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?

@ThereOnceWasANote

My current petty garden hate is for outside lights. 2 of our neighbours have done up their back gardens and filled them with lights. Every night they have them on. Doesn't matter if they are in their garden - they just have the whole space lit up. Whyyyyyyyy?????

Oh dear we do this as well as having a garden sofa!

The reason is that it’s nicer to look at the lit up garden in the evenings rather than big black empty windows.

I can’t see why it bothers others though, as they’ll be switched off well before bedtime.

I’ve got a big old sofa and coffee table exactly as you describe AND lights in my garden. I love it all :) I am neither show offy nor smug

@ConcreteUnderpants

I have been after some of the exact furniture you described for ages, OP. What do people do about the cushions though?? Put them in the shed during winter?

Mum just brings the cushions in.

Weird thread OP. If I had a garden I'd want to sit out in it.

I can’t wait to get one for this summer!

I can't wait to but the one I am planning to get this year. And plastic so I don't have to worry about maintenance and it's cheap and I expect the toddler to drive his toy cars into it.

Ahh good. "Tacky" and "Vulgar" in an opening post about garden furniture.

What the fuck has happened to the quality of snobbery in the UK? It used to be far superior...

Is the only non-tacky and vulgar garden seating a shooting stick?

To a PP, we take ours into the garage in early-Octoberish, you can get covers for them though if you haven't got storage.

Aah ok thanks. I have no room in the house for any tacky and vulgar cushions. But the covers sounds a good idea. Wouldn’t want the neighbours seeing my hideous furniture and start frothing!

Ours is like this, I don't think it's tacky or vulgar. It's very comfortable and life-enhancing!

God forbid Concrete, what would they think?

Bloody lovely Shrikeattack.

Love it.

Mines is exactly as the OP describes (though it's a dining height table rather than coffee heightI wasn't a fan either but lockdown one happened and I thought 'sod it, I'm going to get some tacky garden furniture and sit outside while I do marking so DD can go on the slide and I can see her.

I've got a great big parasol shade umbrella too. It's great.

I prefer the look of proper wooden tables and chairs, but I couldn't sit out on that for hours in the same way.

The cushions are in the loft for winter, but they are quite resistant to the odd rain shower.

Solar powered fairy lights are next on my list 😂

Life too short to be uncomfortable for the sake of snobbery.

They are just a comfy garden seat. You are overthinking it and sounding quite snobby while you are at it.

I find them utterly tasteless but despise? I despise hypocritical politicians, not furniture.

Are they not very spidery? That would be my worry.

You just sound jealous to be honest.

We have one, it's lovely - it wasn't cheap (nearly £2k) and but it will last for ages. We have a storage box outside that we store the cushions in.

I much prefer to the wooden table and chairs we had before.

We have them - in the black plastic rattan look the OP so-loathes. They're comfy to sit on and quite often one or all of us will be out there. Kids quite often take painting or play dough out there when the weather's fine - saves the mess inside as it's easily cleanable. Cushions have the kind of water resistant cover that outdoor coats have - stay out from late spring to early autumn then go into the shed for the worst of the weather. Also have a swing chair out there as well for ultra common-ness - it's comfy as hell, long enough to lie down and doze on.

@Strokethefurrywall

Ahh good. "Tacky" and "Vulgar" in an opening post about garden furniture.

What the fuck has happened to the quality of snobbery in the UK? It used to be far superior...

It's really gone to the dogs. I blame the teachers. They're not instilling the right values of judgementalism and snobbery in people. Everyone ought to know it's only acceptable to criticize garden furniture if it's white and plastic and being used in a mother and baby parking space by someone without a pushchair.

They are common
Really common
I get you op

What do you sit on outside then??

There are ugly outdoor sofas and then there are nice outdoor sofas.

I love my cushiony “corner sofa” style set (table is dining table height, and also has 2 stools). It gets loads and loads of use, had it 3 years, wish I’d got it sooner. Has a 10 year guarantee. Is on a metal frame, not plastic, though I guess the seat covers & filling are plastic-containing.

I don’t care what anyone else thinks of the style, I like it and garden not overlooked anyway.

I love ours, had it ages, it’s so comfy. Never have thought of it as keeping up with Jones’s though Just somewhere comfy to sit in summer.

I hate them too. They look cheap, like a bad package holiday resort

Perfect thread to ask where you all store your cushions/sun loungers or do they stay out all year? This is my first summer with a proper garden and I can't wait to fill it with whatever the hell I like. OP I've promised dd I'll hire a hot tub for her in summer, so you can keel over in disgust now

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion: light pollution and disruption of diurnal rhythm for crepuscular and nocturnal wildlife!