Outdoor furniture that you actually use

[CadburySpira]

We have a tiny garden which is pretty shady so we’ve never really bought any nice garden furniture. Being as we are stuck here and prob stuck home now for summer, I thought it might be worth getting something. I have a very low to the ground fold up sun lounger which is good if it’s sunbathing weather, but that lives in the shed and can’t really be left out all the time. I’d like something that we could just pop out and sit down on for 10 mins of sun as and when, it needs to be comfortable and either weather-proof or v easy to set up.

Could I ask what are your favourite pieces of garden furniture? And what doesn’t get used? We used to have a garden bench but it was so hard and splintery we never used it. TIA

I think the swing seat gets the most use... It's a bit comfier than a bench. Ideally I want a little table to put next to it to hold a drink.

We have two benches that fold into a picnic table. Although you could just have one and it would work just fine. They live in a sunny spot for general use all year round and we can fold the back into a table when we want lunch outside.

(Actually, they’re currently part of an assault course that the kids made)

I have a kettler charlbury set and we've used it daily for the last month or so. Err not today! Anyway, worth every penny

Plastic wicker table and chairs for coffee many times a day just now (and wine on sunny evenings) and two matching loungers. Ours is made by Hartman.

Don’t think we have room for a swing seat unfortunately, though it does sound lovely!

@Artinsurance does the plastic set have cushions?

@LatteLarry just looked yours up, that’s the kind of thing I was thinking of. Do you leave the cushions out overnight?

@CadburySpira yes, we bought the cover for both the sofas and the table and they are a perfect fit and easy to put on. The cushions are showerproof but we always cover overnight and when raining anyway. I may bring them inside during winter but the cover is so good there may be no need

We don't have the largest patio type area - it's big enough but not so much that I wanted a garden set to take up the majority of it. So this sits nicely in a section of it and it's perfect for the four of us to sit on, also accommodates lying down. We have the matching 3 metre parasol too which is behind the set and all in all, it was a really good buy that'll last.

The corner sofa and small table. We just cover it when raining.

We have the smallest corner sofa from Homebase. Best thing we ever bought.

Our hammock gets used the most. I've just ordered a hanging chair which will hopefully get used as much (and we'll be able to use it inside in the winter as well). Same idea as a swing seat but takes up less room.

Pallet bench and a table. Couple of small chair sized waterproof cushions which are easy to put back into the shed.

We have a fairly basic small round metal table and two chairs just by the back door where I often sit for a coffee or to have my breakfast. It's about 4 years old now, comfortable enough to not need a cushion, never gets covered and I just pressure wash it once a year or so. It seems indestructible.
We have a 8 seater table & chairs a bit further up the garden but I can't walk there in the morning in socks without getting my socks wet!
I have considered trading my little table & chairs in for an egg chair but I'm worried that the children will take that over!

We have a Jack and Jill chair that I did on and have tea. I leave it out all year.
We also have a wooden seating bench/ table combined (seats 8 in a square shape)

We have steamers that get considerable use in warm weather.
The table and chairs get much more use for eating outside, drinks, a coffee together, board games etc.
I suspect a sofa type thing appeals more, but a sturdy teak table and chairs with a parasol is more flexible.

We've got a 6 seater rattan round table with glass top and also a love seat which gets a lot of use as you can put your feet up

I can’t remember if the cushions came as part of the set or if we paid extra for them. As a pp said, we bring them in at night. I find the chairs ok to sit on without them though - but I have a bit of padding 😀 I wouldn’t use the loungers without the cushions though. We bought a big plastic storage box to store them in the garden.

We’ve had ours for 3 years now and it just needs a wash down occasionally to make it good as new.

Just bought these beauties - they're great.

www.johnlewis.com/browse/furniture-lights/garden/garden-seating//N-5up0?intcmp=ic_20200207_gardenseating_cp_hom

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-ray-4-seat-garden-table-chairs-set-aegean/p238438860

I like very traditional style garden furniture ( sorry not the rattan ones or the modern metal and glass type ). It has to to stay out all year and need minimal maintenance.

I have this bench which needs no care at all, except washing down a couple of times a year. It’s heavy and feels very solid.

www.garden4less.co.uk/product/winawood-sandwick-2seater-garden-bench-stone-grey

Lots of different opinions on what is comfortable and gets used, shame there’s no definitive answer!

I have another question, how many slugs/spiders/bugs are attracted to your furniture? Just realised that’s probably another reason we’ve never had furniture that stays out as I hate all the creatures!

I’ve never seem slugs on mine ! Sometimes you get the odd spiders web, but you just take a leaf or stick to remove it.

Do you have a phobia about insects ? Because that might be what’s stopping you using the garden, maybe it’s not the lack of suitable furniture. It would be a shame to spend a lot of money and still not use it.

2 seater wooden bench; bring inexpensive acrylic blankets out to make it more comfy.

I wouldn’t say I have a phobia, I’ll happily clear spiders away with a stick as you say, I would probably check before I sat down though, where maybe others wouldn’t be bothered.

I really like metal furniture as it needs no care at all and still looks great. I really like our firepit table and the chairs are really comfortable

www.garden4less.co.uk/product/jamie-oliver-fire-pit-set-riven-pewter?partner=fr&gclid=Cj0KCQjwy6T1BRDXARIsAIqCTXo-fDvq00ov7lVTpgFLH_I5kVjYnA89KcsJDgDDaogVbEqSOKxa0CAaAipTEALw_wcB

I have a metal with glass top table, and two metals chairs with woven nylon seats on the terrace by the back door, then a couple of wooden benches down the garden and a hammock in the trees at the end. Hammock has a waterproof sleeve that needs to be slid to one end before using it. I find the furniture that gets used most isn't necessarily the most comfortable, it's the one that is there and ready when you want to use it - the seat that is left out all the time rather than the seat which you have to bring out specially. If sitting outside to relax for half an hour with a cup of coffee means first finding the key to the garage, then bringing out the seat and setting it up, and then doing it all in reverse at the end, it becomes easier to not bother.

The sofas, we have a few (big garden) and they are used all the time. They are synthetic rattan and so they can stay outside.