Researching the best materials for garden furniture is essential when transforming your outdoors with a new dining or lounging set. With more options available than ever, discover which materials will best suit your needs, taste and lifestyle. We'll be taking you through the style, properties, maintenance and more of the most popular garden furniture materials available today:
More durable than its natural counterpart, synthetic rattan is the most popular material for garden furniture. It has been a favourite amongst many since we introduced it to the UK over 20 years ago.
We craft our premium rattan furniture using the finest synthetic polyethylene weaves to ensure premium quality across our collections. Our premium rattan is:
It’s also incredibly easy to clean, requiring either a cloth and warm soapy water or a jet wash. Discover more about how to care for your garden furniture here.
Rattan furniture is available in a variety of weave styles. Half round is a more accessible form of weave, while full round is the top-level choice. We craft most of our outdoor furniture using a full round rattan weave for unmatched comfort and premium style. It's also important to consider the tightness of the furniture’s rattan weave as a loose, unstable weave is the sign of bad quality that won't last.
What's inside is just as important as what's out, and once again quality is key. So, we ensure full protection from the elements and absolute rust-resistance by using powder-coated aluminium frames inside all of our rattan furniture.
Rope furniture is a relatively new material for garden furniture, but it's certainly here to stay. Bringing a nautical infusion to outdoor spaces, rope furniture is ideal for any style of garden.
Like rattan, rope furniture is also available in a variety of styles thanks to the versatility of the material. An open braid design, as seen in our Monaco Collection, is a little more laid back while the tightly knotted weave of Cannes has a touch more formality to it.
And, once again, don’t disregard what’s inside. A powder-coated aluminium or powder-coated steel frame will give you absolute rust-resistance and year-round protection.
Resin is one of the best materials for garden furniture thanks to its high-quality, strength and extreme weatherproofing. It's chic appearance also lends itself perfectly to more modern gardens and outdoor spaces.
Resin furniture doesn not rust or rot, making it ideal for poolsides. It can also be left outdoors all year round, requiring only a simple quick power-wash or hose down to get it looking its best again.
Created in collaboration with expert French furniture-makers Grosfillex, we craft our resin furniture using a high strength fibre reinforced resin enriched with aluminum particles to bring texture, shine and strength. The chairs are so comfortable that they don't even require cushions.
Outdoor fabric is the natural next step in garden furniture materials, but finding a quality fabric is essential. High quality outdoor fabrics can be expensive, so make sure to choose one that is going to stand the test of time.
Outdoor fabrics should be rugged enough to withstand the elements whilst maintaining their appearance. That's why our Ascot Collection and exclusive Fully Waterproof Cushions are upholstered in solution-dyed acrylic, the same fabric used on luxury yachts. The acrylic is spun into a yarn and woven to create a soft and luxurious all-weather material.
The right outdoor fabrics can bring the comfort and convenience of living room furniture into the outdoors, alongside a host of added benefits. Our outdoor fabric is breathable and quick-drying, with fade-resistance for even the sunniest days, waterproofing to withstand the rainy months, and stain-resistance so that you can relax without worrying about the occasional wine spill.
Outdoor fabric upholstery requires very little maintenance. Either hand wash using lukewarm water with a mild liquid soap or power-wash for an intense clean.
HPL stands for 'High Pressure Laminate', a unique material made by stacking thin layers of synthetic material and compressing them under extremely high pressure to form a hard, strong slab. A final layer is then applied (the laminate) to give the material a desired effect, from faux marble to faux wood to faux concrete.
Weatherproof, scratch-resistant, low-maintenance and anti-bacterial, HPL is ideal for garden tabletops. Simply clean with a cloth and lukewarm water.
If you have a question that we haven’t answered, please don’t hesitate to ask one of our helpful Furniture Experts by calling 020 8804 7474 or visiting our Virtual Showroom.
