Outdoor furniture shouldn’t be an afterthought, but a critical part of your garden design. We consider it alongside the structure of the planting, the positioning of a glasshouse, the light bouncing off a water feature in the morning, and the route between the house and the best spot to relax. In this blog, I share how selecting the right furniture during the planning process means it becomes part of your garden, not a last-minute decision, and shapes how it’s used.
Why furniture should be chosen as part of the overall garden design
Outdoor furniture defines fixed areas in a garden design, whether it’s a dining table on a terrace, poolside loungers, or a seating group beneath a pergola.
The scale of a dining table, for example, needs to be in proportion with the space around it. The colour and texture of the table and chairs need to complement the stone, timber or planting surrounding it. It’s not something to simply drop in after the terrace or entertaining area is complete. We always consider seating and garden furniture as part of the whole aesthetic of the setting.
Matching furniture to how a space will be used
We recognise that not every area of a garden plays the same role, so furniture should reflect that.
- Formal dining: long lazy dinners and family celebrations require durability and comfort. Teak or a combination of teak and metal is a considered option.
- Relaxed sofa seating: depth, softness, and generous cushions create the ideal spot to relax with a book or catch up with friends.
- Poolside lounging: requires pieces that drain well after a refreshing swim and hold colour in direct light – woven fibre and aluminium perform well here.
- Flexible entertaining: from a breakfast meeting to a bigger gathering around an outdoor kitchen, these spaces benefit from furniture that can be reconfigured or supplemented, such as stacking or lightweight chairs, extendable tables and modular sofa systems.
All these elements can work beautifully alongside bespoke lighting or a fire pit.
A comparison of five outdoor furniture houses
There’s no right or wrong choice when it comes to selecting a furniture brand. We work with trusted suppliers and always hand-pick the right brand aesthetic for each garden. Here is a selection of our recommended outdoor furniture brands.
Gloster
Gloster is a premier name in outdoor furniture, renowned for responsibly sourced, Grade A teak wood tables and comfortable chairs.
- Style: Scandinavian-influenced, ranging from architectural teak dining pieces to softer modular lounge collections, such as Sway. Suited to dining and lounge, from a single long table to a full outdoor room.
- Comfort: Deep seating in modular collections, alongside more upright dining ranges.
- Materials: Teak alongside stainless steel, powder-coated aluminium, and man-made wicker and sling material, with aluminium treated with a chrome conversion coating and an electrostatically applied powder coat finish for corrosion resistance.
- Durability: Established teak manufacturing process with dedicated departments for each material.
Kettal
Kettal is a Spanish brand focusing on modern, contemporary outdoor pavilions and sleek dining sets for gatherings.
- Style: Sculptural and contemporary, built around a small number of signature collections. Suited to poolside lounging and relaxed entertaining, particularly where a sculptural single piece is the focal point.
- Comfort: Woven rope and technological fabric seating designed for an enveloping, settled feel.
- Materials: Aluminium as the primary structural material, combined with technological fabrics engineered to withstand demanding conditions, with teak used for legs and accents in select ranges.
- Durability: Frames built for longevity, with 100% ecological and recyclable paints and sustainably sourced wood used across production.
Barlow Tyrie
Barlow Tyrie is a brand that’s highly celebrated for its historic British heritage and elite engineering.
- Style: British and traditionally rooted, with collections spanning classic slatted teak through to sleeker aluminium and stainless-steel ranges. Suited to formal dining and long-term teak collections intended to be kept for decades.
- Comfort: Deep-seated lounge collections alongside more formal dining chairs and benches.
- Materials: Grade A teak sourced from managed plantations on Java, alongside powder-coated aluminium and marine-grade stainless steel.
- Durability: A ten-year residential warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, from a manufacturer with over a century of furniture-making experience.
Dedon
Dedon is famous for hand-woven fibres that are incredibly weather-resistant and perfect for an upscale resort vibe.
- Style: Sculptural, woven silhouettes, from cocoon-like lounge pieces to structured dining chairs. Suited to poolside and lounge settings where the seating itself is a sculptural feature.
- Comfort: Hand-finished woven seating designed around the body, with cushions layered in for softer lounging.
- Materials: A proprietary fibre developed through years of research, resistant to UV, saltwater, chlorine and extreme temperatures, paired with teak, aluminium, ceramics and textiles across collections.
- Durability: Handwoven by master artisans, with each collection designed to withstand the elements while holding its shape and comfort.
Tribù
Tribù offers minimalist, timeless design using natural materials like soft technical weaves and durable teak.
- Style: Belgian and quietly refined, treating the garden as an extension of the interior. Suited to flexible entertaining spaces that need to move easily between dining and lounging.
- Comfort: Modular sofa systems alongside dining chairs with woven or upholstered detail.
- Materials: Teak, aluminium and premium synthetic resin used across the collections, with ceramic, stone and woven finishes appearing in newer ranges.
- Durability: A family-owned house working since 1966, the first outdoor furniture company to exhibit at Salone del Mobile in Milan.
Other brands worth considering include Royal Botania for chic, resort-style dining sets, Gaze Burvill for steam-bent oak furniture, or Vondom for sleek, futuristic outdoor furniture.
Materials: practical considerations
Every material used in outdoor furniture wears differently, and they are affected by time and weather, so aftercare is an important consideration.
- Teak – your maintenance team will need to oil it regularly to avoid a silver-grey patina developing. Well-made teak furniture is built to withstand the elements.
- Aluminium – a properly treated aluminium frame is knock- and scratch-resistant, largely impervious to moisture and straightforward to keep clean – a good choice for seasonal pieces.
- Woven fibres – purpose-built synthetic rather than natural rattan, are engineered to resist UV exposure and chlorine without fading or becoming brittle. They’re great for poolside settings.
- Outdoor upholstery – cushions and covers are the one element that typically needs seasonal storage or covering. We always consider storage plans in the garden too.
It’s worth remembering that bespoke and premium orders often have longer production windows – another reason to plan ahead.
Balancing furniture with the rest of the garden
The best outdoor furniture responds to its setting.
A table frame complements a stone terrace. A woven chair picks up the texture of ornamental grasses. A lounger and side table frame a beautiful pool view.
Considering furniture at the same time as paving, planting and architectural lines means the whole space is designed as one connected space. If your garden includes a pergola, outdoor kitchen, pool terrace or built-in seating, then it’s worth having a conversation about furniture in the early design stages.
If you’re considering a garden redesign, please get in touch to arrange a consultation. We’re happy to share our experience of different garden furniture and how they might fit within your design.
About Paul
Paul Cowell is our Managing Director. He’s a Chartered Landscape Architect and full member of the Landscape Institute, as well as a registered member of the Society of Garden Designers. Paul is an RHS Judge, sits on show garden selection panels for RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court, and is a member of the RHS sustainability panel.