Best patio furniture

Patio furniture will enable you to make the maximum use of your exterior space, whatever its size. Seating and tables can turn your garden into an outdoor room, allowing you to enjoy the space, air, sights, and fragrances during the day or the evening. With the right designs, you can be as comfortable as you would inside your home, and patio furniture can be just as stylish as that for interiors while proving durable enough for outdoor conditions. Find the best designs in our selection.

Whether your garden is small, or you need an extra set of patio furniture to position where you can catch the morning sun, this classic bistro set is a perfect choice. It’s made from powder-coated steel, which can be easily cleaned to keep it looking its best. I love this mint green shade for adding a colourful accent, but there are plenty of other hues to pick from if it’s not your favourite. It’s a set ideal for enjoying breakfast in the garden or an evening drink as the sun sets, although you might want to add a seat pad for comfort. The two chairs and the table can be folded down, so they don’t hog shed room in winter.

Opt for this patio furniture, and you’ll get a corner sofa along with a dining table plus a bench and stool so that you can welcome a crowd. Made from Polyrattan, it has the look of the real thing but needs no maintenance. With back and seat cushions, it’s perfect for long, relaxed alfresco meals but works equally well as outdoor living room furniture. A tempered glass tabletop makes keeping the surface hygienic easy, and the cushions can be machine-washed to keep them in tip-top shape. Bear in mind that we found putting the set together a bit time-consuming.

If your garden has a contemporary style, this patio furniture could have your name on it. I love the curvaceous lines of the metal frames and the seats themselves. The chairs don’t sacrifice comfort for style, though, and you can relax in the ergonomic design. Like much of the patio furniture in our selection, this set of two chairs and a table are made with durable weatherproof rattan for lasting good looks, as well as traditional texture. The pieces are lightweight and therefore easy to tidy away into storage when the time for sitting outside is passed. Alternatively, they’re handsome enough to use inside in a conservatory or living space.

Searching for patio furniture that doesn’t require a big spend? Then this set could be just the ticket. You’ll get two armchairs, a two-seater sofa, and a coffee table with a tempered glass top that will allow you to swap the living room for the patio, whether it’s just the family at home or you’re welcoming guests. The all-weather rattan from which it’s made resists fading in UV light, while the cushions are shower-proof, so you don’t need to worry about getting caught out by a change in the weather. The covers can be removed for washing as well, something you'll need with those white colours.

Here is another patio furniture set that can fit onto a small terrace or be positioned in the corner of the garden that makes a great place to relax. The armchairs offer an upright seat, but they come with cushions, and they’re deep, while the backs of the chairs are supportive. The table is compact, but a lower shelf means you could accommodate a book or your sun lotion as well as putting drinks and plates on the top. The black colourway looks sophisticated as part of a modern garden design, but there’s a brown version that I’d recommend if you prefer a softer and more natural tone. Once again made from artificial wicker, this set is easy to look after, and the material plus the steel frames make the pieces durable. 

If you prefer patio furniture which makes a more pleasing impression, take a look at this set. It’s made with a powder-coated steel frame that creates a crisp outline, and the seats are upholstered with a Textilene fabric. There is a lot of praise for the material’s comfort, and it has the advantage that you won’t need to find space to store cushions out of season. The fabric is also breathable, which is a significant advantage on hotter days. On the downside, if you do like a seat or back cushion, too, you’ll have to buy that separately. With a two-seater plus two chairs and a coffee table, you can easily configure this set to fit patios of different shapes.  

Our verdict

Make the most of your outdoor room with one of the patio furniture sets in our selection. Our favourite is the Grand Patio bistro set, which can fit on small balconies, tiny terraces, and patios in gardens of any proportions. It’ll add a pop of colour all summer long and can be folded away for easy storage.

If you like the idea of chairs and a table that would work equally well inside your home, the chic Keter Rio patio set will fit the bill beautifully.

Why trust us?

At GardeningEtc, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously – testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.

Why trust me?

As a gardening writer, I look for maximum style as well as practicality when recommending patio furniture, and this selection includes the best designs on offer to meet both those criteria.