14 best garden sofas to buy now
'Bringing the outside in' has become something of a catchphrase for fabric and paint companies as they try to persuade you to decorate in bold hues of green or calming earthy tones. Yet, after such a long time of feeling trapped inside, whether to stop the spread of coronavirus or because of the awful wintry weather, wouldn't it be nicer to bring the inside out?
One of the best ways to do this is to create a welcoming outdoor space. The best garden furniture, from the nation’s finest garden furniture stores, such as benches, garden chairs, fire pits or parasols all have the ability to make an alfresco space more welcoming. However, if you only invest in one thing for your outdoor area, we suggest you choose a garden sofa. An outdoor sofa is a hardworking furnishing that'll see you through many seasons. You can cosy up on it in front of a patio heater, use it as a sun lounger in the midday heat or, in the case of some particular storage garden sofas, keep gardening tools inside it.
The best garden sofa at a glance:
Don't have time to read the full guide? No problem. We've rounded up the very best garden sofas and outdoor seats to add to your space, in one compact list.
- Best designed garden sofa: Ethimo Venexia Sofa, £5,229, Fenwick.
- Best garden two-seater sofa: Stockholm Garden Sofa, £199, Next.
- Best metal garden sofa: Palm Springs Gunmetal Daybed Sofa, £1,000, Raj Tent Club.
- Best affordable garden sofa: Nammaro 2 Seat Modular Sofa, £180, Ikea.
- Best wooden garden sofa: Franklin 3-Seater Garden Sofa, £700, John Lewis.
- Best rattan garden sofa: New Hampshire Sofa, £1,195 OKA.
How to choose the best garden sofa for you
Before you purchase, make sure you consider how much space you have for your sofa. Always measure twice and, if the surface allows, you can tape the space to help you envision whether or not it'll be the correct size. A rattan garden sofa is a pretty choice, but bear in mind that unless it is made from a faux rattan, it isn't the most weather resistant, so your pieces will have to be put away or covered through rainier months.
Best garden sofas to buy for summer 2023
This sofa may be the most luxurious garden sofa we've seen. Welcoming on chillier spring days, and wonderfully inviting in high summer, The Ethimo Venexia seats two comfortably, with plenty of cushions that make it into a perfect reading spot. Ready to delivery in as little as four weeks, snap this one up quickly ahead of sunnier days.
John Lewis's range of outdoor furniture is really worth a peruse, and their collaboration with Swoon is no exception. For a high end look at a high street price, look no further.
Trust Next to come up with something that's great value for money and stylish too. Their Stockholm collection is full of great finds, where the quality belies the prices.
If you're looking for something bespoke and custom made, look no further than George Smith. Smith is the designer of the outdoor furniture used in Soho Houses across the world, including those famous striped benches in the New York seat. What sets them apart though, is that their outdoor offering is the same as their indoor one, just covered in outdoor suitable fabrics (good information to know before you try to navigate their website), so you're not limited to the boxy outdoor shapes that populate so many garden furniture shops' ranges.
If you're after something eye catching and bold, look no further than this brilliant garden sofa by Raj Tent Club. This is just perfect for small patios, where you want something welcoming without too large of a presence. Add some colourful cushions and you're away.
Made from aluminium and cane-line weave, Barker and Stonehouse's contemporary looking garden sofa is a durable and stylish pick.
Another handsome design by John Lewis. Upright enough to pull up to a dining table, it's laidback enough for languorous afternoons reading.
Another from Raj Tent Club, this time with a wrought iron frame. If you want to make your garden into something reminiscent of the Sicilian hotel in the White Lotus, may we suggest this?
This two seat sofa is a real steal. We would purchase some pretty outdoor cushions in a lovely colourful fabric to make it seem more expensive and luxurious than it is.
A modular design from Ikea, the Nammaro can be added to, and indeed taken away from, in order to create your ideal set up. It looks much more high end than its price suggests–and we think it looks terrifically inviting too.
Indian Ocean make wonderfully stylish pieces that will last for years. This particular sofa has customisable cushion and rope colours.
This sofa is technically a conservatory piece, not a permanent outdoor sofa. However, it is larger than many other ones we've seen at this price so it would make a great standby for outdoor use if unexpected guests turn up.
Top of our wish list is John Lewis's Dante 3 Seater Garden Sofa, which offers a pared back and stylish take on the furnishing. There are matching pieces available for anyone looking to build out their seating area. Ultimately, this is a really classic (faux) rattan piece that'll look good and last for years.
The pieces that make up this set are made from a faux rattan that is much better at battling the elements than normal rattan. Opt for this New Hampshire sofa for a low maintenance choice.
Can a garden sofa be left outside?
To answer this question, you first need to know that the answer depends on location and material. If you are planning on keeping your garden sofa in a sheltered area (against a wall, or on a patio), then you are probably safer to keep it outside than if it's exposed from every angle and to every element. The second consideration you need to make is of the material. Faux rattan is designed to be weather resistant and often UV protected, unlike its natural counterpart. The latter should never be left out for long periods of time. Metal frames needs to be rust free–a powder coated steel should be the ticket here.
