Six places to source minimalist garden furniture

The long Easter weekend is a great opportunity to start getting your garden ready for summer, especially with the weather forecast looking as promising as it does at the moment.

For me, the most inviting and useable gardens are those which work like outdoor rooms, with places to dine, unwind and gather with family and friends, and as always I tend to be drawn towards simple, understated and timeless design. Choosing the right furniture is key, so here are six of my favourite places for sourcing minimalist outdoor pieces which are unlikely to date anytime soon. There are options to suit all budgets and all types of outside space, whether you have a sprawling country garden, a small courtyard or an urban balcony, so I hope the below helps you create the perfect place to enjoy the balmy months ahead…

Design Of

Swedish brand Design Of is known for its minimalist solid-steel furniture and has a growing collection of pieces that are suitable for outdoor use. There are tables, chairs, stools and benches, as well as sideboards for displaying plants, lamps and more. All come in black, white, grey, beige and galvanised steel, with optional cushions for the seating, and can be shipped internationally. They look fantastic in contemporary urban gardens, as well as more natural settings where the straight lines provide a striking contrast with wild-looking flowers and foliage. Prices start at €305.

Design Of is kindly offering readers of These Four Walls 20% off its full range of indoor and outdoor furniture until 31st May 2019. Just shop as normal from its online store and use the code ‘thesefourwalls20’ when prompted.

Swoon Editions

Online furniture shop Swoon Editions has just launched its first-ever garden collection and it really is beautiful, with slimline powder-coated steel frames and geometric lines. I particularly love the look of the elegant ‘Kennington’ lounge chair and ottoman, which come in black with ivory cushions, black with charcoal cushions or pale grey with charcoal cushions. Also very striking are the curved ‘Upton’ range and the circular, glass-topped ‘Albany’ tables, both available in black, blue, grey and pale green. There’s even a minimalist garden rocking chair called ‘Finsbury’! Prices range from £99 to £349.

HAY

Danish stalwart HAY (affiliate link) has an excellent selection of minimalist outdoor furniture and it’s more affordable than you might think, with prices ranging from £89 / €109 to £585 / €769. My favourites are the steel ‘Palissade’ collection, which blends a contemporary aesthetic with subtle references to traditional country estates, and the clean-lined ‘Hee’ family of lounge and dining chairs. Both come in a choice of colours, with matching cushions and seat covers available from £25 / €29.

HAY has also just launched a new portable battery-powered outdoor lamp called ‘PC’ (affiliate link), which is priced at £65 / €79. It comes in black, olive green and cream, and is made from robust, water-resistant plastic.

Muuto

Another Danish brand, Muuto, revealed its first foray into garden furniture earlier this year and even though I’ve mentioned it before, it’s so pretty that it had to feature here too! Called the ‘Linear Steel Series’, it was designed by Thomas Bentzen and consists of minimalist tables and benches in two different sizes and five different colours. I love the contrast between the circular legs and the clean-lined tops, and the way folded edges and small gaps have been incorporated into the design to aid water drainage. What’s more, the powder-coated surface ensures protection against the elements. Prices start from £495 for a bench and £949 for a table, and the range is available from Made in Design (affiliate link).

Habitat

Habitat’s varied outdoor collection (affiliate link) has something for everyone, including plenty of minimalist designs. There are compact, folding tables and chairs that are ideal for small spaces, as well as larger dining sets and garden sofas. The contemporary black-wire ‘Leopold’ seating series (£125-175) instantly caught my eye, as did the circular ‘Drohan’ occasional chair (£125) and understated ‘Becklan’ bench and tables (£150-535). There are also parasols and plant-pot stands.

IKEA

Finally, I couldn’t publish any round-up of garden furniture without mentioning IKEA – always a good bet for stylish yet affordable outdoor pieces. Stand-outs from its 2019 range are the ‘STACKHOLMEN’ stool (£20), designed by Ola Wihlborg and made of durable acacia wood with a braided seat, and the sleek wood and powder-coated steel ‘PRÄSTHOLM’ bench (£110). I also love the sink-into comfy (trust me – I tried them in store!) ‘HAVSTEN’ easy chairs (from £195), which combine understated metal frames with plump cushions and can be used indoors and out.

All photos via the respective brands above

This post contains affiliate links, which means I might receive a small commission from any resulting sales. Please be assured that you will never pay more by clicking on these links than you would by visiting the websites concerned directly. All prices correct at the time of publishing.