AIBU to despise outdoor sofa and coffee table sets?

[1950swallpaper]

I don't know why I have taken such a dislike to them. Maybe it is because it is "indoor" furniture but outside. Maybe it is because they are all made out of grey plastic wicker which is not environmentally friendly. Maybe it is because I find them very "show-offy keeping up with the Jones' smug". Maybe it is because I know if I had one, I'd find bringing the cushions in from the rain a pain in the bum. I dunno but I really find them tacky and vulgar. Am I on my own?

That garden image is in italy, Perugia to be exact. Taken in 2009. Not quite sure why it’s being posted..

So, it looks like a series of cat litter trays in Italy. 🤷🏻‍♀️ World's Best Cat Litter to be precise.

www.vinterior.co/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/vintage-garden-.jpg

This is pleasing. Not sure where it is, exactly, but Bluntness100 will check.

god I love mine, it's so comfy, I just lay and read it on it for hours last year when we had all that warm weather. It was the best thing about lockdown. For years before we only had wooden chairs and tables outside, which just aren't as comfortable. I can't wait to get back out there.

@Janegrey333

www.vinterior.co/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/vintage-garden-.jpg

This is pleasing. Not sure where it is, exactly, but Bluntness100 will check.

You wouldn't want to spend long sitting on those whilst reading one of the many books in your library.

Of course it's reasonable to have sofas outdoors if you live in a sunny warm climate. The UK does not have such a climate and we are lucky if we get a summer when we can spend loads of time outdoors

Speak for yourself - we live in the South.

@Janegrey333

That garden image is in italy, Perugia to be exact. Taken in 2009. Not quite sure why it’s being posted..

Why not? Italy went through the mediaeval period, too, I believe!

Most Italians much prefer shiny new modern stuff. Old furniture like that ends up in the cantina, to eventually be sold to foolish tourists for inflated prices.

@Janegrey333

That garden image is in italy, Perugia to be exact. Taken in 2009. Not quite sure why it’s being posted..

Why not? Italy went through the mediaeval period, too, I believe!

Well as you were going on about your own (imaginary) medieval garden I guess we all thought you’d put an image of that to delight us. No frantically google to find one..,😃

I'm in the ME & most socialising is done in gardens of an evening.

My last house had solid wooden sofas knocked up from old pallets, which I paid a guy to make. My housekeeper made the cushions.

They stood up to the weather quite well. To a balady puppy - not so much...

Current house has various outdoor furniture which is not particularly to my taste (the pallet sofas etc weighed an absolute ton so I just abandoned them when we moved - apparently my next door neighbour then pinched them ).

I can't really get rid of the naff iron/glass set that's here as my new landlady's a nosy bugger, but will be getting new sofas made once it's safe to have a carpenter round.

Ooh.. I actually like all the garden sofas. We have an ancient basic outdoor table and chairs we bought about 15 years ago. It’s not trendy, but does the job.

I’m very envious of my friends who have lovely comfortable garden furniture! One friend made hers using old pallets.

But, we have lots of things needing done inside the house first... before we can afford lovely new garden furniture...

Ooh I had a cast iron bistro set! And, wait for it.......It was second hand! Yes, I probably should be very proud of myself, but alas it had to go. It just was not suitable for my outdoor summer binge drinking sessions (not a rare occurance last year) so something more suitable had to be brought in.

I think lots of people have them which is maybe why they look a bit ‘vulgar’ (aka common?) to some people.

We have some and use them loads between April-October. I like to spend most of the day in the garden on warm weekend days and I find lounging on a sofa more comfortable than sitting in an upright chair. We also like to have friends/family/neighbours round (when we’re not in a pandemic) and it’s nice to have lots of comfy seating available.

Yep, they are fucking hideous, plastic monstrosities.

I imagine those who choose to have such things littering their outdoor spaces do not have a library or wall to wall bookshelves - indoors of course!

Bookshelves? What for? Get a kindle ffs!

I imagine those who choose to have such things littering their outdoor spaces do not have a library or wall to wall bookshelves - indoors of course!

You have an active imagination!

We have a lovely blue and white glorified shed summer house in our garden. It's my favourite place to be. There is a 4 seater plastic rattan style modular corner unit
with a glass-topped coffee table inside and we've decorated it with plain, warm white fairy lights and some beach hut fairy lights. We have photos of the seaside and lighthouses printed on canvas art on the walls and a plastic model lighthouse that lights up and spins around that no longer works in the corner. Outside it's lit up with some solar powered stake lights and uplighters and we hold the doors open with a couple of garden ornaments (an otter and a hedgehog).

I love sitting in there on a spring and summer day, with my cup of tea and a book with some music playing on the speaker. I often find myself dozing in there.

We keep the settee cushions on it all year but the scatter cushions, also decorated with seaside and beach hut patterns (I made those cushion covers myself!), are brought into the house for the winter, kept in our closet.

I really don't care what others think of me tbh and I know I'm common as muck. I even live in a housing association house

@TwoZeroTwoZero

That sounds absolutely idyllic to me.

Sorry for my earlier comment posting that they are monstrosities. That was terrible snobbery and it's none of my business what people put in their gardens. Unreserved apologies. I'm very tired and typed without thinking.

@ArabellaScott

Sorry for my earlier comment posting that they are monstrosities. That was terrible snobbery and it's none of my business what people put in their gardens. Unreserved apologies. I'm very tired and typed without thinking.

I reckon we're all a bit off our rattan rockers at the moment!

Thank you, yes, I am certainly feeling it right now. I could probably do with a very large gin in some kind of sun lounger, plastic or otherwise.

Well, it is Friday - maybe you'll have to curl up with your very large gin in front of the fire, instead of on a sun lounger though!

@SewingWarriorQueen76

Has anyone got recommendations for chairs where you can actually lounge in them. I couldn't find anywhere last year and just want to slob out reading a book.

We got some furniture from The Range, including this swing seat (like a PP's, it folds down to a double bed style which is lovely for lying on to read etc)

We bought folding chairs to sit up at our table with rather than a rattan sofa, but they do look very comfortable and I don't blame anyone for wanting that!

Ironically the watermelon cushions were from Dunelm, I'm so very tacky

@ArabellaScott

Yep, they are fucking hideous, plastic monstrosities.

I see the Op never returned after lighting the touch paper 🙄

Ours isn't plastic but some fancy proper rattan that lasts years apparently.

And our terribly tacky corner set with dining table has really thick and comfy cushions, I can spend hours propped up in the corner during the summer months with a book, cup of tea or wine.

AND the bastard common and tacky set was a total lifesaver through lockdown 1, being furloughed and very bored.

I cant see myself being invested either way on them tbh.

I was toying with buying one from Aldi. Not sure its that's smug or showing off? It was £90 and only appealing as it's a good £900 cheaper than other options I was looking at.

My front garden is 100% natural as some of you might have seen on my thread.
My back is my relax with a book and a bottle of something cold space.

Last summer discovered two things.

1. Amazon sell shower curtains that are the same height as my gazebo and are absolutely perfect to clip onto the frame to create a little privacy.

1. My cushions were looking a bit crap so I paid £50 for a replacement set and £20 for the mother lode of stuffing and redid them.

I spend most of my time in the garden so I like a bit of comfort.

I live on the coast and I like to sit in comfort in my garden and watch the sea. You can keep your handcrafted bespoke garden furniture. I shall be relaxing on my outdoor sofa, with a large gin and a good book as soon as spring is here.

The snobbery on Mumsnet is hilarious, no wonder other sites mock the place!