Summer is here and that can only mean one thing – it’s time to style your outdoor space for entertaining. This year is all about adding punchy colours, eye-catching patterns and natural textures to transform even the tiniest of gardens into a welcoming oasis.
The must-have material of the moment? Rattan. Nothing screams summer like a rattan recliner (try rockettstgeorge.co.uk) and the high street has lots of affordable rattan options. Check out the Buskbo armchair, £129, at ikea.com, or the Swara sofa, £395, from made.com. Durable and lightweight, rattan furniture can easily be moved around whenever you fancy a change of scenery. Pair it with a cream or tan colour palette and throw in a jute pouffe or two to amp up the Ibiza vibe.
Thanks to the latest weatherproof textiles, our outside spaces can now look as stylish as our interiors. From showerproof scatter cushions to use as outdoor seating (we love the selection at laredoute.co.uk, prices from £14 each) to indoor/outdoor rugs that provide something soft underfoot (from £15, ikea.com), the garden has become an extra living room. Even designer brands such as ligne-roset.com now have outdoor versions of their classics.
Clockwise from far left: fringed basket, £15; throw, £12; woven tray, £12; tassel cushion, £14; textured planter, £15; lantern with black handle, £25; tall woven vase, £22; faux pampas grass, £11 per stem; woven cushion, £12; pattern-detail throw, £25; bell jar lantern, £35; tall vase, £36; outdoor rugs, from £20 each; white woven storage basket, £16; jute cushion, £13; table runner, £10; small lined basket, £5; resin coral, £22; white plate, £18 for four; woven placemat, £5; oil and vinegar jug set, £8; white bowl, £16 for four, and serving bowl, £10, all matalan.co.uk
Want a garden party that goes the extra mile but don’t have the budget for an outdoor kitchen? Create a similar vibe with a fire pit or wood-burning stove from the selection at gardenesque.com, which starts from £29.99. Or, for the ultimate in celeb garden status, check out their outdoor pizza ovens, with prices from £159.99. Well-placed festoon lights go a long way to creating a party ambiance. Hang them from trees or string across a fence. The new rechargeable lighting collections at dunelm.com, from £69, and the solar stake lights, just £3.95 each, from homebase.co.uk, are also ideal for extending that summer evening glow.
Tropical-print outdoor cushions, £25 for two; chairs, £119 for two; toucan cushion, £25; palm throw, £39.50; palm outdoor rug, £69; straw outdoor cushion, £19.50; table (part of set), £99; striped outdoor bolster cushion, £12.50; orange-print cushion, £29.50 for two; pink and blue floor cushions, £35 each; bean bag, £89; striped outdoor rug, from £69; picnic dinner plate, £12 for four, and picnic highball glass, £12 for four, all marksandspencer.com
Bar stool and table set, £1,599; festoon lights, £29.99; fruit bowl, £24.99; multicoloured cushion, £14.99; rug, £59.99; yellow planter, £95; cordyline plant (left), £99.99; fargesia rufa plant (right), £19.99, and blue planter, £27.99, all dobbies.com and from Dobbies Garden Centres
When it comes to the dining table, go for prints such as checks, curves and waves – the aptly named Wiggle range at polkra.com (pictured overleaf) is a touch of fun. Fruit motifs are also in season, such as the striking lemon-print 12-piece dining set, £29.50, at marksandspencer.com, which will look perfect alongside an Aperol spritz.
Garden pod, from £1,750, hullypods.com. Chairs, from £237.50 each, and festoon lights, £45, coxandcox.co.uk. Rug, £195, frenchconnection.com. Wayfair.co.uk sells a good selection of fire pits
If you have the luxury of outside space and want a permanent entertaining area, check out the luxe-looking yet affordable Janvey gazebo, £92.99 at wayfair.co.uk, or stretch to a pocket paradise from new eco-friendly company hullypods.com that offers garden pods (pictured overleaf) made from recycled plastic. Prices from £1,750 for a 2.4m x 1.2m pod.
From left: seat cushions, £3.99 each; stoneware crockery, from £9.99 for a plate; linen tablecloth, £39.99; mango wood cake stand, £17.99; tumblers, £3.99 each; wine glasses, £6.99 each; round jute table mats, £6.99 each; metal lanterns, £6.99 each; wooden plant pot, £12.99; glass carafe, £8.99; large serving bowl, £24.99; acacia wood bowl, £12.99 for set of three; round mango wood serving tray, £19.99; three-compartment wooden dish, £17.99, and folding wooden stool, £39.99, all hm.com
And don’t forget to keep a blanket or two handy (try thebritishblanketcompany.com) for cooler days and after dark. It is British summertime after all!
Linen napkins, £60 for four, and linen tablecloth, £195, polkra.com
THROW SOME SHADE
Charlotte Page picks summer’s boldest parasols
Hawaiian, £27.99, manomano.co.uk
Grass effect, £50, wilko.com
Sorbet shades, £70, amara.com
Orange, pink and green, £54.50, maisonsdumonde.com
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