Buying new garden furniture is fun, until you realise how much choice there is. Garden set or lounge set, aluminium or wood, with or without cushions, buy now or wait for a sale? And once the set is in place, it turns out the table is too big or you sit too low to eat comfortably. Follow these 5 tips to avoid that. For each tip you'll read what to look out for, and if you want to go deeper, there's a link to a detailed guide. At the bottom you'll find a checklist to tick off before you order.
In short: measure your space and allow 70 to 90 cm of walking room. Choose the material based on how much maintenance you want to do: aluminium is the easiest. Decide what you need: eating, lounging or both. Spot quality from the frame, warranty and cushions, and buy at the right time. Check the seating comfort with the seat height and seat depth. Then tick off the checklist before you order.
The 5 tips at a glance
Each tip is a separate topic. Below you can see what to look out for with each tip and where to read more.
| Tip | What to look out for? | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Space | Size plus walking room | Space needed for a garden set |
| 2. Material | Maintenance and weather | Weather-resistant |
| 3. What you need | Eating, lounging or both | Lounge set or garden set |
| 4. Quality | Frame, warranty, timing | Good brand |
| 5. Seating comfort | Seat height and seat depth | Most comfortable chair |
Tip 1: Measure your space, including walking room
Most wrong purchases aren't about quality but about size. A table that fits the patio exactly is useless if you can't pull the chairs back. So don't just measure the furniture, measure the space around it too.
Measure the length and width of the spot where the furniture will go. Watch out for doors that open outwards, downpipes, outside taps, planters and the route to the garden.
Keep at least 70 cm clear around a dining table measured from the table edge, ideally 90 cm. For a lounge set, keep 60 to 90 cm clear on the open sides. Allow 60 to 70 cm of table edge per person.
Mark out the dimensions of the set, including walking room, with tape or string. Walk around it a few times and check whether there's still room for a parasol or a planter.
Place a rectangular table lengthways as seen from the house. That keeps an open view into the garden and leaves room beside the table for a bench or a few chairs.
You'll find calculation tables with the dimensions of available sets in how much space do you need for a garden set, for a lounge set and for a garden table. If you only have a balcony, read buying a balcony set: what should you look out for?
Terni aluminium balcony set
Example for a small space: the Terni is an aluminium balcony set for two with four sand-coloured cushions. More compact sets can be found in the bistro and balcony sets.
Tip 2: Choose your material based on your maintenance wishes
The material determines how your furniture looks, how heavy it is and how much work it involves. Mainly ask yourself how much time you want to spend on maintenance each season, and whether the furniture will stay outdoors.
| Material | Maintenance | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium (powder-coated) | Soapy water, otherwise little | Doesn't rust, lightweight |
| Plastic wicker and rope | Rinse off, soft brush | Check the frame underneath |
| Wood (teak, acacia) | Clean, oil now and then | Turns grey without oil |
| Teak look, Vironwood, Centostone | Soapy water, no oil | Wood look, not real wood |
| Steel (powder-coated) | Touch up coating damage | Heavy, rusts if damaged |
| Plastic | Soapy water | Light and affordable |
A common mistake is confusing teak look with teak. Teak look is a finish that resembles wood, often on aluminium. So always read the material information in the product details carefully. For which material can handle rain, sun and frost, read which garden furniture is weather-resistant? If you're looking for chairs, check the best material for garden chairs. If you're unsure about wood, popular wood types compared and aluminium or teak can help.
Scotland garden table 230x115 cm
Example of low maintenance: the Scotland has an aluminium frame with a Centostone top and is listed as All Weather in the specifications. More of this type can be found in the Centostone garden tables.
Tip 3: Work out what you really need
Before you look at models, ask yourself: what are you going to do outside? Someone who often eats with the whole family needs something different from someone who mainly wants to sit in the sun with a book. Broadly speaking, you choose from four types:
- Dining garden set: a dining table with chairs. Sit upright, eat comfortably.
- Lounge set: a low bench or corner sofa with a lounge table. Relaxed, less suitable for eating.
- Lounge dining set: a lounge sofa with a dining table alongside. One arrangement for both.
- Bistro or balcony set: a small table with two chairs for a balcony or a corner of the garden.
Not sure? Take the test.
Garden set, lounge set or both: what should you buy first?
What usually happens when you invite friends outside?
- We eat together at a laid table
- We hang out with a drink and some nibbles
- We eat first, then sit around for hours
- Usually it's just the two of us
How much floor space do you have free for your outdoor furniture?
- Enough for a table with chairs around it
- A corner where a sofa fits
- Space for one large arrangement, not two
- A balcony or a small patch of patio
What are you most looking forward to when you're sitting outside?
- Eating well without sitting on a low sofa
- Sinking back with a book or a series
- One spot for everything, from breakfast to drinks
- A cup of coffee in the morning sun
A dining garden set suits you best. You sit upright at the table, even during long meals. Pay attention to the seat height of the chairs and the walking room around the table.
A lounge set suits you best. Choose deep seating and thick cushions, and measure the corner where the sofa will go carefully.
A lounge dining set suits you best. You eat and lounge in the same place, and you don't need space for two separate sets.
A bistro or balcony set suits you best. Small, light and quick to move out of the way, ideal for two.
If you choose a garden set, also think about the chairs. Fixed chairs are stable and easy for children. Adjustable chairs are nice if you like to sit for a long time after eating: upright at the table, then leaning back a little. A combination also works, for example fixed chairs along the long sides and two adjustable garden chairs at the ends. You can read more about this in choosing a good adjustable garden chair.
Osaka/Felini garden set for 6 people
Please note: the product details for this set state that no cushions are included. That's exactly the kind of detail you want to know before ordering, because you'll need to add the cushions to your budget separately.
Tip 4: Choose quality, at the right time
The cheapest set isn't always the best value. Fortunately, you don't have to judge quality by gut feeling: a lot of it is simply stated in the specifications. Look out for these points:
- Frame: powder-coated aluminium doesn't rust and is lightweight. For steel, a good coating is important.
- Warranty: is the warranty period clearly stated?
- Maximum load: many lounge sofas state a maximum weight per seat.
- Cushions: how thick are they, what is the cover made of, and are they water-resistant? That's not the same as waterproof.
- Spare parts: does the brand also supply cushions, covers or parts separately? Then you can keep using the set for longer.
Teramon 4-piece corner lounge set
How to read the specs: for the Teramon, the frame (powder-coated aluminium), the maximum load per seat and the warranty are all clearly stated in the product details. The loose centre element can be placed on the left or right of the corner.
You can find out how to recognise a reliable brand in what is a good garden furniture brand? For the reasons behind price differences, see how much does a garden set cost? and why are lounge sets so expensive?
And the timing? In spring the choice is at its biggest, while late summer and autumn offer better chances of a discount. Check the price history on the product page and set a price alert. You can read all about this in when to buy a garden set?
When comparing the price of a set, always add up what isn't included: cushions, a cover and a dry place to store the cushions. Only then are you really comparing like with like.
Tip 5: Try it out or read the seating dimensions
Trying a seat out in a shop is still the best test. If you buy online, the seating dimensions do the same job. At home, measure a chair or sofa you find comfortable and compare its seat height and seat depth with the specifications.
| Example | Seat height | How you sit |
|---|---|---|
| Terni balcony set | 47 cm | Upright, at the table |
| Teramon corner set | 46 cm | Lounging and dining |
| Osaka/Felini garden set | 43 cm | At the table, adjustable |
| Prinos lounge set | 39 cm | Low, deep lounging |
As a rule of thumb, around 45 to 47 cm is comfortable for sitting at a dining table, while around 40 cm or lower is for lounging. A generous seat depth, like the 64 cm of the Prinos, invites you to sink back, but is less handy for eating at the table. With a garden set, also check the gap between the seat and the tabletop so your legs fit underneath.
Prinos aluminium 4-piece lounge set
You can read which chair is the most comfortable in which garden chair is the most comfortable? For benches, see how high should a garden bench be?
Not sure where to start?
Answer a few short questions in the selection guide and you'll immediately see sets that suit your space and your wishes.
After purchase: maintenance and protection
How long you enjoy your garden furniture also depends on what you do after buying it. Clean the frame a few times per season with a mild soapy water, store cushions dry during rain and in winter, and use a breathable cover if the furniture stays outside. Choose a cover that is slightly larger than your set.
AeroCover garden set cover 240 x 190
View cover →
AeroCover corner set cover 270 x 270
View cover →All protective covers
View range →You can read which cover and which size you need in covering garden furniture. For maintenance by material, see how to maintain aluminium garden furniture and how to look after your lounge set.
Checklist: before you order
Go through these points before you click to order. Tick off what you've done.
- Measured out the dimensions of the set plus 70 to 90 cm of walking room on the ground
- Chosen for eating, lounging or both
- Material suits how much maintenance you want to do
- Checked whether cushions are included, and how thick they are
- Compared the seat height with a chair or sofa you find comfortable
- Read the warranty and maximum load
- Checked the price history or set a price alert
- Arranged a place for the cushions and a suitable cover
How to choose quickly
- Start with your space, not the photo of the set
- Choose the material based on the time you want to spend on maintenance
- First decide whether you want to eat at the set: that determines the seat height
- Read the specs: frame, warranty, load and cushions
- Compare the price with the price history before you buy
Common mistakes
Only measuring the furniture
A set that fits exactly is too big. Without 70 to 90 cm of walking room you can't pull the chairs back and you won't be able to get past them.
Buying a lounge set to eat at
You'll eat uncomfortably at a low sofa with deep cushions. If you eat outside often, choose a dining garden set or a lounge dining set with a higher seat.
Mistaking teak look for teak
Teak look is a wood-look finish, not real wood. That's actually handy, because it needs no oil, but read the material information carefully if you're looking for solid wood.
Forgetting the cushions
Not every set comes with cushions. And water-resistant isn't waterproof, so you also need a dry place to store them.
Buying without a plan for winter
Can the furniture stay outside, or does it need to go indoors? Arrange a cover or storage space before autumn begins. Read what do you do with garden furniture in winter?
Want to see all the sets side by side? Take a look at the dining garden sets, aluminium lounge sets and lounge dining sets.
Frequently asked questions
What should you look out for when buying garden furniture?
Pay attention to five things: the space you have (including room to move around), the material and how much maintenance you want to do, the type of furniture that suits how you'll use it, the quality (frame, warranty, maximum load and cushions) and seating comfort. When buying online, compare the seat height and seat depth in the specifications, as you can't try the seating before you buy.
How much space do you need for a garden dining set?
Allow 60 to 70 cm of table edge per person, and keep at least 70 cm clear from the table edge, preferably 90 cm, so you can pull a chair back and walk past it. As a rule of thumb: length of the table plus 140 cm by width of the table plus 140 cm. For a lounge set, keep 60 to 90 cm clear along the open sides.
Which garden furniture material is the most low-maintenance?
Powder-coated aluminium requires the least work: it doesn't rust and a wipe with soapy water is enough. Plastic wicker and rope on an aluminium frame are also low-maintenance. If you want the look of wood without oiling, choose teak-look, Vironwood or a Centostone top. Solid wood is beautiful, but it needs occasional cleaning and oiling.
When is the best time to buy garden furniture?
In spring the choice is at its widest. In late summer and autumn there's a greater chance of discounts, but not every model is still available. Check the price history on the product page and set a price alert, so you can see whether a deal is really lower than the price over the past 30 days.
How can you recognise good-quality garden furniture?
Look in the product information at the frame material and finish (for example powder-coated aluminium), the warranty, the maximum load per seat, and the cushions: their thickness, cover and whether they are water-resistant. A brand that supplies loose cushions, covers and spare parts makes it easier to keep your furniture in use for years.
Can you buy garden furniture online without trying it out first?
Yes, if you compare the seating dimensions with a chair or sofa you find comfortable at home. Measure its seat height and seat depth and set them alongside the specifications. Around 45 to 47 cm is comfortable at a dining table, and around 40 cm or lower suits lounging. If you don't live anywhere near a shop, this is the most reliable alternative to trying the seating in person.
