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?

Sit on a table and chairs? Like a normal wooden or cast iron set! Or a deckchair for more comfort.
Honestly it’s all a bit Katie price or TOWIE

@ConcreteUnderpants have a look on Wowcher - i saw some of the rattan/cushiony garden furniture on there.

then knock on all your neighbours’ front doors and apologise for a) your vulgarity and 2) bringing down house prices in your entire community.

Lol.

a few people obviously have nice sets.
The plastic rattan are the really awful ones
Wooden with nice cushions
Etc fine

Thanks @fucknuckle

Wanna come round and be disgusted?!

Look at this common family 🤮

My friend has a 2k set up, it is gorgeous soft and squishy. But it's generally only on display for Instagram styling moments. More money was spent on storage and it takes multiple trips and ten minutes to set up.

My more houseslutty friend, also bought a set, hers is trashed, being replaced this spring.

When in Oxford we saw a cheap, very tatty set on the street, free to take away. Clearly their aspirational moment has already passed. They burned bright and a lot of gin was consumed.

Aww thanks @Marinaloves, that’s pretty much the kind of set I was after! Did you see a price??

I love mine, it's probably my favourite purchase ever. I love having an outdoor room in the summer.

The cushions are in the attic for those who asked, and for reference I've had it for approx. 8.5 years now and it still looks like new.

Did something terrible involving garden furniture occur during your childhood OP?! It's a strange thing to have strong feelings about

@ConcreteUnderpants good lord, no! what would people think of me. also i don’t want to catch Common.

thanks for the invite though, for someone with such dreadful taste you have lovely manners.

Seems like an extreme reaction to furniture.

😂😂😂 I agree with you I have scoured the internet to get something tasteful. What I don’t understand either is that for what it’s all so freaking expensive. You could get a really lovely sofa or chair for the same price as some plastic tat with horrible nylon/polyester cushions!!

I think Neptune do some actual wicker pieces which are beautiful but they’re even more 💸💸💸

I love mine. I love it for that first cup of coffee in the spring sunshine.

It's a pain in the arse lugging all the cushions in and out. But totally worth it!

@Marinaloves yes and they’re weirdly much less expensive, but like unicorn poop I find.

I’ve looked for the past 2 years, but they’re always sold out by the time I get round to it.

True @fucknuckle I guess washing your hands and wearing a mask isn’t enough protection against Common.

I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want plastic rattan. It wiped down easily, is weatherproof and looks as good as new all year round.

Should I be ashamed to admit I also dream of a festering hot tub....?

OP, you must be my neighbour!
I had my tacky rattan sofa since 2012. And garden lights!
The thing still stands strong and I am losing hope that I will have an excuse to buy a new one any time soon.
The bloody cushions are water proof! Nothing damages them!
Keeping all year outside and have not covered at all.
We also have those disgusting Karcher water sprays and wash the patio and sofa few times a year.
We constantly have an outdoor lunch and even worse now that we all home.
BBQs are constantly lit in this neighbourhood on every other house.
Some neighbours even took to buy inflatable pools last summer and an outdoor pool table.
It was all unbearable!
God forbid we have an early summer like last year! We have to see all those gazebos again.

Despite my private grammar school education, this thread has made me realise I’m obviously as common as shit.

Now I’ve discovered that places to store my cushions, I’m totally going to embrace it.
Anyone fancy a lounge on my soon-to-be-purchased garden furniture and inflatable hot tub? I’ll even do us some cocktails.

Fuck, I also want a gazebo.

I’m not even joking. I’m utter scum, aren’t I?!

What should people sit on outside?

We have a gorgeous mango wood set - so comfy. We also have an 8 seater outdoor dining table.

Oh I love mine. It’s wooden, not plastic rattan. I love laying on the sofa and read my book and listen to the birds. Usually end up having nap too. There is nothing nicer than napping out in the shade in the summer.

My horrible plastic rattan sofa with nylon cushions has lasted over 10 years and looks like new. My wooden dining set rotted after about 4 years despite lots of treatment and was very uncomfortable. Stupid commoner that I am, preferring longer lasting, better looking, more comfortable garden furniture.

MN at its finest. No garden lighting? Wtf?

Lights can be switched off when not in use, you know.

We have festoon lights. I will just get my lower class coat, and be off.

@Strugglingtodomybest do you have an ‘outdoor rug’ on your decking also?

While I think "despise" is a strong word, I dont like them either. They are the new grey walls which were the new laminate flooring which was the new white kitchen....... everyone seems to have them! I am ok with garden furniture but there is something about garden sofas which I really dont like, not least the fact that they are not actualy sofas in that you cant get comfy and lounge on them and they are not really big enough for two people to chill out on.

That sounds nice @GADDay !!