21 of the best minimalist outdoor sofas & lounge chairs

Summer may still be a way off, but long lead times mean that if you’re thinking about treating yourself to some new garden furniture this year, it’s best to order sooner rather than later. So, I’ve put together a selection of 21 of the best outdoor lounge chairs and sofas for lazy sun-drenched days and balmy alfresco evenings. There’s an array of styles, sizes and price points, with options ranging from £159 to £5,790, but all have the kind of minimalist style and timeless appeal that means they’ll look great for years to come.

I’ve also included a few tips to help you choose the right outdoor furniture for you, whether you have a small urban courtyard, a city balcony or a sprawling country garden. Just scroll down to read.

1. HAY ‘Hee’ powder-coated steel outdoor lounge chair in black (also available in white, ‘Asphalt Grey’, ‘Rust’ and ‘Fall Green’), £269, Nest.co.uk
2. ‘HAVSTEN’ metal-framed three-seater outdoor sofa (also available as a two-seater and an armchair, and with armrests), £480, IKEA
3. ‘Harmen’ birch folding outdoor chair (also available in black and grey finishes), £159, Rowen & Wren
4. Ferm Living ‘Desert’ metal-framed outdoor two-seater sofa (also available as a three-seater and an armchair), £1,635, Lifestory
5. Carl Hansen & Søn ‘BK11’ solid teak outdoor lounge chair, £1,035 with cushions or £900 without, Utility Design
6. ‘Kent’ metal and vegan leather outdoor armchair in black and ivory (also available in numerous other colour combinations), £955, by Crea
7. Cuero Design ‘Butterfly’ powder-coated steel and Sunbrella fabric outdoor chair in ‘Natural’ (also available in ‘Graphite’), £475, Nest.co.uk
8. ‘Moments’ rope-sided outdoor three-seater sofa (also available as a two-seater, an armchair and various modular and corner combinations), £5,790, Cane-line
9. Carl Hansen & Søn MG501 ‘Cuba’ folding teak and flat-weave rope outdoor chair in ‘Sesame’ (also available in ‘Charcoal’), £688, Nest.co.uk
10. Vipp ‘Open Air’ open-ended aluminium and fabric outdoor sofa (also available in numerous other configurations), £3,511.39 + VAT, Einrichten Design
11. Menu ‘WM String’ powder-coated steel outdoor lounge chair in black (also available in white), £299, Utility Design
12. Blomus ‘Stay’ weather-resistant daybed, £674.25, Utility Design
13. Ferm Living ‘Desert’ outdoor lounge chair with black steel frame and ‘Soil’ fabric (also available with an olive frame and numerous other fabric designs), £309, Lifestory
14. Case Furniture ‘Eos’ aluminium and Sunbrella fabric two-seater outdoor sofa (also available as a three-seater and an armchair), £1,585, Nest.co.uk
15. Kristina Dam Studio ‘Bauhaus’ weather-resistant steel lounge chair in beige (also available in black and as a sofa), £990, Nest.co.uk
16. Tine K bamboo-framed outdoor sofa (also available as an armchair, a lounger and a daybed, and with grey cushions), £865, Idyll Home [AD – affiliate link]
17. Knoll ‘Bertoia Diamond’ outdoor armchair in white (also available in black), £1,935, Utility Design
18. Skagerak by Fritz Hansen ‘Pelagus’ teak outdoor lounge chair with ‘Ash’ cushion (also available with ‘Charcoal’ cushion or no cushion), £1,481, Nest.co.uk
19. ‘Breeze’ cane outdoor armchair in light grey (also available in numerous other colours and as a two-seater sofa), £975, Cane-line
20. Cassina ‘200 Carlotta’ teak outdoor lounge chair, £3,175, Nest.co.uk
21. HAY ‘Palissade’ powder-coated steel outdoor lounge sofa in ‘Sky Grey’ (also available in ‘Olive’, ‘Anthracite’ and ‘Iron Red’, and as a lounge chair), £949, Nest.co.uk

Above: Ferm Living’s ‘Desert’ chair and sofa

Tips for choosing outdoor furniture

• Think about how you use your outdoor space. If you want to be able to move your furniture around when you have guests or the sun changes position, then you’ll need something fairly lightweight. If it’s going to stay in the same spot, you might prefer something sturdier.
• Check whether the furniture is suitable for the conditions in your garden. Pretty much all outdoor pieces can cope with rain, but if you get very strong sunshine you’ll also want to make sure you choose something that’s UV-resistant and won’t fade or discolour.
• Think about where you’re going to store anything that needs to be taken indoors over winter. Most frames can stay out (under a cover, if possible), but chances are any cushions will need to be stowed inside. If you don’t have anywhere suitable, you might want to consider a cushion-less design. Most are ergonomically shaped to cradle the body so they’re more comfortable than they look, but you can always bring a couple of scatter cushions out from inside when you want to use them. Chairs that fold away, such as Carl Hansen & Søn’s outdoor ‘Cuba’ chair and Rowen & Wren’s ‘Harmen’ chair, could also come in handy.
• In much the same way as you would when ordering indoor lounge furniture, think about how you sit and what kind of shape suits you best. Do you want a high back to lean against? Or armrests so you can sprawl sideways? Do you prefer to sit upright or recline a little more? Outdoor furniture is an investment, so making sure you choose the comfiest option for you will help you get the most use out of it in the years to come.
• Consider how much time and effort you’re willing to put into future maintenance and upkeep. Most wooden furniture, for example, will require regular sanding and re-staining, whereas other materials might only need a clean once or twice a year.
• Bear in mind how much you’ll use your garden furniture when deciding how much to spend. If it’s only every now and then, you might not want to splash out – but if you’re outside most days in summer, cheaper designs that need replacing after a year or two might prove to be a false economy.
• Finally, check sizes carefully. Make sure there’s enough space to walk around the furniture once it’s in place, and triple-check that it will fit through the entrance to your garden. If you have no side or rear access, you’ll also need to measure internal doors and hallways to ensure it can be delivered through the house.

Above: HAY’s ‘Palissade’ design in ‘Iron Red’, Carl Hansen & Søn’s folding MG501 ‘Cuba’ chair in ‘Charcoal’, and Rowen & Wren’s ‘Harmen’ chairs in natural and black-stained finishes

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All photography courtesy of the respective brands and retailers