Looking for a new lounge set, you'll find that almost every one has an aluminium frame. Sometimes you can see it straight away, on a sleek set made entirely of metal. Other times it's hidden under rope, wicker or a teak-look finish. Aluminium is popular for good reasons: it's lightweight, it doesn't rust like steel and it needs little maintenance. There are also drawbacks to think about in advance, such as a warm frame in the sun or light chairs on a windy roof terrace. In this article we weigh up the pros and cons honestly, compare the combinations with rope, wicker and textilene, and show you five aluminium lounge sets from our range.
In short: an aluminium lounge set is lightweight, doesn't rust like steel and only needs a bit of soapy water. The drawbacks: a dark frame gets hot in the sun, light parts can slide in the wind and damaged coating needs attention. If you want it sleek and as easy as possible, choose fully aluminium. If you want it softer or warmer, choose aluminium with rope, wicker or teak look.
Pros and cons in one table
Every advantage of aluminium has a downside. Its low weight makes it easy to move, but it also means a loose chair slides more easily. Below you can see them side by side, per property.
| Property | Advantage | Drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Easy to move | Loose parts slide in the wind |
| Rust | Doesn't rust like steel | White oxidation where the coating is damaged |
| Powder coating | Colour without painting | Scratches weaken it |
| Sun | Doesn't warp, no oil needed | Dark frame gets hot |
| Maintenance | A bit of soapy water is enough | Cushions need more care |
| Look | Sleek and modern | Metal alone can look cold |
Want to know first what aluminium actually is and how powder coating works? You can read that in what is aluminium. Here we focus on what those properties mean for a lounge set on your terrace.
The advantages of an aluminium lounge set
Lightweight, so easy to move
Aluminium is a light metal. You can lift an armchair without effort to move it into the sun or the shade, and you can slide a sofa section aside when you sweep the terrace. Light is relative, though: a complete set with thick cushions can quickly weigh tens of kilos. The compact Cinto has a product weight of 23.8 kg, while the Prinos corner set weighs 43,10 kg including packaging. Useful to know if you want to move the set indoors yourself in winter.
Doesn't rust like steel
Aluminium doesn't rust the way iron or steel does. That makes it suitable for a set that stays outside all year round. It isn't completely carefree, though: where the coating is damaged, a white oxidation layer can form, and steel screws can cause small rust spots. For how that works and what to do about it, read can an aluminium garden set rust.
Powder coating provides colour and protection
Almost all aluminium lounge sets have a powder coating: a layer of paint applied as a powder and then baked on. It gives the colour, such as carbon black, anthracite or taupe, and protects the metal. You never have to paint, stain or oil the frame.
Little maintenance
Wiping it down a few times a season with a mild soapy solution and rinsing with clean water is enough. The product information for the Springs and the Catanzaro, for example, also recommends a mild soap. You'll find the full seasonal cleaning schedule in how to maintain aluminium garden furniture.
Combines with almost any material
Because aluminium is strong and light, the frame is often combined with rope, wicker, textilene or a teak-look finish. That way you choose the look you want and still have a frame that can stay outside. You can read more about this under combinations.
Advantages at a glance
- Light enough to move yourself
- Doesn't rust like steel
- Colour from powder coating, never needs painting
- A mild soapy solution is enough maintenance
- Can be combined with rope, wicker, textilene or teak look
The drawbacks, and what you can do about them
Hot in the sun
Metal absorbs heat well and releases it quickly. On a sunny afternoon, a dark powder-coated frame can feel hot, especially the armrests. A light frame, such as taupe, heats up less than carbon black or anthracite. Rope armrests also feel less hot than bare metal. And a parasol above the set helps the most, both for the frame and for you. Check the parasols for a model that's large enough.
Light, so sensitive to wind
The same low weight that makes moving easy works against you in a windy spot. On a roof terrace or high balcony, loose armchairs and cushions can slide away. There, it's better to choose a corner sofa with large, connected sections, place the set out of the wind and store the cushions when a storm is coming.
The coating is vulnerable to scratches
Powder coating is hard, but not indestructible. Dragging chairs over tiles, or using abrasive cleaners or a stiff brush, causes scratches. In those spots the aluminium is exposed and oxidation starts sooner. Lift the parts when you move them and use only a soft cloth.
Metal alone can look cold
A set made entirely of aluminium is sleek and modern, but in a rural or natural garden it can look a little bare. You can solve that with warm cushions, an outdoor rug, or a set with rope, wicker or teak look.
The cushions are the weak point
The frame can cope with rain, but the cushions not always. The polyester covers of most sets are water-repellent: a shower will bead off, but during prolonged rain moisture seeps in. Store them dry, for example in an outdoor storage box. You'll find tips in storing garden cushions.
Put your hand on the armrest before you buy, literally or in your mind. If the set stands in the sun all afternoon, choose a light frame colour or armrests made of rope. You sit on it, so you'll feel the difference every summer day.
Aluminium with rope, wicker, textilene or teak look
With many lounge sets, aluminium is only the skeleton. What you see and feel is the material around it. Each combination has its own feel and its own points of attention.
| Combination | Feel | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Fully aluminium | Sleek, modern | Hot in the sun |
| Aluminium with rope | Soft, luxurious | Dirt between the rope |
| Aluminium with wicker | Classic lounge | Brushing between the weaves |
| Aluminium with textilene | Airy, dries quickly | Wipe off stains straight away |
| Teak look on aluminium | Warm, like wood | Never oil |
| Vironwood tabletop | Wood look, plastic | No oil, soapy water only |
Torn between the two woven materials? Then read rope or wicker loungeset. Textilene care is slightly different, which you can read about in how to maintain textilene garden furniture. And if you want to know how teak look compares with real teak wood, there's aluminium or teak garden furniture.
Quiz: which finish suits you?
Four short questions, and you'll know which type of aluminium lounge set best suits your terrace and your habits.
Which aluminium lounge set finish would you choose?
What do you want to feel when you rest your arm on the side of the sofa?
- Smooth, sleek metal
- Soft woven rope
- Sturdy, classic wickerwork
- Something that looks like wood
Where does the lounge set stand for most of the year?
- On an open terrace, exposed to weather and wind
- In a sheltered spot near the house
- Among lots of greenery and plants
- Next to a wooden deck or fence
What atmosphere are you looking for in your outdoor seating area?
- Modern and minimalist
- Calm and luxurious, like a hotel terrace
- Cosy and familiar
- Natural and warm
How much effort do you want to put in after a dusty summer week?
- Just a quick wipe with a cloth
- Brushing the rope now and then with lukewarm water
- Rinsing off and going over the weaves with a brush
- A bit of soapy water, no oil or stain
Fully aluminium Sleek, light and the easiest to keep clean. If it gets a lot of sun, choose a light frame colour such as taupe.
Aluminium with rope An aluminium frame with woven rope feels soft and looks luxurious. Brush the rope now and then with lukewarm water.
Aluminium with wicker The classic lounge look, with an aluminium frame under plastic wickerwork. Rinsing and brushing keeps it looking good.
Teak look on aluminium The warm look of wood, but with the maintenance of aluminium. Never use teak oil on a teak-look finish.
Five aluminium lounge sets from our range
To make the pros and cons concrete, below you'll see five sets with an aluminium frame: two made entirely of aluminium and three combined with rope, wicker or teak look. The specifications come from the product information, and you can see the current prices on the cards.
| Model | Finish | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Springs | Fully aluminium, carbon black | Seat height 43 cm |
| Prinos | Fully aluminium, dark grey | Table also in aluminium |
| Catanzaro | Taupe aluminium with rope | Seat depth 62 cm |
| Blue Bird | Aluminium with wicker | With dining table |
| Cinto | Aluminium with teak look | 23.8 kg, compact |
Springs: sleek and fully aluminium
The Springs is an aluminium lounge set in carbon black with sand-coloured cushions: a three-seater sofa with an armchair. You can't get much sleeker than this in an aluminium set. The sofa is 175.5 cm long, with a seat height of 43 cm and a seat depth of 45 cm. You get 8 cushions included, with seat cushions 10 cm thick.
Springs aluminium lounge set carbon black
Note: a dark frame gets hot in full sun. Place the set under a parasol or in a spot that gets shade in the afternoon.
Prinos: corner sofa and table in powder-coated aluminium
With the Prinos, both the sofa and the table are made of powder-coated aluminium in a dark colour. Two sofa sections and a corner element together form a corner sofa measuring 240.5 x 240.5 cm, with a square lounge table of 69 x 69 cm. There are side trays on both sides of the sofa for a drink. With a seat depth of 64 cm and a seat height of 39 cm, this is a true lounge sofa.
Prinos aluminium lounge set 4-piece
Why: a corner sofa with large, connected sections stands more stably in a windy spot than loose armchairs.
Catanzaro: taupe aluminium with rope
The Catanzaro combines a taupe aluminium frame with grey rope and sand-coloured cushions: a three-seater sofa with an armchair. The set is 231.5 cm long, with a seat height of 40 cm and a seat depth of 62 cm. You get 8 cushions included.
Catanzaro 3-piece lounge set taupe
Why: two solutions to a warm frame in one set. The light frame colour heats up less than carbon black, and the rope feels softer than bare metal.
Blue Bird: aluminium with wicker and a dining table
The Blue Bird is a lounge-dining set with an aluminium frame and wicker in organic grey. The corner sofa measures 251 x 205 cm and comes with a dining table with a glass top. There are 15 cushions in sand included, with seat cushions 10 cm thick. With a seat height of 46 cm and a seat depth of 54 cm, you can comfortably eat at the table.
Blue Bird lounge-dining set 5-piece left-hand
Note: this is the left-hand version. Check the photo to see which side the long side of the corner sofa is on before you order.
Cinto: compact, with teak-look details
The Cinto is fully made of aluminium, with a teak-look top on the side table and teak-look armrests. The set consists of two lounge chairs, two sliding footstools and a side table. Push the chairs and footstools together and you have a compact daybed. With a product weight of 23.8 kg, it's easy to move, and it's designed for a balcony or small terrace.
Cinto lounge set carbon black light teak look
Note: teak look is a finish on aluminium, not wood. Soapy water is enough, and teak oil should never be used. And because the set is light: place it out of the wind on a windy balcony.
Also worth a look:
Ricca: aluminium in carbon black
View set →
Danzig: aluminium with textilene
View set →All aluminium lounge sets
View range →When is aluminium the best choice?
| Your situation | Aluminium? | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Set stays outside all year round | Yes | Cover it, cushions indoors |
| You want as little maintenance as possible | Yes | Choose fully aluminium |
| Terrace in full midday sun | Yes, with care | Light colour or rope |
| Windy roof terrace | Yes, with care | Large sections, out of the wind |
| Rural or natural garden | Better a combination | Wicker, rope or teak look |
| You really want to feel wood | No | Look at teak or acacia |
Still deciding between a lounge set and a garden set, or which size suits your terrace? Then use the selection guide or read how to choose a lounge set.
Common mistakes
Putting a carbon black set in full sun with no shade
A dark frame gets hot, especially on the days you want to sit outside. For a sunny spot, choose a light colour, armrests made of rope, or add a parasol.
Thinking aluminium never has any problems
The frame doesn't rust like steel, but a damaged coating and steel screws deserve attention. Read where it does go wrong.
Dragging chairs across the tiles
This scrapes the powder coating off the legs. Lift the parts when you move them: with aluminium, that's easy to do.
Leaving the cushions out in the rain
Water-repellent isn't waterproof. Wet cushions dry slowly and can go mouldy. Store them dry when rain is expected for a longer period.
Pay attention to the cushions, not just the frame
The aluminium frame usually lasts longer than the cushions. So also look at the thickness of the seat cushions and whether you can buy extra lounge cushions later. You can read more about the lifespan of each component in how long does a lounge set last.
Checklist for your purchase
- I know whether the set will stand in full sun, and which frame colour suits that
- I have chosen between fully aluminium or a combination with rope, wicker or teak look
- I have checked whether the set includes a table
- I have compared seat height and seat depth with how I want to sit
- I know where the cushions will go in rain and in winter
- I have a spot or a breathable cover for winter
- On a windy roof terrace, I choose large, connected sections
If the set is going to stay outside in winter, also read can a lounge set stay outside in winter.
Frequently asked questions
Does an aluminium lounge set get hot in the sun?
The frame can get warm in full sun, especially in a dark colour such as carbon black or anthracite. You sit on cushions, so you mainly notice it on the armrests and edges. A light frame colour such as taupe, armrests in rope, or a parasol over the set make a real difference.
Is an aluminium lounge set too light for a balcony or roof terrace?
The low weight is handy when moving it around, but in a windy spot loose armchairs and cushions can slide. In that case, choose a corner sofa with large, connected sections, place the set out of the wind, and store the cushions away when strong winds are forecast.
Can an aluminium lounge set rust?
Aluminium doesn't rust like steel. Where the powder coating is damaged, a white oxidation layer can form, and steel screws or bolts can leave rust spots. An intact coating and a mild soap solution prevent most problems.
What is the difference between a fully aluminium lounge set and a set with rope or wicker?
In both cases the frame is aluminium. In a fully aluminium set the backrests and armrests are also metal: sleek and the easiest to keep clean. Rope and wicker are woven around or between the frame. This looks softer and warmer, but dirt collects more easily in the weave.
How long does an aluminium lounge set last?
The frame is rarely the first part to give up. Cushions, weave and coating wear out faster, especially if the set stands unprotected outdoors. The sets in this article come with a 2-year manufacturer's guarantee. Using a cover in winter and storing cushions dry will make them last longest.
Can an aluminium lounge set stay outside in winter?
The frame can stay outside, ideally under a breathable protective cover that you only put over the set once everything is dry. Store the cushions indoors: the polyester covers are water-repellent, not waterproof.
