From bistro table and chairs and dining sets to rattan sofas and benches, we’ve compiled a list of the best garden furniture sets to help you get the most out of the summer sunshine. Why you can trust Ideal Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. Most outdoor furniture sets will consist of at least a chair and a matching table, the pricier sets will often include more seating and advanced features like parasols or fold away items. If you're blessed with a large patio then zoning the garden into outdoor 'rooms' can be a great use of space, adding a garden table and chairs that are spacious enough to host friends and family around a barbecue area in the 'outdoor dining' zone, and creating a more informal seating area with a corner sofa or lounge set to relax and socialise on in 'outdoor living room' area.

G&T's, BBQ's and ice lolly's only mean one thing - summer is here, and it's the perfect time to update your garden with a new set of outdoor furniture. The downside, of course, is that unlike biodegradable natural rattan, most PE-rattan garden furniture is currently unrecyclable at the end of its lifespan. Although some advances are being made in repurposing single-use plastics for the manufacture of the polymers needed to create the furniture in the first place.For this reason aluminium garden furniture can be left outside all year round making it a super low maintenance option (although some manufacturers will still recommend sheltering it from the worst of the elements to prolong its lifespan even further). We've included a mix of both frame types in this guide to cater to all budgets, so whether you're looking for a rattan garden table and chairs for alfresco dining, a rattan corner sofa to create a swoon-worthy outdoor living area, or a rattan sun lounger for soaking up some rays in style, you'll find the season's best options right here, along with our go-to retailers for sourcing this popular look. Create an inviting outdoor space or an elegant conservatory with the Florence sofa set. The hand-woven resin weave design combined with grey cushions is a striking style that is sure to wow. Gather the family and get outside when the weather's good. Florence also plays the part of conservatory furniture perfectly. It's ready to host your mid-morning catch up with family or evening tipples with friends. The chairs are generously sized, so you can relax in comfort. summer retreat. Accessorise with a parasol and pour yourself a cold drink for a truly relaxing experience!

Plastic, as an alternative, is waterproof, UV-resistant, frost-resistant, and requires very minimal maintenance in comparison, leading to it being favoured by manufacturers for low-maintenance outdoor options. These days most 'rattan' garden sets are made from weather-resistant PE-rattan (a plastic polymer woven to look like the real thing), meaning that rattan outdoor furniture is a low-maintenance option that requires very little upkeep – unlike wood which will benefit from a top up with wood preservative every now and then. Whether or not you can leave rattan garden furniture outside in the rain without it becoming damaged is largely due to the type of metal frame the set is constructed with. Once you've decided on the type of garden furniture layout that will work best for your lifestyle, it's time to consider the materials that outdoor furniture is made from to ensure a durable investment. Opting for the most durable PE-rattan garden furniture your budget allows can, therefore, become an important way to minimise some of the environmental impact of polyrattan furniture, and that means considering the type of frame that gives rattan garden furniture its structure; namely whether it's constructed from steel or aluminium. Plus, of course, opting for the most durable rattan garden set your budget allows will save you money in the long run. Read on to find out the pros and cons of each metal and their outdoor durability.As such most manufacturers will recommend you store steel-framed rattan garden furniture in a sheltered environment during inclement weather to prolong its lifespan. This can be inconvenient if you don't have a garage or shed for storage, plus, steel is pretty heavy to move. A waterproof outdoor furniture cover will help to protect steel rattan furniture from the worst of the elements, although it's hard to prevent damp from penetrating over time, so expect steel-framed options to have a shorter lifespan overall. And the best news is that due to its enhanced weatherproofing, aluminium-framed garden furniture can be left outside all year round, so you don't need to worry about storage. (Although, nothing is completely impenetrable to the elements, so if you have the space then protecting your garden furniture over winter is still wise). Most modern 'rattan' garden furniture is usually made from PE-rattanor polyrattanrather than real, organic rattan. Both terms are slightly different names for the same woven synthetic plastic polymer that is fashioned to emulate the appearance of natural rattan. Why not use real rattan? Although the natural fibre is what inspired the rattan look we all love, the organic material needs a little more TLC to survive outdoors, requiring protection from damp and moisture, and needing to be shielded from direct sunlight and wind which can cause it to become brittle.

you make the most of your outside space. Read our guide to the best weatherproof garden furniture to learn more. HowYour credit agreement is provided on behalf of Maze Rattan Limited by V12 Retail Finance, Maze Rattan Limited are a credit broker and not a lender. V12 Retail Finance Limited. Registered in England and Wales 4585692.