The Best Garden Furniture for Summer 2025 — The Essential Edit of What to Buy, Where to Buy It, and the Brands to Know

You know, it's been a good few years since I've seen a white plastic outdoor dining chair, and thank goodness. For too long, bad garden furniture has been pervasive, but it's a new dawn of designs for outdoor areas. The best garden furniture in 2025 is well-considered, durable, and looks good enough to use indoors.

The other great thing? Good garden furniture doesn't always cost the world. There are plenty of amazing luxury outdoor furniture brands that are well worth the money if it suits your budget, but there are also some excellent designs coming through high street retailers that will bring a design-forward touch to your garden, without breaking the bank.

That is, if you know where to look. I've been an interiors journalist for over 10 years, so I'd count myself as a good source of knowledge of not only where to shop, but what to buy. I spend day-in, day-out meeting brilliant brands (each doing something really exciting with outdoor furniture design), browsing modern garden landscaping projects, and visiting the world's design fairs, so I know the big trends in garden furniture, too.

For this guide, I've not only curated a list of some of my very favorite pieces of outdoor furniture that have launched this season, but also asked the experts for their advice on what to look for, and the main considerations for each type of furniture. From teak to lava stone, rattan to outdoor-friendly linen, there's materials you might be familiar with, and some potential new discoveries.

Alongside that, I've created a list of the places I'd recommend you look to buy your garden furniture, no matter what your budget, including well knowm brands such as H&M and Heal's, and those you might not be as familiar with yet, such as Ethimo and Nth Degree.

The 2025 Outdoor Furniture Edit

What Are the Best Garden Furniture Brands and Where Do I Buy Them?

There are a whole lot of outdoor furniture brands out there, but I can't vouch for them all. The ones I can vouch for, however, have made this list. These are brands I know well, have been hands-on with, and most importantly, are the ones doing the best, most stylish, and on-trend designs. A mix of high-street and high-end, this is where the Livingetc reader should be shopping, no matter your budget.

Some of the high-end outdoor furniture brands don't sell direct online, so we have highlighted the ones that do or the great third-party retailers to find them on — think the likes of Heal's, Chaplins and Made in Design.

Of course, when it comes to outdoor furniture you want to try first, it makes sense to head to a showroom to give them a test drive, so I've included those details, too, where appropriate.

Arteriors

Price range: £££
Showrooms: Arteriors has a showroom in London's Chelsea Harbour Design Centre.

Arteriors is a luxury home brand with a strong aesthetic value. You won't find those bright, colorful outdoor furniture pieces among its core offering; think instead earthy, tactile finishes, neutral palettes, and high-quality natural materials.

For its outdoor offering, this brand is the epitome of design, so good you'd use it inside, too. None of the materials or designs used give away its brilliantly durable qualities as so often it does, even for the best garden furniture brands.

You can't buy from Arteriors directly unless you're in the trade, but Sweetpea & Willow is one of its major retailers.

Anthropologie

Price range: ££
Stores: There are stores across the nation, though largely outdoor furniture is sold only online.

If you've ever shopped in Anthropologie, you'll probably already be familiar with its elevated 'boho' style, and its outdoor furniture follows suit. While its outdoor range isn't the biggest, it packs a punch in what it does offer, capturing a lifestyle aesthetic even more than just a certain look.

Shopping its range is a little trickier. It lends itself to more of the impulse buy, as you never really know if a piece will be in stock the next time you look, where some of the brands on this list have continuing ranges from year to year.

This year, there are some brilliant outdoor stools in colorful ceramics, as well as resort-style rattan furniture, and some whimsical metal pieces with scallops and curves.

Bontempi

Price: £££
Showrooms:

Italian design brand Bontempi has a modern-classic approach to outdoor furniture. Its designs are sleek and modern, using durable contemporary materials such as lacquered steel, design-forward plastics, and even recycled materials.

I've visited Bontempi showrooms many times over the years, and am always struck by the lightness of the designs. They're not imposing on the design, but feel like natural complements to outdoor spaces, whether you choose earthy neutrals or something a bit brighter and more colorful. Its focus is more on outdoor dining, so the collection consists of dining chairs, tables, and coffee and side tables.

You can't buy from Bontempi directly, but you can shop the collection at retailers such as Chaplin's.

Carl Hansen & Son

Price range: £££
Showrooms: The brand's London showroom can be found at 48A Pimlico Road, Belgravia, SW1W 8LP.

You might know Carl Hansen & Son best for the Wishbone Chair, a piece of iconic furniture that demonstrates the Danish brand's timeless, quality design.

Its outdoor seating The range isn't just a replication of its interior products, but a collection of distinct pieces made from FSC-certified teak, the creme de la creme of woods used for the best garden furniture.

This year, the brand released its Embrace Outdoor Lounge Series, pictured above, at Stockholm Design Week, taking its outdoor range into upholstered sofa-style furniture.

Carl Hansen doesn't retail direct, but you can find a list of its retailers online.

Ethimo

Price range: £££
Showrooms: Ethimo's flagship is found at 35-39 Old Street, EC1V 9HX

At any Design Week, I always seek out the Ethimo stand to see what novelties they've come up with for the next summer season. It's a dedicated outdoor brand that pushes the envelope when it comes to outdoor furniture design, embracing materials and forms in new and unexpected ways. Think theatrical outdoor floor lamps, tables made from enamelled lava stone, voluminous comfortable outdoor armchairs, and tent-like daybeds (and don't discount its accessories, either. Its planters are just as good as its outdoor furniture). Always innovative, always something special.

Ethimo, again, isn't a brand you can buy from directly online unless you're in trade, but it counts the likes of Made in Design and Royal Design among its retailers.

Habitat

Price: £

Habitat is, probably, the best garden furniture brand for great design on a budget, in this editor's opinion. An upholstered six-seater outdoor corner sofa from the brand will set you back around a very competitive £800, while something like this fun, bright orange patio set, consisting of a bench, two chairs, and a coffee table, is only £150.

While it has designs that cover the basics of what most people go for for garden furniture, for the more design-minded, it has a surprisingly large range of options that take a bigger swing, either through the use of color, or through a modern silhouette.

It's worth keeping an eye on the reviews before you buy, but in my experience with Habitat, the quality well outperforms the price tag.

Heal's

Price: ££ - £££
Showroom: The main store is on Tottenham Court Road, London, but there are a series of smaller stores and pop-ups across London and the north of England.

Though the iconic London furniture shop does have its own design ranges for furniture and decor, when it comes to outdoor furniture, Heal's has a curation of some of the best garden furniture brands instead. Think Case, Kartell, Fritz Hansen, Muuto, Normann Copenhagen, and more.

If you're interested in sustainability, it also stocks one of my favorite sustainable product design brands, Mater — specifically its outdoor table and chair set made from recycled ocean plastic. It's a Tom Dixon stockist too, and stocks the brand's new outdoor furniture launch for 2025, Groove, too, which was pictured at the start of this article.

H&M Home

H&M Home only has a small offering of outdoor furniture each year, but it brings its signature aesthetic to these pieces. It often stands apart from other retailers for its different point of view, and also its price point — often pretty affordable. The hero piece of this year has to be this woven outdoor chair. It looks convincingly like natural wicker, but it's actually made from iron and Polyethylene, making it durable for outdoor spaces.

H&M's true aesthetic seems to come through in its larger pieces. There's a sense of a design philosophy: minimalist, modern, but with some sense of originality that often makes its outdoor furniture a quick sell-out.

IKEA

Price range: £

I'm sure I hardly have to explain the concept of IKEA to you, but for budget-friendly outdoor furniture, the Scandi super brand still delivers.

What's new for this year? The NÄMMARÖ range offers comfortable corner sofas for under £500, made from acacia — the next best thing to teak when it comes to outdoor furniture materials — while I also find the TVARÖ range, with its resort-like styling, a charming option, too.

Janus Et Cie

Price range: £££
Showrooms: Janus Et Cie's London showroom opened last summer: 139-141 Fulham Rd, SW3 6SD

With the opening of its showroom in London last year, American luxury outdoor brand Janus Et Cie cemented itself as a player in the UK design scene. It's a brand that has the power of the 'vibe' — just by shopping there, you're bringing a guaranteed aesthetic that will elevate your outdoor space.

The vibe in question definitely has that American feel. It's charmingly preppy, and undoubtedly a timeless approach to outdoor furniture, but it leans modern just the right amount to make it feel design-forward, too.

You can count owning a house with a pool as firmly on my vision board, just for the sake of owning a Janus Et Cie sun lounger.

John Lewis

Price range: ££

High street staple John Lewis remains one of my go-tos for mid-range outdoor furniture with great design at its core. Previewing the collection for this summer, interiors editor Emma Breislin's favorite piece might have been the John Lewis Lozenge sofa, featured above, but don't overlook its more classic wood furniture range, made in affordable but elevated acacia.

For something a little more unexpected, check out its collaboration with Sanderson textiles for a corner sofa, too. Definitely a statement-making piece.

Neptune

Price range: £££

Neptune does classic, timeless style with just the right amount of edge, and its outdoor furniture range is no different. Yes, you'll find those tried and trusted outdoor furniture materials such as rattan, wicker, steel, and teak, but perfectly pitched for a transitional style.

If your budget is up to it, this is where you should buy wicker outdoor furniture if that's your thing — I think Neptune's Longmeadow Carver design might be my favorite I've ever seen in the material. If you're looking on the more modern end of the spectrum, the teak Stanway table, with its casual cool director's chairs, is my pick.

Next

Price range: £ - ££

Next is probably the most surprising source for outdoor furniture for the design-minded on this list. Yes, you might know it for its more everyday outdoor furniture offering, but once you dig into the site, or visit one of its home stores, you'll have some pretty special designs revealed to you.

This year, I've been all over the brand's boucle outdoor collection, which marries durable rattan-style furniture with this garden-friendly take on the fabric trend, but I'm also rating some of its acacia wood furniture designs, and this small garden-friendly rattan table set, too.

The Nth Degree

Price range: £££
Showrooms: Hale, Manchester, and soon-to-open in Clerkenwell, London

I've got to be honest, Nth Degree is a relatively new discovery for me in the world of outdoor furniture, but when I did discover it, I had one of those 'where have you been all my life' moments. Its elegant, elevated outdoor furniture design — sometimes minimalist, sometimes more characterful, but always sophisticated, and never gaudy.

Grouped in cohesive 'collections', the N2 collection, pictured above, with its teak frame and woven panels, is a particular standout, but its ranges extend to everything from pool loungers to indoor outdoor rugs.

The luxury brand, which hails from Manchester, recently opened its first showroom just outside of the city center in Hale, with a new London showroom set to open soon. The brand is exhibiting at this year's Chelsea Flower Show, too.

Soho Home

Price range: £££

If you're looking for the best garden furniture with a little character, Soho Home is where to shop. Its designs never push over the edge of the subtle yet glamorous side of maximalism, but always deliver pieces with a lust-worthiness that's hard to describe.

Its Theodore Sofa is probably the best striped outdoor sofa you'll find, while this Morrell Outdoor Dining Chair is fully upholstered in an outdoor-use linen. When we talk about outdoor furniture that doesn't look like outdoor furniture, Soho Home sets the gold standard.

Outdoor Furniture Buying Advice

What Style of Outdoor Furniture Should I Choose?

There are a lot of different styles, materials, and set-ups available for garden furniture, so where do you start with what to choose?

If the garden furniture is the first thing you're thinking about, you've already gone wrong. "Don’t start with the furniture — start with how you want to live," says Nth Degree's Laura Cranston. "Think about how your outdoor space will be used, at what times of day, and in which seasons. From there, consider proportion and flow — choose pieces that feel like a natural extension of your home, not an afterthought."

The best uses of outdoor furniture are considered at the same time as the garden's layout. "A well-considered layout with flexible, layered furniture will always feel more luxurious than simply filling space," Laura says.

What Materials Are Best for Outdoor Furniture?

Outdoor textiles

Material is never more important than with outdoor furniture to ensure it survives whatever the great outdoors throws at it. "When choosing outdoor furniture, it’s essential to consider materials, comfort, weather resistance, and durability," says Mike Durbridge, CEO at Andrew Martin. "For garden seating, comfort is key, especially if the furniture will be used for extended periods. Cushions or padded seats can add extra comfort, but they must be made from weather-resistant fabrics to ensure they maintain their integrity with minimal upkeep. Durability is crucial, as outdoor furniture is constantly exposed to varying weather conditions like rain, humidity, and UV rays."

As well as UV and water resistance, outdoor textiles should have anti-mould, anti-mildew, and anti-microbial properties. Ideally, any foam filling (a must for comfortable outdoor furniture) should have quick-drying properties that channel water out of the material.

Wood

When it comes to the best wood for outdoor furniture, "Teak is the gold standard," says Laura Cranston. "Naturally high in oils, it’s resistant to water, rot, and insects."

"Over time, teak develops a silver-gray patina which adds character, though it can be maintained with occasional cleaning and, over time, oiling if a richer wood tone is preferred," Mike Durbridge adds.

Teak is one of the expensive outdoor furniture materials, but acacia is a more budget-friendly alternative that has the same high-end look, if not quite the same durability.

Knowing how to care for wooden outdoor furniture is important, too. "For wooden surfaces, regular cleaning with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth helps remove dirt and stains," Bo Hellberg, CMO at outdoor furniture brand Grythyttan Stålmöbler, explains. "If you want to maintain the wood’s original color, applying a light coat of oil once or twice a year protects against moisture and sun exposure. To prevent unnecessary wear, keep wooden surfaces dry and avoid placing hot or wet objects directly on them."

Metal

From wrought iron to galvanized steel, metal is a durable choice for outdoor furniture, that is sometimes unfairly characterized as uncomfortable. "When constructed with ergonomics in mind, and expertly designed to distribute weight evenly across the surface, weather-resistant seating can offer optimal support and comfort tailored to the human body," Bo Hellberg says.

While some metal outdoor furniture can be heavy, there are some styles that are lighterweight and still as practical "Metal chairs, particularly those made from powder-coated aluminium, provide a more contemporary look while offering strength and stability," says Mike Durbridge. "Powder-coated aluminium is lightweight, rust-resistant, and easy to move around, making it an excellent option for flexible seating arrangements."

Rust is the big killer when it comes to metal furniture, but generally, modern furniture designs have it covered. "Rust-proof frames, such as powder-coated aluminium, ensure durability in a variety of climates," Mike says. "The powder-coating process involves applying a protective layer that bonds to the metal, creating a barrier against moisture and oxidation. This prevents rust from forming, even in humid or coastal environments where exposure to salt air can accelerate corrosion."

"Metal parts require minimal maintenance — just an occasional wipe with a damp cloth is enough to remove dust and grime," Bo adds. "While the metal is designed to resist rust, checking for small scratches and touching them up with a protective spray or wax can help prevent moisture damage. To protect the finish, avoid dragging metal furniture across rough surfaces."

FAQs

What Garden Furniture Can Stay Out All Year?

There are a multitude of reasons you might want to leave outdoor furniture outside in winter. You may have no storage space, for example, or you might not want to spend all winter staring at furniture covers. There are some outdoor furniture materials you really don't want to leave outside, and some that will be fine. None, are going to be the better for it, just to warn you.

Powder-coated aluminium and galvanized steel both should weather the storm, if you keep an eye on them and repair any damage to its weatherproof coating. Teak is hardy enough to be left outside, too.

Materials like wicker shouldn't be left out in winter, though manmade alternatives to the natural material should fair much better.

Is It Worth Buying Expensive Garden Furniture?

Realistically, you get what you pay for. The best garden furniture will come from luxury brands, made from more expensive materials that not only look more elevated, but that are more durable for use outside.

That isn't to say you can't get good quality furniture from less expensive brands, especially from a modern design perspective, but take as a case in point acacia vs teak outdoor furniture. Acacia does, in many cases, look as good as teak, while costing a lot less. However, teak furniture has a lot longer shelf life.

This is all qualified by saying that it's only worth buying expensive outdoor furniture if you're prepared to invest in looking after it too. No outdoor furniture is truly going to thrive in the worst weather conditions, so make sure you're springing for outdoor furniture covers, too, as well as making sure you winterize it for the off-season.

"During prolonged periods of heavy rain or frost, covering or storing your furniture in a dry, sheltered space will help preserve its appearance and durability," Bo Hellberg from furniture brand Grythyttan Stålmöbler recommends. "That way, your furniture will remain in excellent condition for years to come."

If you're yet to buy your garden furniture, now is the time to ensure you get the most out of it in the warmer months. Some of the best garden furniture brands have longer waiting times than what you can pick up on the high street, so it's not always a case of next-day delivery if you're investing in high-quality design.