Beach & Lawn Chairs

Choosing furniture for your garden shouldn’t be any different to picking your dining chairs for your house – people tend to forget that your garden is still your living space, and seats for it are furniture. And if you really want to enjoy your outside space for the summer, then of course you need to think about the two P’s of design essentials – practicality and prettiness (yes, I’m paraphrasing William Morris’ “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful").

Folding Chairs

Folding chairs are essential in small gardens, of course, where you don’t have room to have your garden furniture out all year round. Even though some modern garden furniture is designed to stay out all year round now, even those who enjoy bigger gardens may not want their deck chairs out all year round. It’s a summer tradition, isn’t it, dragging the chairs out of the shed to pop them up in a splash of sunshine for an afternoon off. That’s the best thing about folding chairs – when you’re not using them, they fold and tuck away in a small space.

And yes, we all remember those metal-framed horrors with the floral nylon fabric of our childhoods – but contemporary folding garden chairs are not only good to look at, they’re comfortable to sit and while away a few hours in. With just a little looking after, they’ll last for years and years.

Garden Deckchairs

For myself, you can’t go wrong with a classic deckchair. Solid and dependable in construction, they’re like sitting in a hammock, and the perfect resting spot for an afternoon in the shade with a good book. Best of all, like these ones from Lemon Head Prints, they come in a range of funky fabrics, perfect for brightening the most faded patch of grass. Two deck chairs nestled between a garden coffee table is the perfect recipe for a chilled afternoon, grab an iced tea or a Diet coke with a few nibbles and you won't need to go indoors!

Garden Recliners

Others prefer a full recliner– and I’ll admit that there’s a lot to love about them. Lie back and absorb some rays with the ability to really stretch out, and then with a lift of the handle you can sit up and enjoy the barbecue.

If you’re simply looking for a perfect sun bather, then it’s difficult to beat the classic design of the Kiso Lounger – it’s a style unchanged for decades because it’s pretty perfect for lounging in the sunshine.

Camping Chairs

Of course, sometimes you need a chair for on the go – the beach, camping, an outdoors concert… they’re all made better if you can enjoy them from a comfortable chair you have brought with you. In this case you’re looking for a camping chair, something portable; light and strong which folds up small but expands easily. The backpack camping chair from Prestington is a personal favourite – roomy and comfortable for an evening under the stars, and light enough to lug across the dunes for a day on the sand.

Wayfair.co.uk has a zillion different garden decks & folding chairs for sale online, with options that make it easy to narrow down your online shopping to find Garden Seating that’s perfect for your outdoor space.