With warm weather beaconing (we hope), it might be time to start thinking about giving your outdoor seating area a little spruce up. Living in a country prone to dreary weather, our gardens and their furniture can get neglected. But, with a little TLC, your garden can be the home of an outdoor seating area fit for any occasion.
How to Plan for Your Outdoor Seating Area
The first step is to choose your spot. Depending on the size of your garden, this may be an easy task. If you have a small patio or balcony, that will no doubt be the spot for your outdoor seating area. If you have more areas to choose from, there are more things to consider. Think about where the sun lands, particularly in the evenings. You could try to keep it closer to the house for easy kitchen access. It may at first seem wonderfully romantic to be nestled under a tree with the perfect shade from the beaming sun. But, you may change your mind when your table is full of fallen leaves and ‘the perfect shade’ turns to ‘way too much shade’ and you’re shivering away from the sun.
The spot for your outdoor seating area is also dependent on how you want the space to function. Do you want to create an escape to have a moment for yourself? A vibrant hosting space to have guests over for dinner? Or a place for you and your partner to enjoy your morning coffee? No matter how much you want a hosting space for guests, you’re not going to fit an outdoor dining table on a balcony. But, you may be able to create a dainty dining space for two with an outdoor bistro set.
Whether you have a large garden, a cosy patio or a small balcony, once you’ve checked off these points, you can begin your garden transformation. It’s time to make your outdoor seating area your go-to spot for relaxing, entertaining and al fresco dining.
Outdoor Seating Area for the Al Fresco Diners
For those with the luxury of a larger garden, your garden has the potential to be the perfect hub for al fresco dining. The questionable UK weather may not be synonymous with dining experiences in the garden, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try. A high-quality rattan dining set is the perfect way to transport your outdoor seating area straight to a patio in the mediterranean.
The Cassis 6 Seater Oval Dining Set is wonderful for sharing moments with friends, and with plush cushions, you’ll be comfortable from aperitif to the late night cheese board that falls hours later. For furniture that you can’t transport inside, weather-proof is key. Your outdoor dining table needs to look as good after a hundred days of showers, as it did the summer before.
For the Outdoor Morning Coffee Drinkers
For balconies and pocket gardens, small families and loved-up couples, an outdoor bistro set is the perfect choice for your dream garden.
The Chic Antique Outdoor Bistro Set is designed to be moved in and out weather dependent. When the winter months come, fold the table and stack the chairs. When the sun starts to shine, bring out your table set, open your book, and sip your morning coffee.
Relaxing mornings start there…
For the Casual Relaxer
If your dream outdoor seating area doesn’t fit a formal dining table, think about a more relaxed sofa set. The Cassis Chaise Set is the perfect combination of sombre afternoons basking in the sun, or slouchy afternoons playing cards and picking at snacks with your friends.
Living a country that only sees slithers of sun here and there, it’s not worth buying loungers solely for sunbathing.
For the Day Dreamers and People Watchers
For those of you without the desire of outside dining, your outdoor seating area need only be a comfy seat to perch. Outdoor benches are designed for smaller spaces, for a spot to watch the clouds go by in the garden, or watch people walk by on a front porch.
Avoiding wood, and choosing a shower-proof outdoor bench is essential. Come rain or shine, in shorts weather or scarf weather, your trusty bench will be your space alone to take 5.
For the Solo Sanctuary
If the perfect outdoor seating area to you means somewhere to escape, you need to invest in a solo seat. Something for me, myself and I. The Natural Rattan Hanging Egg Swing Chair takes an outdoor sanctuary to the next level. Spend sunny days curled up in a cocoon, tucked away in a quiet part of your garden. The generous rounded curvature of this egg swing chair offers an undeniably inviting spot to curl up. The open rattan weave also allows free airflow to keep you cool as you swing.
Nothing says an outdoor evening of relaxation like a gentle rock, but be warned, you may find yourself drifting off.
So, do you Think You’re Ready to Curate Your Dream Outdoor Seating Area?
You’ve chosen your spot, you’ve decided what, and who you want to fill it. You’ve thought about outdoor benches, outdoor dining tables, outdoor bistro sets… outdoor everything. What else do you need to think about before you go ahead and buy? What’s worth the investment and what isn’t. Prioritise investing in larger pieces of furniture that will be used the most often. Invest in quality and weatherproof furniture. You might have to pay more, but it will last longer through UK weather conditions. If you’re on a budget particularly, spend less on smaller furniture and accessories that can be moved outside. And there you have it, a quick guide to creating your ultimate outdoor seating area.