Garden Lounge Chairs

Choosing a garden lounge chair

Start with how you like to sit. A lounge chair is for leaning back with a book, while a garden armchair works well around a low table when friends call round. Every piece on this page is meant for outdoor use, so the choice comes down to the look you like, the space you have and how much care you are happy to give.

A few come with their own footstool, which is worth looking out for if you like to put your feet up. We also stock a few one-seat lounge sofas.

Wooden garden lounge chairs in acacia

Wood helps a garden lounge chair blend in with lawn, hedges and borders. We stock wooden designs, many of them in acacia. If you would rather have colour, a painted wooden chair keeps the feel of timber in a shade that suits your garden.

For unpainted acacia, brush off dirt, wash it with mild soapy water and let it air dry. When it starts to look pale and thirsty, a coat of outdoor wood oil helps keep its colour. For painted wood, a wipe with a damp cloth is usually enough, with a dab of matching paint on any chips. Check any bolts and fittings now and then, and tighten them if they have worked loose.

Aluminium and steel outdoor lounge chairs

Metal looks at home on a modern patio, a paved courtyard or a roof terrace. We stock designs made with aluminium and others made with steel. If you like to follow the sun around the garden or clear space for a party, check the weight before you buy.

To keep a metal chair looking smart, wipe it with a soft cloth and mild soapy water, then rinse and dry it. Avoid scouring pads and harsh cleaners, which can scratch a painted or powder-coated finish, and touch up any damage promptly. A breathable cover between uses keeps off rain, leaves and bird droppings.

Rattan and rope garden armchairs

A woven garden armchair brings texture and a relaxed, holiday feel to a terrace. We stock designs in rattan and in rope. A few are made in polyrattan, a synthetic weave. Woven designs sit happily among pots, climbing plants and natural stone.

Dust and leaves collect in any weave, so run a soft brush over it from time to time, then wipe it with a damp cloth and a little mild soap. Let it dry fully in the air before you sit down or put a cover over it, and bring any cushions indoors when rain is on the way.

Fabric on a garden lounge chair

Many of our garden lounge chairs are made with fabric, and many use acrylic, polyolefin or vinyl. Care differs from material to material, so check the product details before you wash or treat anything. As a rule, pale fabrics show marks sooner, while mid tones and darker shades hide pollen and the odd spill more easily.

Brush off leaves and dust regularly, blot spills rather than rubbing them, and let damp fabric dry fully before you cover the chair or put it away, which helps prevent mildew. Where a seat has removable cushions, stand them on end to drain after a downpour, or keep them in a dry box or shed.

Colours for a garden lounge chair

Grey and beige are the colours we stock most widely, and they sit quietly against stone, brick and planting. We also stock chairs in anthracite, graphite, white and ivory, along with blue, green, red and brown for a brighter or earthier look. Anthracite and graphite look crisp beside a modern house, while ivory and white keep a shady corner feeling light. A few come in a natural finish, which suits an informal garden.

A good way to choose is to pick up a colour already around your garden, such as a painted fence, a door or a row of pots. We stock classic, rustic and modern designs too, so your chair can suit the style of your home as well as its colours.

Measuring your space for a garden lounge chair

A lounge chair can take up more floor space than you expect, so measure first. Mark out the spot on your patio or balcony with masking tape, then compare it with the chair's width and depth. The width tells you whether it fits between a wall and a planter, and the depth tells you how far it reaches into a path. Leave room to walk past and to push the chair back as you stand, and allow extra length in front if yours comes with a footstool.

Height matters too: a low seat feels relaxed but takes more effort to get out of, so if that is a concern, look closely at the seat height. If you plan to set chairs either side of a small table, measure the whole group together.