Coast's marine bean bags are flexible outside, and they look pretty good, too. Photo / Coast NZ
Coast's marine bean bags are flexible outside, and they look pretty good, too. Photo / Coast NZ
Good outdoor furniture can move your living spaces outside, writes Carol Bucknell.
Pretty or practical, diy or designer, garden furniture is not just about shoving a rustic timber table out in the back yard any more.
These days we're more likely to be lolling about outside on a synthetic rattan sofa, sculptural lounger or perhaps a pair of brightly coloured bean bags, Like the modern garden itself, outdoor furniture is becoming increasingly sophisticated in its design, variety and quality. There's such a wide range now available it can be tricky to make a selection.
Start as you would when furnishing the inside of your home. Before you add any element to your garden, weigh up its visual and practical contribution. Your choice of furniture will reinforce the style of the garden.
Make sure it's in harmony with its setting. Plastic tables and chairs might look fine at the beach, but not in a formal garden. Nor does a traditional wrought-iron bench complement a minimalist courtyard.
If you want to use a wickedly out-there piece of designer furniture in your villa garden it's worth a try, but it might be worth asking the retailer if you can borrow the piece first to see how it looks before you commit to an expensive purchase.
Think long and hard about what you'll use that furniture for.
Do you use your outdoor spaces for entertaining, more family orientated activities or solitary sunbathing? Choose furniture that suits the activities you are most likely to pursue in the garden, not because it looks cool in glossy magazines.
Choose pieces that are simple, solid and durable. The garden is usually a more demanding environment than the house so its furniture needs to be able to cope with the vicissitudes of weather as well as frequent use. As well as rain and UV resistance think about mould and how easy it would be to clean.
Consider function quite carefully, too. Is that bench seat intended for al fresco dining? In which case you might need cushions, ideally covered in all-weather, mildew and UV-resistant fabrics, to make it comfortable enough for people to sit for an hour or three.
Marine Bean garden furniture from Coast. Photo / Supplied
Trying before you buy is an absolute must with seating, loungers and even bean bags. Good looks don't always equate with comfort.
Heavy timber or cast-iron furniture is not easy to move about so if you want to follow the sun it might pay to go for lightweight options such as polyethylene or aluminium.
If you have a tiny garden, folding chairs and tables are good options as they can be stowed away. Storing them in winter increases longevity, too.
Built-in seats are also ideal for small outdoor areas. Often they can serve a dual purpose - for storage, or to surround a raised planter, tree or water feature. Integral timber seats are the obvious choice to edge timber decking.
Material choice
Timber - affordable and flexible, can be painted, stained or left to weather. There is a huge range of styles available. Go for products made from recycled timber or that have a sustainability certification.
Plastic and resin - easy to move, generally inexpensive, some very well-designed pieces available. Permanent exposure to weather can make some plastic brittle. Synthetic rattan or wicker (made of polyethylene) is marketed as weatherproof, mould and UV resistant.
Cane and rattan - great for balconies and decks but it must be moved to shelter if it rains.
Cast-iron - heavy but ideal for traditional gardens.
Stainless steel - gives a crisp, contemporary look. Electropolished stainless steel is said to be resistant to corrosion.
