better homes and gardens patio furniture

Home design editor Ben Kendrick chooses his favourite garden furniture and patio furniture designs and retailers so you can simply sit back and relax in style

Garden furniture comes in a huge array of styles, materials and finishes. Cost varies enormously from a handcrafted oak bench that can sit outside all year round, will age beautifully and last a lifetime, to convenient, lightweight, folding pieces that are best stored away in a shed under cover when not in use.

1. Online store Hen & Hammock

One of our favourite places to find the classic British deckchair is at online store Hen & Hammock. Their design is based on vintage styles, with Scandinavian-style stripes and all produced in the UK. The slings are made of a poly-cotton that feels like cotton but will weather much better. Priced at £74 each these are a good choice if you have limited garden space, and will last much longer if you put them away when not in use or serve as extra seating to augment pieces that live outside permanently.

Table, Furniture, Outdoor table, Outdoor furniture, Garden, Shade, Shrub, Yard, Patio, Lawn,

2. John Lewis

This year John Lewis launched this stylish collection, Islay. Made from FSC timber and with a woven, corded seat, this range is evocative of mid-century designs but it has a rustic style and materials that look stylish outside and will age well. Made in Vietnam from acacia wood which has a limed-style and laquered-finish. Prices start from £125 for a chair to £499 for the dining table shown above.

3. Habitat

Another outdoor classic, the folding director's chair with canvas sling is reasonably light and easily folds away to store. This is a perenniel favourite at homestore Habitat who has sold them for many years, changing the fabric slings according to current trends to keep them up to date. This year they have a vibrant abstract check or splashy floral slings with prices starting at £35 per chair. The store also sells replacement slings for £10 or you could sew your own with deckchair canvas sold by Ian Mankin, The Stripes Company or I Want Fabric.

Wood, Street furniture, Outdoor bench, Outdoor furniture, Shade, Shrub, Hardwood, Groundcover, Park, Garden,

4. Andrew Crace's designs

If you have plenty of space or a period property or perhaps a more formal garden area, Andrew Crace's designs are unusual, decorative pieces in long-lasting, sturdy forms. Well-made from solid hardwoods such as Iroko or English oak, or in painted finishes in a range of colours. They offer a good selection of historically accurate designs from Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian eras, including Chinoiserie, fretwork and lattice backs for benches and even one that can be moved around the garden like a wheelbarrow. Prices for the Lutyens design above are from £3,180.

Furniture, Table, Outdoor furniture, Outdoor table, Tablecloth, Linens, Chair, Home accessories, Shade, Restaurant,

5. Garden Trading

For comfortable, stylish and affordable outdoor dining furniture try Garden Trading. Their woven Chilgrove armchairs have an elegant silhouette and are made from rattan which is plastic-coated to make it more durable outside. They come with cushion seat pads that need to be removed when not in use and are priced at £145 each. Don't miss the practical but pretty selection of barbeques also on offer.

Table, Furniture, Outdoor table, Outdoor furniture, Yard, Backyard, Folding chair,

6. IKEA

If you are on a budget head to IKEA who always have a number of affordable, up to date outdoor options. Their Malaro range is a folding Swedish version of a classic French café chair but has a sculpted seat so is more comfortable for long lazy evenings spent in the garden. Chairs are just £25 and tables £40, both available in white and this season in red too. Also check out their Tarno table and two chairs, made from steel and natural wood. Remember with Ikea, items often need to be self assembled.

Wood, Hardwood, Rectangle, Outdoor furniture, Wood stain, Outdoor bench, Parallel, Street furniture, Plank, Shade,

7. Benchmark

For a contemporary twist on a classic garden bench in durable hardwood this Chico design by Oxfordshire-based Benchmark is a quality investment that will age beautifully over time in the garden. The range also includes chairs, tables and backless bench options in FSC European Oak or Iroko, all boasting a natural finish with waxed end grains. This design is hardwearing enough to have been selected for various prestigious public spaces including St Paul's Cathedral and Bexhill seafront in East Sussex.

Flowerpot, Interior design, Furniture, Table, Serveware, Glass, Dishware, Interior design, Fixture, Grey,

8. The White Company

Several companies have variations on the classic folding park, bandstand, or French café seat in various colours. These white versions are from The White Company. This is a wonderfully versatile design which is easy to keep clean, resists weather and folds up to take up nominal space in a shed or garage when you don't need it. It also has a lovely fine silhouette which makes it ideal for small gardens where it appears unobtrusive. Whilst it isn't the most comfortable option for an al fresco lunch, seat pads or cushions help (these striped cotton ones are £25); the chairs are £130 for two.

9. Cox & Cox

The Provence range from Cox & Cox comes in a wide variety of pieces including a bench, bistro set, chairs and tables and the rocker chair. Finished with a soft grey/green paintwork and in solid pine. Priced at £150, this muted tone is a colour that sits well outside but could also work well indoors in a garden room or conservatory.

Plant, Shrub, Garden, Table, Outdoor table, Outdoor furniture, Backyard, Yard, Lavender, Patio,

10. Marston & Langinger

Each piece of the Victoriana Wire range from Marston & Langinger is hand-worked, made in England and galvanised to protect against wear and tear. Items include the bistro chairs, Chelsea chairs, tables, jardinieres and trellises, all of which can be purchased in a raw etched antique finish (prices from £591) or painted in three coats of Marston & Langinger paint (prices start from £759). The pair shown here are painted in Cucumber Interior Eggshell while the table is coated in Josephine Interior Eggshell.

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