Choosing the Perfect Garden Furniture Set: A Complete Configuration Guide

Shopping for garden furniture can be hard, especially when there are so many beautiful deigns to choose from. High-end garden furniture is becoming increasingly popular, with people wanting the perfect pieces to enjoy their outdoor spaces in full. With designer brands bringing out extensive collections, decision fatigue can be a real thing!

To make choosing a little easier, we have curated garden furniture sets from some of our most popular brand’s outdoor collections. We’ve listened to our customers needs: you’ve told us how you like to use your gardens and our team have created sets that cater to gardens of all sizes and outdoor lifestyles. As a long-standing UK stockist of designer garden furniture, we’ve helped thousands of customers create beautiful outdoor spaces that are ready for British sunshine.

Below is our guide on each of our set configurations and what type of spaces and lifestyles they are best suited to:

For the Family Garden or Entertainer’s Terrace

Our most in demand request was for garden dining sets. It’s safe to say our customers love making the most of summer, hosting dinners with friends and family. Who wouldn’t want a beautiful outdoor dining table and chairs set to set the scene?

Our garden dining sets come in three different sizes:

- Garden Dining Set – Large: These sets contain the perfect sized table to fit with two armchairs and four chairs. This set is ideal for large family gardens and expansive patios or terraces. Choose this set if you often invite guests over for garden parties or BBQs.

- Garden Dining Set – Medium: Our medium dining sets combine a spacious table with four chairs. This set is great for al fresco family dinners or for creating a zoned dining area in a larger garden.

- Garden Dining Set – Small: For smaller gardens, this dining set caters for four people but takes up less space. These sets include four chairs around a smaller dining table.

The above sets are our most standard dining configurations, but if you are looking for a dining set with more character you may be interested in these:

- Round Dining Set: Four chairs and a round dining table. This set is perfect for encouraging flowing conversation and easy movement round the table.

- Picnic Set: Capturing the relaxed nature of traditional picnic bench, these sets contain two benches and a matching table.

- Patio Set: Looking for a varied seating arrangement? Patio sets seat up to six people. They contain large dining tables, a bench, two armchairs and two chairs. These are perfect for versatile gardens, with seating that can be moved elsewhere when not in use.

Showroom tip: We created an extra-large dining set especially for big gatherings or special occasions. The HAY Palissade Entertaining Set sits up to 8 people around an extra-large dining table.

Garden Furniture Sets for Small Spaces

Many of you live in urban areas where outdoor space can be limited. Despite this, being the design lovers that you are, you still want garden furniture that looks stylish and elevates your balcony or small garden.

- Our Balcony Furniture Sets have been curated to help you make the most of narrow areas. Balcony sets include a small table and two armchairs, creating an area to enjoy your morning coffee or evening sunsets.

- With an even smaller footprint, our Bistro Sets offer café style dining. Also containing a table and two chairs, these are mini garden furniture sets offer somewhere to sit and enjoy the weather where space is really short.

For our Balcony and Bistro sets, we have picked the most slimline pieces from each brand’s collections. With these, you still get to enjoy the designer’s collection as intended despite having limited space to play with.

Showroom tip: Our Balcony Sets work in small gardens and courtyards too, just as our Bistro Sets work on balconies.

Garden Lounging Made Easy

Whether you have the space for an outdoor lounge and dining area or simply want to dedicate your garden to lazy days spent lounging in the sun, creating garden lounge sets was another top priority. We’ve paired two of the most relaxing chairs from each designer collection with a matching side table, making a balanced and coordinating set. With their relatively small footprint, our garden lounge sets are easy to place in a variety of different gardens.

A couple of our lounge sets take it to the next level, containing garden sofas. The Case Furniture Tanso Outdoor Lounge Set contains a Tanso Three-seater Sofa and matching sofa armchair for a purely luxurious arrangement. The minimalistic Carl Hansen & Son BK Outdoor Lounge Set includes a BK12 Lounge Sofa, two BK11 Lounge Chairs and a coordinating BK16 Side Table.

We curated our garden lounge sets with comfort in mind. Whichever brand you choose, you can be sure your set will look excellent placed beside a pool, on a sunny terrace or tucked away in a serene green hideaway.

Showroom tip: Choose a garden lounge set and a dining set from the same brand and collection to create coordinating zoned areas across your outdoor space.

Which designer or collection do I choose?

If you’ve identified the garden furniture set that you need but can’t decide on the brand or collection, the easiest way to decide is to think about the overall styling of your garden:

The Minimalist Urban Space

Minimalistic and contemporary designs go hand in hand with urban environments. Angular, clean lines mirror the architectural shapes of buildings. Industrial materials such as aluminium or steel work well in these settings. Our HAY Palissade Sets work perfectly in modern gardens or urban balconies. Case Furniture Eos Sets are another excellent choice. Both collections are made from hardwearing metal that stands up to the UK weather.

The English Country Cottage

Favouring natural materials and contemporary design, Grythyttan Stålmöbler Sets bring traditional Swedish craftsmanship to your garden. Their historic wood and steel designs look excellent in country settings. For something a little more contemporary &Tradition Thorvald Sets bring elegant, soft curves, reminiscent of café furniture but with a sculptural edge.

The Playful, Bright Space

Inject a pop of colour into your garden with Petite Friture Week-End Sets or TIPTOE Sets. These bold designs brighten up spaces with their wide range of colour choices. For a playful take on garden furniture, Tom Dixon Groove Sets share a unique grooved detail that makes it a one of a kind collection.

Choosing the Right Material for the British Climate

Selecting a designer garden furniture set isn't just about aesthetics; it’s about longevity. When browsing our curated collections, consider how the material will interact with your specific environment:

- Powder-Coated Aluminum & Steel: Featured in our HAY Palissade and Case Eos sets, these are the champions of low maintenance. They are lightweight, rust-resistant, and can be cleaned with simple soapy water.

- Grade-A Hardwood: Collections from Grythyttan Stålmöbler or the Norman Copenhagen Vig collection offer a warmth that metal cannot. Hardwoods like teak, oak and robinia contain natural oils that protect them from rot. Left untreated, they develop a beautiful patina that is highly coveted in traditional English gardens.

- Hot-Dip Galvanised Steel: For coastal homes or high-exposure terraces, we recommend the industrial-grade protection of a galvanised finish. It is virtually indestructible against salt air and frost.

Ready for Summer?

Choosing the right garden furniture is an investment in your lifestyle. By opting for one of our Curated Garden Furniture Sets, you eliminate the guesswork of pairing tables and chairs, ensuring a harmonious look that is scaled perfectly for your space.

At Holloways of Ludlow, we maintain high stock levels of our most popular sets in our UK warehouse to ensure you aren't left waiting when the sun finally comes out.

Ready to transform your outdoor space? Shop all Curated Garden Furniture Sets & Bundles here >

Why not finish off your outdoor space with portable rechargeable outdoor lighting? Brouse our collection here >

Still undecided? Visit our showrooms or contact our friendly customer service team for a personalised recommendation based on your garden’s dimensions.

Written by Adam Knight:
Adam is the Head of E-Commerce, which means in work he is often a very busy man. His current mission outside of work is to wrestle his garden away from 3 rabbits, a dog and 2 children and turn it into a relaxing retreat. He has never knowingly turned down a cup of tea.

A former professional drummer, Ian still carries an impeccable sense of rhythm - though these days, it’s more often found in spreadsheets than on stage. He lives in a charming townhouse in Shrewsbury with two cats, a record collection to be proud of, and a garden he swears he'll tackle next weekend.