is often rewarded with long-lasting furniture that requires minimal maintenance and is naturally weather resistant. 

Maintain your teak furniture by washing it with warm water and mild detergent a few times a year to keep it looking its best.

LeisureBench's Style Tips: Pair teak tables with teak chairs for a contemporary look. 

Metal: 

Metal furniture is a sturdy, long-lasting choice for small balconies or patios. A heavier material than other options, this furniture is resistant to the elements. 

Metal furniture looks fantastic in a contemporary garden that wants to achieve the industrial trending style or is a romantic choice for a beautiful English garden. Just remember your outdoor cushions to avoid any discomfort. 

Metal furniture does require more upkeep than its wooden counterpart; it can be susceptible to rusting, so it needs to be treated, and it is best to cover it up in the winter months to prolong its existence. 

LeisureBench’s Style Tips: Create a dreamy cottage-core garden by pairing metal furnishings with lots of greenery in your borders. They also look great with upcycled planters, old wheelbarrows and Wellington boots filled with pops of coloured flowers. 

Rattan: 

Rattan stands strong in contemporary furniture trends and is renowned for durability and long-lasting materials whilst creating a calming atmosphere in your garden. 

The weaving can be more complicated to clean than other furniture types, which is worth considering before you purchase. Rattan furniture also usually comes with outdoor cushions that will need covering or taking indoors to protect them from the elements. 

Style Tip: Pair rattan dining sets with outdoor lighting and heaters for a chilled-out garden aesthetic, perfect for hosting friends and family on those long summer nights. 

Recycled plastic: 

Plastic garden furniture is a fantastic, sustainable choice for your garden. It is a great all-rounder, easy to clean, highly durable, and great for families or high-trafficked areas. Available in designs that mimic the wood’s natural aesthetics, your furnishings will look elegant and support the planet. 

Recycled plastic furniture is lightweight and can be left outside year-round. However, it can be a little more costly due to its sustainable materials. 

Style Tip: Marry plastic furniture with recycled planters to create a green haven and reduce your carbon footprint. 

3. Style

Because everybody has unique styles and preferences, we have extended our style tips to help you create the garden of your dreams. 

• Small Space Styling 

When you own a home with a small exterior space, it is easy to give it a hose down, forget about it and head to your local green area instead. 

At LeisureBench, we want you to embrace everything your home offers. Bistro sets immediately spruce up any balcony or patio and are a lovely place to sit with a morning coffee and watch the sunrise. Stackable or fold-away options are great to diversify your needs; say you want to do a yoga class in the sun, simply fold away your furniture and et voila! 

How do I make my space look bigger? Vertical shapes are your friend here, run planters perpendicularly to your furniture and lay your decking in vertical lines to trick the eye. Alternatively, it can be tempting to think small in tiny spaces; however, introducing big plant pots and large mirrors can make your garden appear bigger to visitors.

• Family Gardens

Families can benefit from adding picnic tables to their space for a great area to get creative with paints and art supplies on a warm summer's day. A dining set is also an excellent way to clock up screen-free time for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Zone out different areas of your garden with fencing or borders crafted from planters to avoid dominant children's play equipment cluttering up your lawn. 

• Cottage-Core

If you’re new to ‘cottage-core’, the prospect is simple; think English rose garden, idyllic scenes and harmony with nature. 

Add metal bistro sets combined with pastel or floral style cushions, curved edges in your furnishings and trellises with highly-fragranced climbing plants, and you will achieve all that cottage charm you desire.

• Embrace the Med

When you think of a Mediterranean garden, you visualise long, warm nights, colourful pottery and rustic furniture. However, an essential concept of this style is creating an area of love and warmth for your family to gather for dining and drinks. 

Add terracotta pots, mosaic tiles and sun loungers for a holiday outside your back door. 

• Low-Maintenance Minimalism

Creating a clutter-free environment that requires minimal upkeep in our ever-busy lives sounds ideal. A clutter-free space lends to a clutter-free mind; your garden should be a place of relaxation and sanctuary. 

Achieve a clean and straightforward look with rattan furniture combined with neutral cushions. 

Sustainable Shopping

Our final step in your garden shopping is to consider your furniture's impact on the planet. Shopping sustainably for Grade A teak or recycled plastic garden furniture is a brilliant way to bring your garden to life while ensuring as minor environmental damage as possible. In addition, these materials benefit from being long-lasting and hardwearing, allowing you peace of mind in your sustainable shopping experience. 

At LeisureBench, we are committed to providing you with the best garden furniture possible. Please browse our comprehensive range today and contact us with any questions; we would be happy to help.