Are garden sofas worth it?

[aubreyii]

I am strangely drawn to a rattan sofa and chairs for my patio.

Are they worth the considerable cost? What do you do with them in winter? Do you use yours with frequent pleasure or does it sit there gathering spiders webs and wood lice?

We love ours, it stays out all year, we just put the cushions in a cushion box when it’s rainy. It’s well used.

We use our garden set Spring - Autumn. Every day. We are lazy and just leave them sitting out for the winter. My sister had them for two years, we've had them for an additional eight. Still look like new. It's the plastic (?) coated wicker stuff. Really comfy and will probably last forever, though we did have to get rid of the cushions as they did not fare so well.

Just make sure you try before you buy and get comfortable ones. Some of them aren't comfy at all, even with the cushions.

We bought our first set for our big new garden this summer and we LOVE it. It’s so comfy, really fantastic quality, and we hope will last for years as it was ££££ but it’s great, we have a cover for it which we will use in the winter. The summer rain seems to be ok on it and dries really quickly. Our set is a bramblecrest one

We leave ours out all winter but in their correct covers (all Kettler furniture and covers) and just put the cushions away in bin bags inside waterproof rattan boxes. Had it four years now and still looks like new. Very comfortable and low maintenance.

YES!!! We dithered for ages and wouldn't be without ours now as it's like having another room. We take the cushions in every day as even weatherproof ones go mouldy and in the winter we cover it with a tarpaulin and bunghee cords.

I love mine put away for winter and That’s it. It’s four years old and still looks like new.

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-salsa-2-seater-garden-sofa/p3809618

I have one like this, only blue, in a corner of our small garden that gets the last of the afternoon sun. It’s also shady earlier on a very hot day. Very comfortable, and even better with a couple of cushions I made for it.
Had the same one in a sort of off white 2 years previously - it was outside all that time and still fine, but I went off the colour and gave it to a charity shop. (V extravagant I know.)

Bought our gorgeous corner unit and low table from eBay about 5 years ago for £200. It still looks new, has big puffy white cushions and I spend all day lounging on it. iPad, bottle of wine, chocolate, it's the life I always dreamed about! Only problem is the dog gets out there first and grabs the best spot.

I leave it out until I'm not using it, probably about October then store the cushions. The bases can be left out all year. Start using again March, April but have it under a gazebo in case it rains a lot and use rugs for warmth. You'll love it!

Oh god that's all so positive!! iPad, chocolate and wine, you say?!

I'm perfectly satisfied to take the word of ten total strangers :) and will just tootle off and do some shopping ... I'm excited!

We have one, I'm not sure I'd buy one again. I think the mesh fabric stuff is better I hate having to get the cushions in and out. It's great when we have a run of dry weather and they can stay out. But a pain when we need to put them away.

Love ours. I wasn't keen on rattan as I think it can look dated. We ordered from Danetti as they had metal options and you can build the sofa to suit the area a bit like IKEA sofas.

They are fabulous, mine is so comfortable, we use it all the time, it’s an utterly relaxing way to use the garden and they look so good as well, wouldn’t be without my garden corner sofa.

I love my garden sofas. I did a lot of research and bought good quality and it is like having another room to the house! I bought the sofa covers and just cover them over at the end of the day if the weather is unpredictable, and in the winter I bring the cushions inside.

I love ours. It's not rattan though. The cushions can be left outside all summer rain or shine which is brilliant.