Step Outside

At this time of year our gardens, patios, courtyards and balconies become another area of our homes for us to dine and relax in.

How to choose new furniture for this space? There is such a wide choice available, but Simon Heard, Partner at Bernaville Nurseries near Exeter, is finding that customers are opting for comfort. “Outdoor settees, chairs and loungers are very popular. People are looking to spend leisure time outside, not just to eat outside.”

Where outdoor space is not an issue, Simon’s customers tend to choose corner unit seating, which provides both a soft-cushioned seating area and can be added to with modular items. “These often have co-ordinating low tables and extra benches or armchairs.”

We are still fond of deckchairs too, despite their reputation as not being the most comfortable seat for long periods. Rachel Noyce, Director at Noyces in Kingsbridge, says that there are also modern alternatives to this seat that has been loved, parodied and wrestled with. “There are other options such as the gravity relaxers, which can lock into place, or the highly colourful American-style hard resin seats. We also sell a lot of classic wooden benches.”

Stepping away from traditional seating, cushioned hammocks are proving popular, as are larger timber arbours that can incorporate a swing seat, providing both comfortable seating and some pretty shade cover. Love, or companion, seats are another choice – a side-by-side seat for two, possibly with a small table in the middle. 

Outdoor settees and ‘suite-style’ furniture are made from either resin weave or dura wood, which is a hard-wearing resin/wood mix. They should be protected to prolong their lifespan and Simon recommends using ‘breathable’ covers to help airflow and keep them in pristine condition.

Garden furniture sets can be constructed from wood, steel and plastic, so there are numerous options dependent on taste, space and budget. Small metal bistro-style sets are perfect for dinner à deux on balconies, while a large modular cushioned dining set can accommodate a party-ful of guests. Bistro sets are available in an aged rustic finish, which makes it seem like it’s been in place for years, giving a vintage feel. However, as Rachel notes, in our coastal regions, furniture constructed from steel will eventually rust in a seaside setting. 

If alfresco dining is the main purpose of the outdoor space, then tables and chairs are the chief consideration, and Rachel finds that classic wood is still popular. A new material at the top end of the market is sustainable FSC Roble hardwood, grown in eastern Bolivia, available in the Alexander Rose range at Noyces. It has the same lifespan as traditional teak and is a high-consistency premium grade. 

A cost-effective alternative is plantation-grown acacia. Rachel is finding that Devon customers are requesting the natural wood furniture to blend in with its surroundings. “Wood suits Devon gardens and it needn’t be high maintenance. Even if you leave it to silver off, it is still beautiful and robust. All outdoor furniture will need some maintenance at some point.” Another popular range at Noyces is the Portofino – a fine-powder-coated mild steel and wire mesh, with Texaline fabric in the back of the chairs. 

Simon finds that circular tables are the most popular, describing it as “a sociable shape that fits into small spaces”. Some table sets come with an integral sunshade but, if the parasol is a separate purchase, Simon says that the free-standing cantilever variety is definitely the most popular. “They offer more flexibility in terms of position and usually a larger shade area.”

Rachel suggests embedding a cantilever sunshade into the patio stones for stability. “They can be angled to provide shade, whatever position the sun is in, and the stems come in either aluminium or stainless steel, so are durable.” According to Rachel, the Singapore-style parasol is a current trend. “It has more struts, a curved shape and is available in bright colours, so customers choose it for its aesthetic appeal.”

Solar lighting is a good way to light your outside space in the summer evenings and it is available in various forms, from simple single posts and inset decking lights to hanging coloured lanterns and floating pond globes. A simple string of white solar fairy lights is still proving popular.

Simon is seeing greater advances in solar lighting technology. “It generally requires less sunlight to produce more light (even in winter), so they are much more efficient.”

Motion-sensor lighting is another option, both for ease-of-use and for security reasons.

“Wood suits Devon gardens and it needn’t be high maintenance. Even if you leave it to silver off, it is still beautiful and robust”