Sun Loungers

Choosing a sun lounger for your garden

Start with how you like to rest. To lie back and stretch out in the sun, a full-length lounger is the obvious choice. If you would rather sit up with a cold drink, a deckchair may suit you better, and we stock deckchairs as well as loungers. Whichever you choose, it is made for outdoor use, so it can stand on a patio, on decking or out on the lawn.

Some recline, so you can sit up to read, then lie back to doze. Some fold away, which helps when storage space is tight. The range also runs to a double deckchair made for sharing and a hammock for idle afternoons.

Aluminium and acacia sun loungers

The frame decides how easy a lounger is to move, how it looks and how much care it asks of you. Aluminium features in most of the sun loungers we stock. It is a light metal, a good choice if you like to carry your lounger round the garden to follow the sun.

We also stock acacia, a hardwood with a warm grain that softens a paved terrace. Wood asks a little more care of you than metal, though if you love the look of timber, it is care well spent. If you want to spend less time on upkeep, metal is the simpler choice.

Fabric and cushions on a sun lounger

Most of the sun loungers we stock use fabric somewhere in their make-up, and it shapes how a lounger feels against bare skin on a warm day. A fabric seat gives a little as you settle in, while a cushion adds softness to a firmer frame. You will also find acrylic, polyolefin and vinyl among the materials. They differ in feel, so if texture matters to you, check the product page before you buy.

If your lounger comes with a cushion, treat it as the part that needs the closest care. Bring it in when rain is on the way, let it dry fully if it does get wet, and store it somewhere airy rather than sealed in a damp bag. A cushion looked after this way stays fresh and comfortable.

Rattan sun loungers

If you want a lounger that sits comfortably beside a garden table and chairs, we stock rattan sun loungers with a relaxed, woven texture. We also stock poly rattan, a synthetic weave made to look like natural rattan, and you will find rattan in natural tones that pick up the colours of a timber deck or a terrace.

On the product page, look at whether a lounger uses natural rattan or poly rattan, and what the frame beneath the weave is made of. Those details settle how you clean it, how heavy it is to move and where it is happiest when it is not in use.

Sun lounger colours and styles

Most of the sun loungers we stock come in grey, and many come in beige, easy neutrals that sit quietly against planting and paving. We stock anthracite and graphite for a darker, crisper look, ivory and white for a lighter feel, and brown and natural shades that echo wood and rattan. For a splash of colour, we stock red, green and blue.

Colour settles how a lounger works with the rest of your garden, so think about your other furniture and cushions first. Paler shades keep a small space feeling open, while darker shades are more forgiving of marks. As for style, we stock modern and classic designs. A few have a more rustic feel.

Measuring up for a sun lounger

Before you fall for a lounger, measure the spot where it will live. Check the width: it settles whether loungers will sit side by side with a small table between them, and whether a lounger suits a narrow patio or balcony. The depth, which on a lounger is its length, settles whether you can stretch out fully and still leave a path to walk past.

The height of the seat settles how easy a lounger is to get into and out of. A higher seat is kinder to knees and backs, while a low seat feels closer to the beach. If you choose a reclining lounger, allow for it fully reclined, not just sitting up.

Looking after a garden sun lounger

Regular, gentle care keeps garden sun loungers looking their best. Brush off leaves and dust, then wipe the frame with warm, mildly soapy water and a soft cloth, and rinse with clean water. A soft brush clears grit from a rattan weave. Sponge fabric the same way and let it dry fully before you cover the lounger or put it away.

Acacia likes an occasional coat of outdoor wood oil to keep its colour rich and its grain from drying out. When a lounger will stand unused for a long spell, store it somewhere dry, such as a shed or garage, or put a fitted cover over it.