Your garden is an extension of your home – and the furniture you choose shapes how you use it. Whether you’re after a relaxed rattan lounge set for long summer evenings or a solid teak dining table that’ll last a generation, there’s a lot to consider before you hit buy. Here’s a practical guide to getting it right.
Know Your Materials
The material your furniture is made from affects not just how it looks, but how much maintenance it needs and how well it survives a British winter.
Teak is one of the most durable hardwoods available for outdoor use: naturally oily, resistant to moisture and insects, and capable of lasting decades with minimal care. It weathers to a silver-grey over time if left untreated, which many people love. It’s also heavy, which means it stays put in the wind but takes a two-person crew to move safely.
Powder-coated aluminium has become the go-to choice for contemporary garden sets. It’s lightweight, rust-proof, and available in virtually any colour. Frames tend to be slim and modern in profile, making it a good fit for smaller spaces or minimalist gardens.
Synthetic rattan (woven around an aluminium or steel frame) is weatherproof, comfortable, and comes in the widest range of styles from tight, dark weaves to looser, natural-looking finishes. It’s a good choice if you want something that feels relaxed and residential rather than formal.
Cast iron and steel offer a classic, heritage feel and serious durability, but they’re heavy and can rust if the finish is damaged, so they need occasional maintenance.
FSC-certified timber (acacia, eucalyptus, and similar) offers a more affordable alternative to teak while still being durable and sustainably sourced – worth looking for if provenance matters to you.
Match the Furniture to the Space
Before you fall in love with a set online, measure your outdoor space properly including any paths, gates, or passages the furniture will need to travel through on delivery day.
Think about how the furniture will be used. A large dining set suits a dedicated terrace where you regularly eat outside; a modular lounge set works better for a lawned garden where you want flexibility. If you have a smaller courtyard or balcony, look for bistro-style sets or compact stackable chairs that won’t overwhelm the space.
Consider zones: many gardens can comfortably accommodate a dining area and a separate lounging area, especially with the addition of a pergola or parasol to divide the space visually. A fire pit or chiminea can anchor an evening seating area and extend how late into the season you can use the garden.
Think About Delivery Before You Order
Large garden furniture, particularly corner sofa sets, dining sets with multiple chairs, and pergolas, arrives in substantial packaging, often across multiple boxes. Before ordering, it’s worth checking:
- Access: will the boxes fit through your side gate and along any path to the garden? Check the packaged dimensions against your gate width before ordering.
- Weight: dense materials like teak and cast iron require a two-person delivery, so make sure your retailer is using a specialist two-person service rather than a standard courier.
- Ground clearance: is the area where the furniture will be placed clear, level, and easy to access on delivery day?
What to Expect When it Arrives
If your retailer uses AIT Home Delivery, a two-person crew will carry everything to your chosen spot in the garden, not just to the front door. You’ll receive a confirmed 2-hour delivery window by SMS and email, with live GPS tracking as the crew gets closer, so there’s no waiting around all day.
All packaging is taken away and recycled on the day, leaving your garden clear and your furniture exactly where you want it.
Ready to enjoy your new outdoor space? Find out more about our two-person garden furniture delivery service.
