The best family-friendly garden furniture for your outdoor space
Discover the best garden furniture to get your exterior family space ready for summer dining, lounging and playing
If you had asked me last weekend, while I was basking in the sunshine with the familiar sound of the ice cream van jingle cutting through the air, I would have said that we should have posted this newsletter weeks ago.
Then came the torrential rain, thunderstorms, hail showers and even snow, according to my best friend who lives up in Manchester, and I realised that there is never a good time to talk about getting your garden ready for the great British Summer. Because, quite frankly, it’s anybody’s guess when and if we’ll get any sunshine here in the UK over the next few months. However, what I can safely say is that as soon the sun does come out to play, we’re all going to want to enjoy it as much as possible. And, if we leave buying our outdoor furniture until it’s too late, we may find we miss our window to actually enjoy using it. Or, worse still, we might find that many retailers will be sold out or those that do have stock may have a limited choice available.
So here you have it, Nest magazine’s essential guide to buying family-friendly outdoor furniture. From choosing kid-friendly sets, to picking hardwearing, weather-proof materials, we’ve got you covered. Enjoy!
Choose style and function
When it comes to creating your dream outdoor space, begin by thinking about your garden’s purpose. Do you want to use the space for alfresco dining or a kid-friendly play space for your children to hang out in? Or perhaps you envision a peaceful reading nook with a comfy outdoor sofa and coffee tables to lounge at? Make a list of what you want to be able to do in the space and then start measuring up to see what you can fit in. If you have kids at home, make sure you think about storage, as well as furniture that is easy to clean and maintain. Because, let’s face it, who has time to add another room in your ever-growing list of spaces to keep tidy!
Pick the right material
Rattan - it used to remind me of cold, damp conservatory décor from the 80s, but rattan has recently had something of a revival and is no longer seen as drab or dated. It’s actually a versatile material, shapely and good-looking, as well as hardwearing – making it a great choice for outdoors. There’s also a lot of faux-rattan on the high-street, which is made from a man-made fibre making it even more sturdier and durable than natural rattan. I think the secret to using rattan in a scheme is avoiding matching sets, and choosing one-off statement pieces instead. There’s lots of rattan in charity shops and second-hand stores at the moment – try painting them in bold colours for a more modern look. In terms of upkeep, a quick wash on a low-pressure hose is all that is needed but I would advise you either store it in a shed or garage during the winter months, or buy a water-proof cover if space won’t allow.
Wooden - timber furniture is great for a natural look and can suit both modern and traditional exterior schemes. Make sure you opt for hardwoods, such as teak, which will last longer and, if treated with oil or a stain regularly, will weather well. For comfort, invest in soft, wipeable cushions to sit on.
Metal - hardwearing, strong, low-maintenance and extremely durable, metal will suit a contemporary garden look. Common materials include stainless steel, iron and aluminium. Don’t forget that metal gets hot on sunny days (fingers crossed we get some of those this year), so you’ll want to invest in wipeable, waterproof outdoor cushions to ensure little ones are comfortable and don’t burn themselves.
Plastic - great if you’re on a budget, easy to clean and, as it’s weather-proof, plastic can be left outdoors all year round – perfect if you’re short on space. However, as we’re all well aware, plastic is not good for the environment. If you do decide to buy furniture made from this material but want to shop more eco-consciously, look out for pieces made from recycled plastics instead.
Go eco-friendly
Here at Nest we’re big advocates of upcycling and buying second-hand furniture. Not only will it save money, but will also stop someone else’s unwanted furniture ending up in landfill, so it’s good for the planet, too. Try eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and Freecycle or check out second-hand stores and charity furniture shops.
Don’t forget the kids
If you have the space available, look out for pint-sized versions of your “grown-up” outdoor furniture. There are so many cute and adorable pieces available to buy – why shouldn’t little ones be able to relax outdoors in style, too! Comfort is key, especially for children. Cushions, reclined seating, picnic tables with built-in umbrellas and canopies can be lifesavers on hot sunny days. We’re also big fans of multifunctional pieces, especially when space is limited. My two daughters love their Plum picnic bench from Scandiborn which, when the lid is removed, doubles-up as a sand and water pit (gifted as part of a PR collaboration).
Buy clever storage
Covering every inch of our garden with toys in the summer seems to be my childrens’ superpower. How they manage to spread all their mess so far and wide is beyond me? Having a dedicated storage box in the garden that is easily accessible so that they can tidy away their mess quickly and easily at the end of the day is a great way to keep the clutter at bay. I mean I can always hope, can’t I? Look out for benches and coffee tables that double-up as seating and tables with hidden storage underneath – great for small gardens.
Don’t forget accessories
I bought an outdoor rug last summer from B&Q (above). My husband thought I was mad to begin with but I convinced him that it would help zone our outdoor lounge area and add a bit of colour to our grey aluminium sofa and coffee table set. However, it’s also been a lifesaver for my youngest daughter Lily who seems to take delight in only bringing out small toys to play with outside! Not only does a rug provide a more comfortable surface for kids to play on, but it also prevents toys falling through the cracks in the wooden decking! Lighting is also essential for creating a warm ambience and for providing a safe environment for everyone – young and old – by illuminating paths, steps and other potential hazards. A well-thought out scheme will include practical path, step and patio/decking lighting, as well as decorative options for features such as trees, benches and borders. Go for solar-powered adjustable spike lighting that can be placed in flower beds and planters or downlighters than can be fitted against walls and fences.
Join our Substack chat
Are you currently renovating your home, or considering taking on a project? However big or small, we’re here to help you get your project off the ground. We’re launching a monthly design clinic over on our Substack chat where you can share your family reno dilemmas and we’ll aim to get your questions answered. Download the Substack app and join our chat by clicking on the link below.
