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Top picks for a stylish outside space. Salon Furniture
Rattan garden furniture is stylish and versatile; in fact, most pieces you'll find should be chic enough to use inside as well as out. As such, it's a good choice for those seeking an indoor/outdoor living look for their home's external areas, with its aesthetic perks giving it the edge over weighty metal or chunky wooden furniture sets.
As a bonus, rattan garden furniture is also durable. With care, even the most delicate natural pieces can last years. Saying that, there are several options out there, each with their own pros and cons, so pick wisely to meet your needs.
Genuine rattan is exceptionally strong, so it makes for an ideal material for furniture — and it looks gorgeous. Unfortunately, it tends to rot in damp weather so, it's not especially well-suited to withstanding more inclement weather. So, invest in a good waterproof cover (or better yet, store it away while it rains), or stick to using rattan in the conservatory or summer house. If this sounds like too much faff, a synthetic set might be a better option for you.
Polyrattan, or PE rattan, has been developed to look like the genuine item without the weatherproofing issues. It's a great low/no-maintenance option for those who'd like to buy a set and forget about it for the summer season. It's waterproof, UV-resistant and should last considerably longer than its natural counterpart.
Bamboo offers a similar aesthetic to rattan, so we've included a few sets here. It's also natural and a very fast-growing plant, so it's a good option if sustainability is important to you and you'd rather avoid synthetic materials. Generally, bamboo fares better in the UK than natural rattan, but it'd still appreciate being covered with a waterproof sheet during colder periods to avoid damaging the material.
Ultimately, though, the manufacturer should provide care instructions, so be sure to check in order to get the best from your new set. Most of these rattan furniture sets are suitable for use in your conservatory or garden room, too.
Here are some of our favourite rattan garden furniture pieces for 2023, so you can get your outside space in tiptop condition.
What a statement piece! This fun sofa pod gives a nod to the sensibilities of the ever-popular garden egg chair, but doubles up on versatility by offering enough room for two. It's made from a hardwearing polyrattan, so can be left outside year-round (do store the cushions, however), but we see no reason why a piece this chic shouldn't stay out in your garden room or conservatory post-summer.
Good news for those with smaller patios: this chic dining set is on the more compact side, but still has plenty of room for a family of four to sit comfortably. Slim tapered legs and understated grey colouring gives this set a Scandi flair, with all the added charms of genuine rattan. You may not be able to fit a full dinner party spread on the table, but the armchair-style seats are deep and comfy, so it's a lovely choice for those looking to spend evenings outside chatting.
Amazon continues to surprise us with its selection of hidden gems and this chic six-seater garden furniture set is a good example. Currently reduced by 10%, this is a great price for genuine rattan. The stools can be used as guest seating in a pinch, but they'd also make great footstools when you're lounging al fresco on Sunday afternoons. We're assured this is weatherproof, but if you were planning on leaving it out over the winter, invest in some covers to keep it looking lovely.
This is a fun one! One of Furniture Maxi's most popular sets, the Monaco comes with an innovative table that switches easily between two heights, so you can use it as a coffee or dining table. Better yet? In the centre is an ice trough to keep beers chilled – which has been a real hit with guests. It's lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, and it comes with a cover (not usual!) which has come in handy during unwelcome April showers. It's compact, but we've had nine people over and everyone's fit comfortably – and it looks chic too.
Nkuku nails that light and summery look with this sweet rattan sofa. Whether in the lounge, or kept in the conservatory or patio, it'll make a lovely space to perch with a book and a cup of tea. A couple of these linen cushions would make a welcome accompaniment, as well.
For a pleasingly-pretty garden update, this chic set will do nicely. It fully embraces the indoor-outdoor living trend so throw down a pretty outdoor rug, string up a couple of lanterns, then grab a jug of Pimms and a friend and get comfortable.
Bamboo evokes such a fun, Bohemian vibe. This set, with its smooth curves and airy frame, is a great example of the material's natural appeal. It has room for four and is lightweight enough to pick up to follow the sun around on longer afternoons in the garden.
This is a classic rattan sofa design at a good price. It's configurable for both left and right-handed spaces and comes with a little coffee table to keep drinks handy. A great choice for smaller patios while still giving plenty of room to lounge. Choose from grey or sandy neutral colouring.
This wicker set has a romantic, French feel that's very classic. There are lots of grey sets on this list, but this one's a couple of shades lighter than most we've seen, giving it more vintage-style flair, which is upped further by the shabby chic finish on the legs.
Garden Trading is one of our go-to brands for chic and upmarket pieces for the home. For the garden, its perennial Scandi-inspired Hampstead collection is a favourite. The wicker frame and slim iron legs make for an elegant, minimalist piece that's worth the higher price tag. Better still? There are plenty of matching pieces, including a coffee table and trendy hanging egg chair.
Here's another option from Garden Trading that we'd be equally as happy to have in our living room as on our patio. Finish the look with the matching sofa and coffee table, or pick up the full set.
We're continually surprised by the prices at VonHaus – everything we've ever tried from the brand has been lovely quality at very competitive cost. The angular frame and contrasting powder-coated legs are giving a seventies vibe here, which is on-trend, effortless and very cool.
Argos has a similar offering on its own website. In contrast to the set above, this one is synthetic. So if you like this look, but worry about the upkeep associated with natural materials, go for this.
Making a contender for cosiest chair in our roundup is this fun egg chair. The black and natural tones make a chic contrast, while the addition of the feet means that you don't have to find somewhere to hang it. Just pop in situ in the corner of your patio, curl up and relax.
Not one for smaller spaces, naturally. However, if you have room to spare, this lavish round day bed will make a very welcome addition to your garden. It comprises four separate pieces that fit together to make a day bed just asking to be napped on, or split up to make a more traditional sofa/seat/coffee table set-up for sitting and chatting.
Frankly, we're more inclined to recommend this as a bedroom or occasional chair than for our garden; it would make a lovely addition to a guest room or unloved corner. Nonetheless, a couple of these on the patio will add a bright and cheery update to your home's outdoor space.
We do like a multipurpose piece, especially if you're making a larger investment. This set, comprising five modules in total, can be configured in multiple ways to suit the whims of the day. Use as a loveseat, a sofa with a bench, two sun loungers, or a wider double-lounger – all with a coffee table to hold your drinks, of course.
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