Buying Guide
27 articles
Installing Garden Lighting: Garden Lights 12V Explained
Install garden lighting yourself with the Garden Lights 12V system: the right transformer and cable, worked examples and a step-by-step guide.
21 July 2026
Buying a Ground Spotlight for Your Garden: What Should You Look For? (2026)
Buying a ground spotlight for your garden? Choose between uplight, decklight and spike light, check the drill hole, IP67 or IP68, drive-over rating, lumens and Kelvin.
21 July 2026
Buying a Dining Lounge Set: Seat Height and Table Height (2026)
Buying a dining lounge set? Here's how to match seat height, table height and the underside of the tabletop, with the dimensions of available sets, tips on hockers and a decision test.
27 May 2026
Aluminium or Teak Garden Furniture: Which Is Right for You? (2026)
Aluminium or teak? Compare looks, maintenance, weight and wind resistance, find out what teak-look means and take the test to see which material suits your garden best.
28 April 2026
Comparing Garden Bench Materials: Which Material Should You Choose?
Wood, aluminium, teak-look, Vironwood, wicker or steel? Compare garden bench materials on maintenance, weight and appearance, and find out which one suits you.
9 April 2026
Sun lounger materials compared: which material suits you?
Aluminium, Textilene, teak, wicker or plastic? Compare sun lounger materials on comfort, maintenance, weight and durability, with a choice test and tips.
13 March 2026
Buying a Corner Lounge Set: Left or Right? How to Read Your Corner
Buying a corner lounge set? Work out left or right from your own corner: the door, sun, wind and view show where the long side should go. With a choice test.
2 May 2026
What is a cantilever parasol? Explanation, pros and cons (2026)
What is a cantilever parasol and how does it work? An explanation of the mast, arm, rotating, tilting and base, the difference from a centre pole parasol, and the pros and cons.
9 October 2025
Features of a Wind-Resistant Parasol (2026)
How do you recognise a wind-resistant parasol? Mast, ribs, fibreglass, wind vent, canopy and base explained, with a checklist for product information.
18 September 2025
Rain-Resistant Garden Furniture: What Dries Quickly After a Shower?
Which garden furniture can withstand rain? An explanation of water-repellent and waterproof, seats that dry quickly, tabletops, cushions and covers.
16 September 2025
Which Wood Is Best for a Garden Table? A Guide for 2026
Which wood is best for a garden table? Teak, acacia, or perhaps Vironwood or Centostone? Compare tabletops and read how to care for a wooden one.
12 August 2025
Ceramic Table Top: All the Pros and Cons at a Glance
Is a ceramic table top right for you? All the pros and cons, how it compares with Centostone, Vironwood, wood and aluminium, maintenance and a quick test.
17 April 2025
How High Should a Garden Bench Be? Seat Height Explained (2026)
How high should a garden bench be? Seat heights from 35 to 49 cm compared, an explanation of seat depth and cushions, how to measure for yourself, and a test to find which height suits you.
8 April 2025
What Types of Parasols Are There? All the Styles at a Glance (2026)
Centre pole, cantilever, balcony parasol or commercial parasol? All types of parasols at a glance, with examples and guidance on which type to choose when.
11 March 2025
Best material for garden chairs: how to choose (2026)
Aluminium, textilene, rope, wicker, wood or plastic? Compare garden chair materials on comfort, maintenance and weather, and find out which one suits you.
5 March 2025
Which parasol colour is best against the sun? (2026)
Light or dark parasol canopy? Find out what colour does to shade, heat and UV, why the fabric matters more than the colour, and which shade suits your garden.
27 February 2025
Which parasol base do you need? Weight and type (2026)
Which parasol base suits your parasol? Choose the right weight and type: granite, wheeled, fillable, cross base or ground anchor. With a selection test.
24 February 2025
Which parasol is best against the wind? (2026)
Which parasol can withstand wind? Find out what Beaufort 4 means, which features matter, and which parasols and heavy bases to choose for an open spot.
20 February 2025
Which Garden Furniture Is Weather-Resistant? Sun, Rain and Frost
Which garden furniture can withstand sun, rain and frost? Compare aluminium, wicker, rope, Vironwood, wood and plastic, with a table, test and checklist.
14 February 2025
How Much Does a Garden Furniture Set Cost? How to Set Your Budget (2026)
How much does a garden furniture set cost? Find out how the number of seats, materials, cushions, comfort and warranty affect the price, with a budget check, additional costs and tips for buying smart.
22 October 2024
How long does a wooden garden table last? How to make it last longer
How long does a wooden garden table last? That depends on the type of wood, construction, location, maintenance and winter. Here's how to spot rot and extend its lifespan.
29 August 2024
Shade Solutions for the Garden: Which One Suits You? (2026)
Parasol on a stand, cantilever parasol, shade sail or pergola roof? Compare all garden shade solutions and use our choice test to find out which one suits you.
9 May 2026
What Size Parasol Do I Need? Size Chart and Tips (2026)
What size parasol do you need? Use our size chart to choose the right size for your table, lounge set or balcony, plus tips on shape, sun and pole or cantilever designs.
17 June 2026
Aluminum lounge set: pros and cons at a glance (2026)
Thinking of buying an aluminium lounge set? Read the pros and cons: weight, rust, powder coating, heat in the sun and combinations with rope, wicker or teak-look.
27 June 2026Cantilever or Centre-Pole Parasol? Differences and Choice Test (2026)
Cantilever or centre-pole parasol? Compare shade, space, base, weight, wind and tilting, see three head-to-head comparisons in the same size and take the decision test.
2 July 2026
Choosing a Windbreak or Privacy Screen for Your Garden and Balcony (2026)
Not sure whether to choose a windbreak or privacy screen? Compare solid, glass, roller blind and balcony screen fabric, find out how to fix them securely, and check what you're allowed to do on a balcony. Includes a choice test.
8 July 2026
Apple Bee Condor or Sling: which lounge set suits you?
Apple Bee Condor or Sling? Aluminium with teak versus a teak frame: we compare both series side by side on material, layouts, maintenance and cushions.
3 September 2026