The Ultimate List of UK Garden Seating Ideas
Garden seating has the power to transform the appearance of your outdoor space.
If you normally just pull out a couple of deckchairs in the summer, you might be looking for ways to incorporate more stylish outdoor seating into your garden.
After some garden inspo? Take a look at these 41 garden seating ideas:
1. Cocoon Yourself in an Egg Chair
One of the best outdoor seating ideas for contemporary gardens, an egg chair provides the perfect spot to read and relax. They’re equally as suitable for a small patio space or a large lawn.
We’ve reviewed some of The Best Hanging Rattan Egg Chairs so you can deck your garden out in style.
2. Upcycle With Wooden Pallet Benches
Add some rustic charm to your garden with pallet benches. These can be painted or left as they are, then covered with comfy cushions to provide relaxing and eco-friendly seating. You could even make matching coffee or dining tables.
3. Stay Dry Under a Gazebo
A garden gazebo will create a cosy and secluded area. Arrange your outdoor seating in the shelter for all-weather dining!
4. Embrace Al Fresco Dining
If you’ve got the outdoor space, a full dining table and chairs set is a must-have. It’s great for entertaining – perfect for afternoon BBQs, Sunday lunches and evening drinks.
5. Use Tree Stumps as Tables and Chairs
Eco-friendly, original and stylish, you can use a tree stump to create an ingenious coffee table or some chairs. Plus, children will love this outdoor seating idea – it has a really enchanted feel.
6. Position Seating Around a Fire Pit
Create a warm and cosy atmosphere by arranging seating around a fire pit. Not only does this add a focal point to the garden, but a fire pit is one of the best outdoor seating ideas for keeping you and your guests warm well into the evening.
Fire pits are all the rage at the moment and unlikely to lose popularity any time soon!
7. Make the Most of Sunny Spots
If you’ve got a north-facing garden, sunny spots can be limited. Work out which area gets the most sun, and arrange your seating in this position. Even a couple of chairs and a coffee table will mean you make more use of your garden.
8. Consider Straw Bales for Garden Parties
Outdoor seating ideas don’t have to be complicated; what better than straw bales for creating laid-back seating? This is a surprisingly easy and comfortable temporary seating solution – perfect for parties.
9. Bring Charm to Courtyards With a Bistro Set
Urban courtyard gardens are often too small to accommodate a standard dining table. However, a bistro set is a more manageable outdoor seating idea; you can dine outside without taking up too much room. In particular, bistro sets are ideal for a small patio space.
We’ve compared several of The Best Garden Bistro Sets if you’re looking for something to fit in with your garden.
10. Go Maintenance-Free With Concrete Seating
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Distinctive Gardens | Adelaide (@distinctivegardens_landscaping)
Concrete seating is loved for its contemporary aesthetic and easy maintenance. Create a modern concrete-jungle by contrasting with plenty of greenery.
11. Create a Kids Zone
Low-level picnic benches are perfect for little ones – they’re great for outdoor dining and picnics and they can even double up as sand pits. Just ensure the seating has some shade to prevent sunburn.
12. Try a Wooden Bench Swing
Warm and welcoming, a wooden bench swing is a fun twist on traditional outdoor seating. You could go for something ultra-modern, like the wooden bench above, or choose a more classic style.
13. Relax on a Traditional Garden Bench
A traditional wooden bench is hard to beat. This is simple outdoor furniture that’s equally as suitable for a small outdoor space as a large garden. The beauty of a garden bench is that it can be tucked against a wall and seat several people.
14. Opt for a Contemporary Rattan Sofa
A rattan sofa is one of the best outdoor seating ideas to incorporate into contemporary gardens. Timeless, affordable and low maintenance, rattan sofas tick a lot of boxes! They’re also easy to turn into a comfy corner sofa.
Take a look at our list of The Best Rattan Furniture Sets for ideas.
15. Choose a Luxurious Daybed
Soak up the sun on a garden daybed. More secluded than traditional sunbeds, daybeds offer the perfect spot to nap on sunny afternoons.
16. Combine Seating With Raised Flower Beds
2-in-1 outdoor seating ideas, like these planter benches, are both contemporary and space saving. Sit amongst the plants by combining your seating with raised beds and plant sweet-smelling flowers or herbs for instant drink garnishes!
17. Create a Cohesive Colour Scheme
Good outdoor seating ideas can be as simple as choosing a cohesive colour scheme. This will help your garden look and feel more put together. Pairing the colour of outdoor furniture with plants, lights and accessories can add instant impact.
18. Open Up Spaces With Low-Level Seating
Smaller outdoor spaces can really benefit from low-level seating. This outdoor seating idea won’t block sightlines, helping the garden appear larger.
19. Make the Most of Narrow Areas
A narrow space in the garden doesn’t need to be left to waste – it can be instantly utilised with a simple wooden bench. Even better: painting the bench, or surrounding it with plants, will create the perfect 5-minute-coffee-break spot.
20. Mix and Match Colours & Textures
To add depth and vibrancy to your outdoor seating, mix and match colours and textures. This can include cushions, blankets, seating materials and even plants.
Choose a few colours/textures and scatter the same materials throughout the seating to create stylish cohesion.
21. Place an Arbour in a Quiet Corner
Take yourself away from hustle and bustle by placing an arbour, with built-in seating, in the quietest corner of your garden. This is one of the best outdoor seating ideas if you want to create a calming oasis.
22. Make the Most of Existing Garden Structures
One of the easiest outdoor seating ideas is to spruce up existing fences and walls. These can be dressed with bunting, fairy lights, pictures and artwork to mark out the boundaries of outdoor seating.
23. Sip Coffee Under a Pergola
A wooden or metal pergola creates a private outdoor room. Pergolas with louvred roofs double up as shelters on rainy days meaning you can sit outside whatever the weather. You can even add patio heating to create a year-round outdoor space.
We’ve compared several of The Best Garden Pergolas and the page is worth a look if you’re considering one for the garden!
24. Soak Up the Sun on a Modern Lounger
If you’re struggling for easy outdoor seating ideas, a modern sun lounger is an effortlessly stylish option.
25. Keep Warm With Blankets, Throws & Cushions
Create an inviting and comfortable hang-out zone by keeping it well stocked with blankets, throws and cushions. With this outdoor seating idea you’ll stay warm and cosy long after the sun goes down.
26. Use Seating to Add Colour
If your garden is missing a pop of colour, investing in some vibrant outdoor seating is bound to liven it up. Pinks, yellows and turquoises will instantly elevate a lacklustre garden patio.
27. Stay Cool Under Exotic Plants
Shelter under the canopy of a Canna Musifolia or Colocasia. These large-leafed plants bring a tropical vibe to your outdoor living space whilst keeping you cool on hot days.
Check out this useful list of plants for garden screening – they’ll create excellent cover for outdoor seating.
28. Integrate a Water Feature for a Private Space
There’s not much more relaxing than the sound of water, and a water feature can bring even more tranquillity to your seating space.
29. Be Bold With Outdoor Carpets
One of the more inspired outdoor seating ideas. Outdoor carpets can help clearly define the boundaries of a seating area. Plus, they look extremely stylish.
30. Add Billowing Curtains for Privacy
If you want to add a bit more privacy to your seating, why not cordon it off with some flowing curtains?
31. Channel Bohemian Chic With Floor Cushions
Floor cushions and blankets will create a calming Bohemian-style garden. Opt for ornate styles, bright colour palettes and a multitude of textures. Floor cushions also make perfect ‘extra seating’ at gatherings and they’re easy to store.
32. Extend Your Living Space With a Retractable Awning
Extending and retracting as needed, a garden awning is a great way to keep your patio concealed and cool on hot days. Garden awnings create an instant and easy outdoor living room in the garden.
33. Use Colourful Bean Bags for a Playful Space
For a more casual seating arrangement, brightly coloured bean bags are perfect. You can even use a footstool as a coffee table, like in the garden above. If you get a bit too warm, you can simply move your bean bag to a shadier spot. Alternatively, inflatable chairs could be a better option if you don’t have loads of room to store garden furniture.
34. Integrate an Iconic Deckchair
The classic seaside-style deckchair is truly iconic, a timeless addition to any lawn or patio. Use it to add a pop of colour to your garden – bonus points if you opt for stripes!
35. Enjoy Flexible Seating With a Modular Set
If you’re someone who likes to rearrange your garden a lot, modular rattan sofas will be the best outdoor seating idea for you. The joy of a rattan sofa set is that it can be arranged (and then re-arranged!) to fit your space.
36. Illuminate Seating With Lanterns
Create a magical outdoor seating space when the sun goes down with lanterns and fairy lights. An inexpensive but charming way to illuminate seating areas in the garden.
37. Opt for a Curved Bench Seat
A more sociable take on the traditional garden bench, a curved bench is ultra-stylish and modern. Place a firepit in the middle for midnight marshmallow toasting!
38. Snooze Under a Tree in a Hammock
Relax with a book, some music or a cold drink under a tree in a hammock. This is one of the best outdoor seating ideas on a budget and the perfect antidote to a long week at work!
39. Elevate Seating With Wooden Decking
Elevate your space both literally and metaphorically with a wooden garden deck. Wooden decking can transform your garden, creating a stylish and contemporary area for entertaining.
40. Build Your Own Bar
Why not pull up a seat at your very own garden bar! They’re a great way to make more use of your outdoor space. Classic bar stools make excellent outdoor seating. Stock the bar with all your favourite drink ingredients and snacks.
If you love the sound of having a bar in the garden, check out our list of Garden Bar Ideas for inspo!
41. Surround Yourself With Plants
When it comes to aesthetics, you can’t go wrong with lots of plants. Use plants to bring a sense of the great outdoors to your home; even the most lacklustre outdoor seating areas can be brought to life with plenty of greenery.
Garden Seating FAQs
How can I cheaply pave an outdoor seating area?
Garden paving doesn’t have to cost the earth. Here are a few budget paving ideas:
- Use gravel instead of traditional paving stones. Add edging and borders for more interest
- Create mosaics and borders using bricks – these could be salvaged from scrap yards
- Lay out stepping stones so you use less paving slabs overall
- Forget paving – lay down outdoor carpets instead
What’s the best seating for small gardens?
Temporary garden furniture that can be stored away after use is a good option. Look for foldable sun loungers and chairs.
Wooden benches look great in narrow areas. Use comfy cushions to add colour and comfort!
Low profile seating will open up the space vertically and can make your garden appear larger.
Finally, try hanging chairs (like egg chairs). Because these don’t take up excess floor space, they can help make your garden look bigger.
What’s the cheapest garden seating?
Upcycle wooden pallets to create cheap garden furniture. These can be purchased for as little as £4 each. For a small garden seating area, you’ll need around 6 pallets, a drill and screws. Remember to factor in the cost of paint if you want to add colour.
Utilising existing garden structures is another way to create a budget-friendly garden seating area. If you’ve already got planters or a low garden wall, these could double up as built-in seating.
About Your Guide
