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?

I think it’s envy to be fair. It’s the heightened emotion behind the words that gives it away and the need to be as scathing as possible.

And the need to start a thread in a desperate attempt to find people who agree.

@Houseofmirth66

I hate them too. I always imagine that people who have them buy ‘art’ from Dunelm.

Post of the thread!!

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Envy of such a display of Dunelm / Argos tacky tat? Erm...highly unlikely!

You know that thread about daft things your dm did, well, I reckon if mumsnet is about in 20 years there will be a thread with people howling with laughter over the fact that some peoples mothers thought garden furniture was worth dispising and deemed common and/or tacky.

We have a metal set, a plastic set, a sofa set AND a rattan set. All in different parts of the garden. And miles of festoon lighting. And....a fountain. The OP would faint dead away in abject horror and come down with a case of the wrist shivers.

@FossilisedFanny

I’ve got one of those garden swing chairs with a shade over it - is that ok ?

oh god

Someone else mentioned the resin water “features”. Yes to those things as well.

No, the garden swings with awning are pleasingly retro. Even better if they are retro (although you might fall through the seat if it’s 50 years old).

Not at all unreasonable to not find them to your taste and not want them in your garden .

But to despise? And to start a thread about it? That seems a lot of negative feeling and mental effort against a piece of furniture ! So yeah , YABU

@Jeremyironseverything so it’s snobby to have the opinion that cramming a massive couch into a small space doesn’t look nice or suit the garden and a smaller set would be nicer! Ok then

@Janegrey333

Someone else mentioned the resin water “features”. Yes to those things as well.

Please share photos of what you deem to be acceptable.

Imo taste is taste - who cares.

BUT astroturf is not taste, it’s offensively harmful. I actually would like to get it banned for domestic use and, like others, think fully concreting or tarmacing gardens should also be illegal.

[quote FitzsimmonsMarvel]@Jeremyironseverything so it’s snobby to have the opinion that cramming a massive couch into a small space doesn’t look nice or suit the garden and a smaller set would be nicer! Ok then [/quote]
Yes it is because it has no bearing on your life whatsoever. Here's a thought, try not being so nosey.

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion This is a forum where people give opinions on a multitude of things that are ‘no bearing on their life whatsoever’. And how on earth is it being nosy? Do you suggest I walk around my bedroom with my eyes closed so I don’t accidentally look out my window and see into my neighbours gardens? Grow up. If you can’t handle a differing opinion maybe mumsnet isn’t the place for you and especially not AIBU

@minipie personally yes... people who care about the environment tend to care about it in multiple ways Even if you don’t care about the environment, covering up the ground in the garden with artificial grass or concrete increases flood risk as the water can’t drain away into the soil so it could pose an issue to neighbouring properties.

We have a patio heater ... where does that fit on the common-ness scale?

Actually it's the only thing on the patio at the moment as we set up our garden nicely for outdoor entertainment in the autumn (two sets of wooden tables/chairs with the patio heater in the middle) and then lockdown appeared so we put all the furniture away to protect the wood. (We have shed and outdoor storage boxes)

@minipie There is a lot of unnecessary plastic use I would ban but artificial grass is first on my hit list. It kills the soil beneath it meaning that all the living organisms our wildlife need to survive cease to exist. Grass is fairly low maintenance in real terms. Why someone would smother their garden with bright green plastic when grass is so much more attractive and better for the planet, is beyond me.

I'm sure those people with their sofa crammed in, would much prefer a huge gorgeous garden to put it in, but why should they go without and have a less comfortable, smaller set, just because they aren't lucky enough to have the huge garden. So yes it it's snobby.

I dont like them either. I prefer wooden garden seating.

Patio heaters are terrible for the environment. Either it’s warm enough to sit outside, with or without warm outdoor clothing, or it isn’t.

It's ok to have a preference, but it's not ok to put down others choices just because they don't have as much space. That it's snobby.

@Jeremyironseverything sorry can you point me toward the part of my post where I said that those in small gardens ‘should go without’ and that they aren’t allowed to have them if they have a small garden???? Where exactly did I say that?

I simply expressed my opinion that I dislike them in small gardens and think a smaller table and chairs set looks nicer which is what I plan to get for my own garden.

Wilsonwilson

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

My kind of furniture then

Actually I would love some, but it rains 90% of the time here, I'd spend most of my time dashing in and out with the cushions, and it would be green and mossy within a few months.

[quote FitzsimmonsMarvel]@Iminaglasscaseofemotion This is a forum where people give opinions on a multitude of things that are ‘no bearing on their life whatsoever’. And how on earth is it being nosy? Do you suggest I walk around my bedroom with my eyes closed so I don’t accidentally look out my window and see into my neighbours gardens? Grow up. If you can’t handle a differing opinion maybe mumsnet isn’t the place for you and especially not AIBU[/quote]
🤣 "Grow up". Maybe mumsnet isn't the place for you can't handle someone that doesn't like YOUR opinion.

The point, surely, is that the rattan sofa, table, etc - be they “real” or plastic - are ubiquitous. It makes you a follower not someone who is an individual with taste.

The gardens which strike a chord with me are those that encourage wildlife, those that work with nature and those that have logs, for instance, under which insects can make their homes. Gardens are outside and as such are not “rooms”.

I love allowing moss to grow naturally over gravel, terracotta pots that are weathered naturally, having borders lined with stones picked from Atlantic beaches on near the paths on mountains.
Some French gardens are natural in this way and all the more charming for it.