The Garden Furniture Centre Blog

If you are lucky enough to have a garden or just an outside space, make the best use of it by turning it into an extension of your home – a garden room where you can enjoy the great outdoors and relax with quality outdoor garden furniture.

Follow our ten easy steps to create the perfect garden room:

1. Decide what you want to use the space for. An al fresco dining area? A quiet place where you can relax and read? Or perhaps a sociable space for entertaining lots of friends? Anything is possible, within the constraints of the dimensions you have available.

2. What sort of outdoor garden furniture do you want? Contemporary rattan garden furniture, classic aluminium garden furniture or maybe reclaimed teak or rustic garden furniture? Decide this before you start buying anything, so that your purchases will combine to create a fantastic look.

3. How much do you have to spend? If you have a small budget you can still create an expensive look, but you will have to do more research and shop more carefully. The sensible way to budget is to calculate how much you have to spend and buy accordingly. Other people will choose what they want and then try to work out how they can afford to buy it – either way, make sure you know what your budget is.

4. Remember price and value are not the same thing.

5. Once you know your budget, purpose and style you can start to choose your outdoor garden furniture. Select comfortable seating with garden furniture cushions that have removable, washable covers.

6. You will want to use your garden room in the evenings, as well as during the day, so consider lighting for when the daylight begins to fade. Outdoor fairy lights are very pretty and can create a cheerful, welcoming atmosphere. Candles are also popular, but take care when children are around.

7. Heating also needs to be considered for when the temperature dips. There are many types of outdoor heater available now, from firepits to patio heaters, with something for every budget.

8. Sadly in the UK we can’t always rely upon the weather. A gazebo is a great way to protect against the wind and rain, or even strong sunshine. Alternatively you could choose a parasol – there are many types available to suit different needs.

9. If you are planning an eating area, consider a space for a barbecue, for that authentic outdoor taste! You might opt for a purpose-build brick barbecue or a fancy gas-fuelled one, but there are also many low-cost models which can turn a sausage into charcoal in just the same way!

10. Now you have your garden room, there’s only one thing left to consider. During the winter months when no-one wants to be outside, you need to ensure that everything is properly protected against the elements. Bring cushions indoors to stop them from attracting mould and damp. Clean barbecues and furniture before covering for the winter. There are many garden furniture covers available; we have a great selection right here on this website. Follow the instructions for use and when the covers come off in the spring you’ll be ready to enjoy your outdoor room all over again.

Leather sofas are seen by many as a sign of luxury and decadence and can come with a price tag to match. However, many retailers are now offering good value options to suit every household. The trend for leather furniture has been boosted by its popularity in fashion shoots such as the new Mango campaign featuring Scarlet Johnansson. Leather sofas and chairs are also a favourite of the Candy brothers, the interior design specialists preferred by the owners of some of Londons most exclusive homes.

The boom is sales is also being attributed to a change in consumers' attributes to spending. Most homeowners have been putting large purchases over the last year or two but now the economic recovery is in sight, they are putting their hands in their pockets again, but for well-made, long lasting pieces - and leather is a reliable, quality option.

White, red and champagne colours are bang on trend, along with vintage-style brown leather sofas such as the Chelsea sofa pictured here from Darlings of Chelsea (3 seater £1290)

For other furniture such as sofas, corner sofas and sofa beds visit www.darlingsofchelsea.co.uk