Garden String Chairs to Awnings with Sides: The Complete Outdoor Living Guide
Introduction
There's a particular kind of joy in stepping into a garden that actually feels finished — somewhere you'd choose to sit even if you had a comfy sofa waiting indoors. Getting there isn't about buying everything at once; it's about picking the right pieces in the right order. A relaxed seat to sink into. A sofa for lazy evenings. A table where dinner turns into a two-hour catch-up. And something overhead to keep the whole plan from being ruined by a sudden shower.
In this guide, we're walking through five outdoor essentials that, together, cover almost everything your garden needs: string chairs, egg chairs, outdoor sofas, dining sets, and awnings with sides. Whether you're starting from scratch on a bare patio or upgrading a garden that's seen better days, consider this your shortlist.
The Quiet Comeback of the Garden String Chair
If you've scrolled through outdoor furniture inspiration lately, you'll have noticed the garden chairs trend leaning heavily into texture — and string seating is right at the centre of it. A string chair (sometimes called a cord or rope-weave chair) uses tightly wound synthetic cord over a metal or resin frame, giving you a seat that's breathable, lightweight, and surprisingly comfortable without needing a thick cushion.
What makes them so popular right now:
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Airflow – the woven design means you're not sitting on a hot, sticky surface after an hour in the sun.
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Visual lightness – they don't dominate a small patio the way a bulky armchair can.
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Weather resistance – quality synthetic cord shrugs off UK drizzle far better than natural rattan.
They work beautifully as accent seating around a fire pit, paired with a side table, or dotted along a balcony rail. If you're building a set from scratch, browse our full range of garden chairs to find cord and rattan-effect styles that mix and match with the rest of your outdoor layout.
Egg Garden Chairs: Still the Statement Piece
No outdoor seating conversation is complete without the egg garden chair. Since it first went viral, the hanging egg chair has settled into being less of a trend and more of a garden furniture staple — and for good reason. That cocoon shape genuinely does something psychological: tucked inside with a cushion and a blanket, it feels private even in an open garden.
A few things worth knowing before you buy one:
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Stand type matters. Freestanding metal stands are easiest to install (no drilling), while hanging versions need a strong beam or pergola.
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Check the weight rating. Most sit between 100–150kg, but double-seat egg chairs will list a higher capacity.
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Cushions should be removable and washable — look for zip-off, UV-resistant covers so summer showers don't mean a soggy seat.
We stock a dedicated range of egg garden chairs in rattan-effect, PE wicker, and swing-frame designs, so you can match the finish to whatever else is going on in your garden.
Building Around an Outdoor Garden Sofa
Once you've got individual seating sorted, the next natural step is a proper outdoor garden sofa — the piece that turns a patio into a place people actually want to gather. Unlike single chairs, a sofa set anchors the space and gives you somewhere to host more than two people comfortably.
When shopping for an outdoor garden sofas set, three things separate a good buy from a regretted one:
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Frame material – aluminium won't rust and stays light enough to rearrange; PE rattan-wrapped steel is a durable middle ground.
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Cushion depth – anything under 8cm tends to feel thin after the first season; look for high-density foam with a weatherproof lining underneath the outer fabric.
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Modularity – corner and modular sofa sets let you reconfigure the layout as your garden or guest list changes.
Pair your sofa with a low coffee table and you've essentially built an outdoor living room. It's one of the fastest ways to add genuine value to how you use your garden, not just how it looks.
Garden Dining Sets Sale: Timing Your Purchase Right
If seating is about relaxing, a dining set is about doing something — birthdays, Sunday lunches, the odd impromptu barbecue that runs on past sunset. Because dining sets are a bigger investment than a single chair, it's worth knowing how to shop a garden dining sets sale properly rather than just grabbing the first discount you see.
A few practical pointers:
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Measure before you buy. A 6-seater set needs roughly 3m x 3m of clear patio space to allow chairs to pull out comfortably.
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Look for a parasol hole in the table, even if you don't own a parasol yet — retrofitting one later is far harder than choosing a table with the hole built in.
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Glass-top tables look sharp but show pollen and rain spots quickly; if low maintenance matters more than looks, a powder-coated aluminium or teak top will serve you better.
Our current garden dining sets on sale range from compact 4-seater bistro styles up to extendable 8-seater rattan sets, so there's a size for both courtyard gardens and larger lawns.
Awnings with Sides: The Unsung Hero of a UK Garden
Here's the piece people underestimate until they've lived without it: awnings with sides. A standard retractable awning gives you overhead shade, which is great — until the wind picks up sideways or the sun drops low in the evening and cuts straight underneath the canopy. Side panels solve exactly that problem, extending protection horizontally so your seating and dining area stays usable for more hours of the day, and more days of the year.
Side-panel awnings are particularly worth considering if:
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Your patio faces a direction that gets low, glaring evening sun.
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You want some privacy from neighbouring gardens without installing fencing.
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You're trying to extend the outdoor dining season into cooler evenings, where a bit of wind-blocking makes a real difference to comfort.
Browse our awnings collection to compare manual and motorised options — motorised versions are pricier but genuinely handy if you're opening and closing the canopy daily.
Bringing It All Together
A garden doesn't need to be expensive to feel complete — it needs to be considered. Start with a comfortable seat, whether that's a string chair or an egg chair. Add a sofa if you're hosting groups. Bring in a dining set once the budget allows, ideally during a sale window. And don't skip the awning — it's the difference between a garden you use for three months a year and one you use for seven.
If you've been putting off the upgrade, there's rarely a bad time to start — check out our full garden furniture sale for current discounts across seating, dining, and shade solutions, and build your outdoor space one good decision at a time.
For general planting and garden layout inspiration to go alongside your new furniture, the Royal Horticultural Society has excellent free design guides. And if you want to double-check how your chosen materials handle UK conditions specifically, the Met Office publishes seasonal rainfall and UV data that's genuinely useful when deciding between covered and uncovered furniture.
What's the first piece you're adding to your garden this year — a statement chair, or the shade to go with it? Either way, we'd love to see how you style it.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is a garden string chair as durable as a rattan chair?
Yes, when made from marine-grade synthetic cord over an aluminium or powder-coated steel frame. It typically resists cracking and fading better than natural rattan, though it should still be covered or stored during heavy winter weather.
2. Can an egg garden chair stay outside all year?
Most can, provided the frame is rust-resistant and the cushions are brought indoors or stored in a waterproof box during prolonged wet spells. Always check the manufacturer's care guidance for your specific model.
3. What's the most low-maintenance material for an outdoor garden sofa?
Aluminium frames with PE rattan weave are the easiest to maintain — they don't rust, don't need annual treatment, and can simply be wiped down with soapy water.
4. When is the best time to catch a garden dining sets sale?
End-of-summer clearance (typically August–September) and early spring pre-season promotions tend to offer the deepest discounts, since retailers are clearing stock for the next range.
5. Do awnings with sides block wind completely?
Side panels significantly reduce wind and glare but aren't fully windproof in storm conditions. For very exposed gardens, retracting the awning during high winds is still recommended to protect the fabric and frame.
