The British climate can be unpredictable. However, we still enjoy spending a surprising amount of time eating, socialising and relaxing in the garden. Dining alfresco is about gathering family, entertaining friends and escaping the typical daily routine.
Luckily, moving the party outside doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice stylish ideas and comfort. Whether you have a patio, porch or pool, these luxury garden furniture ideas will seamlessly transfer you and your guests outside. Read on to discover inspirational garden furniture ideas and take full advantage of the warm weather on the horizon.
For outdoor dining in all weather
Whether you’re eating breakfast, lunch or dinner alfresco, outdoor entertaining naturally lends itself to a table and chairs. Consider the modern Eos garden furniture from Case.
Crafted using weather-resistant powder-coated aluminium, Eos furniture can stay outside all year round without rusting. The luxury garden furniture will look elegant for years to come and is perfect for entertaining friends and family al fresco.
Works well with: Eos Picnic House. Offering shade from the sun and shelter from the rain, the Eos Picnic House helps you enjoy your garden all year long. With the addition of some fairy lights, your outdoor dining area will be ready to host guests right away.
For entertaining lots of guests
Vincent Sheppard’s Kodo garden furniture collection is ideal for larger families and hosting extra guests for dinner parties and summer BBQs. Choose anything from outdoor day beds and sofas to spacious tables and comfy dining chairs. With this type of arrangement in your garden, neither you nor your guests will prefer dining indoors.
Works well with: The Kodo Outdoor Dining Table and chairs. Create a picturesque summer seating arrangement with chair and dining table combo. The spacious dining table is perfect for all party sizes and is spacious enough to seat all the family.
For small spaces
Look to Vincent Sheppard’s Lento collection for a modern and sleek addition to your garden, patio or outdoor space. Compact whilst offering plenty of comfort, this collection of modern garden seating is perfect for smaller spaces. Each piece is crafted using natural teak wood and tactile polypropylene rope that lends the collection a modern aesthetic.
Works well with: Gan outdoor rugs. Outdoor rugs are perfect for smaller spaces as they help to define different areas. Position one under your Lento outdoor sofa to make your compact seating area feel even more comfortable. If your space is particularly small and you don’t have space for seating, an outdoor rug and cushions could help create some cosy outdoor floor seating.
For luxury garden furniture with a fire pit
Nothing feels more relaxing and enjoyable than spending time with your loved ones seated comfortably around a fire at the end of a busy day. Invite a campfire ambience into your garden with a modern fire pit. These beautiful, minimal designs are perfect for setting the scene for a cosy evening in the garden.
Works well with: Why not complement your fire pit with luxury outdoor furniture from our BK collection from Carl Hansen & Søn? The modern teak garden sofa, chair and table are so beautiful it’s easy to mistake them for indoor pieces.
Designed with a simple wooden frame and contrasting soft cushions, the chairs offer comfortable seating even outdoors. Perfect for long conversations with family and friends, or to wind down and read your favourite book on a warm summer’s day.
For accessorising your garden
The best luxury garden furniture ideas incorporate a range of outdoor accessories. From colourful cushions to brighten up your outdoor sofa, to garden umbrellas for hot sunny days.
Accent your garden with our contemporary like outdoor lighting and rugs to make your space comfortable and stylish. With such a great collection of luxury garden furniture and accessories, there’s no reason your garden can’t be as beautiful as your home.
Explore our range of the best outdoor furniture here.
[ INSPIRATION ]
Trends & Lifestyle
Every outdoor space is filled with potential, from balconies and terraces to sprawling gardens with plenty of private nooks. No matter the size, you’d be forgiven for wanting to make the most out of every corner of your garden.
Garden corners offer the perfect opportunity to create a cosy and welcoming seating area, whether it’s for dining, lounging or reading. Here are 12 of our favourite garden corner ideas to help inspire your outdoor space.
We’ve carefully hand-picked each photo to make sure you’re completely inspired. Pick and choose elements of each picture to create the ultimate garden corners.
Create a corner dining area
Garden corners offer a little more protection from wind and scorching sun, making them perfect for dining spaces. We love the way they’ve made use of the walls in this garden inspiration. By encouraging climbing plants to scale one of the walls, the space automatically feels more natural. This design idea can also make a smaller garden feel bigger.
Calming garden lounge corner
Sheltered garden corners are also great for sofa areas. If there’s a section that’s flooded with dapped sunlight all day long, then even better. This outdoor sofa inspiration is modern and perfect for an indoor-outdoor space.
Add a coffee table and scatter cushions for a sofa setup that looks just as good inside as it does in a garden corner.
Relaxing reading garden corner
Why not escape the hustle and bustle of the house for a relaxing reading corner in the garden? Make use of smaller, awkward spaces to create a calming haven away from other distractions.
We love how this Vincent Sheppard outdoor chair blends perfectly with the rest of the garden and rocks for even more relaxation. A comfortable cushion or two and this will be your new favourite spot in the garden.
Create an intimate outdoor dining space
Festoon lights, a modern outdoor dining table set and comfortable seating makes use of an otherwise empty corner of the garden. Intimate and inviting, we’d want to eat our dinner here any night of the week.
Cosy seating in a small garden corner
Swaying in a hammock underneath dapped sunlight, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in the South of France. When the sun goes down, illuminate the garden corner with portable outdoor lights for an atmospheric ambience. Your hammock corner will be the place to be for friends and family all summer long.
Balcony corner dining space
Small and compact, balconies are perfectly sized for cosy, intimate dining spaces. We love how this balcony corner inspiration has kept things simple whilst adding a pop of colour with red garden furniture. It takes up the perfect amount of space without overwhelming the balcony. Again, the warm glow of a portable lamp completes the space.
Shaded garden corner sofa area
A shaded garden corner is perfect for a sofa area, whether it’s under a pergola, large tree or awning. It’ll provide a welcome escape on sunny days and stay nice and sheltered when it’s showering. This garden corner idea is just as modern as the house surrounding it, but wooden furniture and decking keeps it feeling outdoorsy.
Private poolside seating area
If you’re lucky enough to have a pool or water feature, then it’s a great opportunity to create an atmospheric seating area. Say goodbye to plastic sun loungers and wave hello to elegant garden sofas and armchairs. With the gentle sound of trickling water and the soft rustling of plants, you’ll have the ultimate garden retreat.
Rustic BBQ or grill space in the garden
Found down the garden path and in a private corner of the garden, this BBQ area is perfect for hosting. Offering a more unique way to cook, the best bit about BBQs like this one from Morsø is that it’s portable. Meaning you can move it to any corner of your garden depending on where you need it. Illuminate with outdoor fairy lights and it’ll transform into a mystical woodland space come night-time.
Modern outdoor dining space in a corner
Make use of sheltered corners to host delicious meals with friends or family. Minimalist modern outdoor dining furniture is timeless, comfortable and will set the scene for long al fresco meals. Add an outdoor rug to create a little more comfort underfoot and pull the space together. Plus, a string of festoon lights will help create a warm ambience come nightfall.
Natural garden corner space
This bright white outdoor dining table set contrasts beautifully with its natural surroundings. The minimalist streamlined silhouette stands out from the wooden cladding, long grass and dappled shade. Accessorise with throws, cushions and outdoor dinnerware to complete the look.
A romantic outdoor nook
Even if you don’t have much space to play with, a simple bench can transform any garden corner into a romantic retreat. Opt for a modern design like this bench and accessorise with portable lighting for a versatile, stylish space. A glass of wine and a bowl of nibbles later, you’ll be in paradise.
Looking to revitalise a corner of your garden in time for summer? Check out our collection of garden furniture.
Some cleverly positioned unique garden lighting can transform your outdoor space into a thing of beauty. There are plenty of ways to use outdoor lighting to make the space feel cosier, more curated and calmer.
From positioning portable outdoor lights on steps, to using up-lights to showcase ancient trees or lanterns to illuminate dining spaces. Take your time to choose the right outdoor lighting and it’s sure to make your garden feel more finessed and welcoming.
For years, garden lighting lacked imagination. The outdoor lights on offer were generic and uninspired. Luckily, outdoor lighting design has moved on leaps and bounds in the past few years. That means budding horticulturalists and landscape designers have plenty of choice when it comes to illuminating their gardens.
To help make your choice even easier, we’ve compiled a collection of unique garden lighting ideas that will blow your guests’ socks off. These unique garden lighting ideas make the transition from house to garden even more seamless. Casting an elegant, refined glow on outdoor areas. Read on to discover some of our favourite garden lighting inspiration.
Illuminate architectural features
Whether your home’s an ancestral seat, country cottage or modern new build, you’d be forgiven for wanting to show it off. Lighting can be a great way to illuminate your home’s architectural features in a subtle, yet bold way.
Up-lights have traditionally been used to highlight architecture, but wall and floor lights can do an equally impressive job. In fact, they can even be used in their own right to create a striking display, without overshadowing the building.
By opting for a characterful, designer garden light, you’ll be creating a statement whilst showcasing your home. Use unique garden lighting to draw attention to a pergola that's all set up for alfresco dining. Position wall lights to highlight the path or poolside.
Or perhaps you could position a wall light to casts a warm glow over the doorway. The world’s your oyster. Shop the Virginia Outdoor Pendant Light
Create an other-worldly display
Festoon or fairy lights are a brilliant way to create a chilled-out, relaxed atmosphere, whilst still casting lots of light. This relatively affordable option is also incredibly versatile. You could string them up between trees or across a pergola, or you could use them to illuminate a covered patio area.
When surrounded by plenty of comfy seating and good company, fairy lights can create an incredibly welcoming space.
We love how this lighting idea cleverly makes the parasol’s frame a centrepiece. The same look can be easily achieved using individual strings of fairy lights. Alternatively, you can invest in some parasol-specific lighting for a more clean-lined finish. Make sure to choose string lights that are suitable for outdoors though. Shop the Sirius Parasol Fairy Lights
Get creative with outdoor pendants
Pendants aren’t often what jumps to mind when you’re considering garden lighting. However, in recent years pendant lighting has made the transition from indoors to outside. Made using innovative, modern materials, outdoor pendant lighting is a novel way to illuminate dining areas or seating areas.
We love how this unique garden lighting idea showcases the pendant lights and gives the garden a fairy-like vibe. Shop the Tempo Vivace Light
Portable lighting reigns supreme
Gardens are versatile spaces; they change and adapt with the seasons, as do the ways they’re used. So, it goes to say that your lighting should be adaptable. After all, in the UK’s colder climate you may not use your garden all year round. We reckon portable outdoor lighting offers the perfect solution.
Not only can these unique lights be used to cast a warm glow around outdoor tables, but they can also be used to illuminate steps, BBQs or reading nooks. The best part is that you can use them inside as equally practical portable lighting come winter. Make sure you choose portable lighting that’s suitable for outdoors. That should keep it protected in the highly probable case of rain. Shop the Tempo Andante Light
Practical lighting shouldn’t mean boring
Whilst outdoor lighting is often used to showcase a garden’s different features or zones, it’s also used in a more practical sense. From lighting ancient pathways to illuminating the doorbell, there are plenty of practical uses for outdoor lighting. However, that isn’t to say you can’t use the most unique outdoor lighting possible.
With plenty of elevated wall and floor lights available, you can be sure to find outdoor lighting that makes your garden, footpath or front step look magical. Shop the Camouflage Wall Light
Looking to revitalise your outdoor lighting? Check out our collection of modern garden lights.
Whether you’re an avid entertainer or an occasional host, there are bound to be times your living room is used for socialising. It could be anything from movie nights or parties to catch ups over coffee.
A truly sociable living room will help your guests feel relaxed, welcome and comfortable. By following our carefully compiled tips, all the social gatherings in the heart of your home will be even more enjoyable.
Create Intimate Seating
A brilliant way to make your living room feel more sociable is to create an intimate seating arrangement. After all, it doesn’t make for good conversation when there are wide spaces between your armchairs and the seating is all spread out. Talking across the room isn’t the way most people like to open up to their friends, get to know new people or tell a joke.
Antisocial seating arrangements often come into play when the television is the focus of the room. That’s because your sofas and armchairs are all positioned for the best view, instead of facing each other.
Bring your seating closer together so your guests can enjoy conversation without straining their neck or vocal cords. If you mainly use your living room to watch tv, you could consider rejigging it whenever you have guests.
Relaxed Warm Lighting
Warm lighting is one of the best ways to help guests feel calm, relaxed and sociable in your living room. You can completely overhaul your living room by simply switching off ceiling lights and using candles, wall lights and table lamps to illuminate it. Instead of the harsh, unflattering glow overhead lighting can create, you’ll be left with an atmospheric, intimate ambience.
If you’re investing in new living room lighting, then there are some key styles to look out for. Keep your eyes peeled for table lamps with opal shades, these help to diffuse the light and give it a soft glow. Shades made using natural linen, ceramic or marble will also help achieve the same look. For a low-cost transformation, replace any bright white bulbs with warmer options.
Use Rugs to Create Zones
If your living room is part of a large, open plan space, it can be hard to make it feel like a separate area. Luckily, one of the benefits of open-plan living is that it’s particularly sociable. You could be enjoying a catch up in the living area whilst others are playing games at the table and still feel completely involved. However, if you’d like to create some clearer zones in the room, then that can be done by simply using rugs.
From your living space to your dining table and office nook, use rugs to mark out each zone. This will help make your living room feel cosier and more defined. Adding rugs to your space will also help inject a little more personality, perfect for sociable living rooms.
Comfort Is Key
You and your guests will feel more at ease if you’re comfortable, so make that a priority. A snuggly sofa will make all the difference, encouraging your guests to feel more relaxed and sociable. If you’re hosting a larger group, then use bean bags and large cushions to create extra seating on the floor.
If you’re lumped with an uncomfy sofa and now isn’t the right time to buy a new one, accessories will help. Filling your living room with plenty of cushions, throws and blankets will help to create a more cosy, sociable space.
Drape a throw over the side of the sofa so your guests know they’re welcome to use them. Or you could stash some spare blankets in a storage basket for them to pick from.
Add a Bit of Personality
A pristine lounge that doesn’t have a hair out of place can leave your guests nervous to accidentally make a mess. Inject a touch of your personality into your living room to make them feel more relaxed and at home. This could be anything from your favourite design classic to your old guitar or holiday pictures.
Even if your style is more minimalist, you can still use ornaments and wall art to show your personality. This is also a great way to break the ice when you’re meeting new people.
Want to create a more sociable home? Discover our living room furniture collection.
Multipurpose spaces can be hard to decorate, whether it’s on the smaller side or part of a large open-plan design. That makes finding the best sofa bed to buy for your multifunctional room is a big task.
To help, we’ve created a list of our top eight sofa beds, each one transitioning from day to night smoothly.
Sofa Beds with Thick Mattress
If your guest room also doubles as a living space, then a sofa bed is a versatile addition. However, finding sofa beds that are comfortable for both sitting and sleeping can be hard. Often, they’re either too hard when seated or don’t offer enough support when sleeping.
For guests to have a great sleep, then a sofa bed with a thick mattress is essential. Plus, an ergonomic design and premium padding make sure it’s also comfy when you’re sitting down. We reckon we’ve hit the nail on the head with the Pillow 3-Seater Sofa Bed.
The Pillow Sofa Bed is perfect for everyday use whilst still offering comfort for your guests. That’s thanks to its pocket-sprung mattress. Pocket springs are the ultimate addition to a mattress as they mould to your body. This offers support and stops you rolling into your partner. It’s so comfy your guests won’t even realise they’re sleeping on a sofa bed.
When seated, the Pillow Sofa Bed’s feather-filled back cushions mean it’s easy to sink into and unwind. And since the cushions double as the headboard, they improve your night-time comfort too. Plus, it couldn’t be easier to take out and put away. Pillow features a 2-fold Cedaflex mechanism that means it folds out in a matter of seconds.
Our Favourite Sofa Bed with Arms
If you’re hunting for an elegant sofa bed with arms and comfortable cushions, then look no further than the Cane Sofa Bed. This Art Deco-inspired design is perfect for multifunctional spaces as it’s compact with plenty of design kudos. Its cane accents, metal legs and solid elmwood armrests mean it’ll be at home in a design-forward space.
It’s incredibly comfortable thanks to the individual pocket springs in the cushions and base. Additional feather padding in the cushions make for an even deeper night’s sleep. Plus, the sofa bed’s foam casing means it’s breathable throughout the night, so no overheating. It’s also remarkably simple to transform the Cane Sofa into a double bed. All you need to do is slide out the seat, unfold the metal legs and lay down the backrest. Voila. Your sofa bed is now ready for a comfortable night’s sleep.
The Sofa bed for Small Spaces
It can be hard to find a sofa bed to fit a small room. After all, a sofa bed that’s stylish, comfortable and compact is a hard-to-find combination. Luckily, we reckon the Multy Sofa Bed fits the brief perfectly.
A simple but effortlessly stylish sofa bed, Multy’s folded design has multiple configurations to suit your small multipurpose space. Its adjustable steel frame and folded cushioning mean it’s incredibly comfortable for sleeping on, as well as sitting.
The sofa bed’s two lumbar cushions are ideal for support when seated or for resting your head on at night. The sofa’s cover even unzips to become a duvet, so it’s ready to use as soon as it’s been unfolded.
So, if you’re trying to squeeze a sofa bed into a small study or box room, then look no further than the Multy Sofa Bed from Ligne Roset.
A Sofa Bed to Sleep on Every Night
Life in a studio apartment or a small bedroom that doubles as an office or living area can get cramped. Finding a sofa bed for your multipurpose space could be the answer to all your prayers.
Nowadays, sofa beds have improved massively and sleeping on one needn’t feel like sleeping on a bag of rocks. Plus, if you’re sleeping on your sofa bed nightly, then it’s even more crucial that it’s comfortable.
We love the Oswald Sofa Bed because it’s so easy to use and incredibly comfortable. Simply pull the leather tab at the front and fold the backrest forward. Even its legs automatically fold out, so there’s no fumbling around for them. There’s even concealed storage in this sofa bed to store the cushions when not in use.
The best part? The Oswald Sofa Bed is incredibly comfortable. It has individual pocket springs to help offer even pressure whether you’re sitting or sleeping. Layers of hyper-soft foam add extra comfort and make sure the mattress is breathable all night long. So, if you need a sofa bed to sleep on every night, the Oswald Sofa Bed may be the ultimate choice.
The Sofa Bed for Design Lovers
Looking for a little extra sleeping space but don’t want to compromise on your Scandinavian aesthetic? Enter the Level Daybed from Woud.
This elegant day bed isn’t your typical sofa bed. Its streamlined, crisp design make it perfect for modern, pared-back spaces. A solid oak frame with statement-making legs supports a leather-upholstered mattress that’s topped with an optional co-ordinating leather cushion. You can configure the Level Day Bed to make sure it really suits your space. Whether that’s a black wood base and tan leather, or an all-black look, the world’s your oyster.
To transform it into a sofa bed, simply add bedding. It couldn’t be easier, no mechanisms or folding needed with this design.
A Stylish Corner Sofa Bed
If you’re always hosting friends, family or big sleepovers, then you probably need sleeping space in most rooms. That means every room from your living room to your hallway is ripe for multifunctional furniture. If your living room is large enough then we fully recommend choosing a stylish corner sofa bed.
If we had to pick, we’d go for the Pillow Corner Chaise Sofa Bed. Not only is it perfect for seating the whole family, but it offers that all-important sleeping space too. And it’s not just any place to rest your head either. The Pillow Corner Sofa Bed features a pocket-sprung mattress to offer extra support for your guests.
Its feather-filled back cushions mean you’ll sink into them when seated and double as a headboard when sleeping. So, you won’t compromise on comfort in the day or at night. Did we mention how easy it is to unfold?
The Pillow Sofa Bed boasts 2-fold Cedaflex technology. This means it’s incredibly easy to fold out and just as easy to put away the next day. Perfect for busy homes.
The Perfect Sofa Bed for a Home Office or Study
If your multifunctional space also doubles as a home office, then the Thora Sofa Bed could be the ultimate addition. Streamlined, compact and stylish, Thora would look right at home in any study.
The modern sofa bed draws inspiration from Nordic design. Its crisp lines and minimalist silhouette will bring a Scandinavian touch to the office. Its plump back cushions mean the sofa bed is comfy to sit on between meetings and easy on the eye.
Plus, it features an ingenious sliding mechanism that means it couldn’t be easier to transform into a double sofa bed. The base itself offers support for any guests thanks to its integrated pocket springs and high-density foam. Good night’s sleep? Check.
A Modern Leather Sofa Bed
A leather sofa bed is a timeless addition when it comes to multipurpose spaces. Not only do they look good, but their elegant design means they’ll look great in most spaces. We love the 40 Winks Sofa Bed because its design borrows from the classic Chesterfield Sofa, with even more functionality.
Its classic leather upholstery, deep button detailing and creased folds are reminiscent of the classic Chesterfield Sofa. But we’ve bought it into the modern day. The turned wood legs keep the sofa bed’s vintage feel, whilst the slick steel frame lends it a contemporary flourish.
The back has three adjustment levels, meaning you can adjust it to both recline or sleep on. In large multifunctional spaces, you could even leave it folded down as a daybed.
Like what you see? Check out our selection of sofa beds
Today is National Pet Day and to celebrate, we’re sharing some of our favourite shots of your pets looking pretty perfect in your Heal’s homes.
Credit: @pevensey_house Junction chandelier
Cat napping never looked so good, featuring our Junction Chandelier.
Credit: @claudeandthehouse Cezanne circular coffee table
Pairing white marble with a black steel frame the sophisticated Cezanne coffee table is a timeless addition to any setting. Categorically approved.
Credit: @negi.at.home Orta oval mirror in walnut
Room for one more? Named after Italy's enchanting Lake Orta, the Orta Oval Mirror is a sleek, elegant addition to any contemporary living space.
Credit: @mishkashoe Twine bench
Definition of hallway goals right here? We think so. Our Twine bench looks right at home here, don’t you think?
Credit: @emmajanepalin Tom Dixon Copper round pendant
Copper hue crushing, we love our the Tom Dixon Copper round pendant looks right at home here.
Credit: @bergmarkarchitects @snapsbymartin Matera sofa
Weekend plans: sofa, so good. Our Matera sofa is the perfect place to sit back and relax with a good book, don't you think?
Credit: @the_chapel_conversion Mini Lounge floor lamp
Shining a light on this precious little pup, perfectly posed next to our Mini-Lounge floor lamp.
Credit: @onefoureightlondon Rometta rug
Feeling (p)upset that the weekend is almost over? Us too. We love this inviting living room, featuring the Rometta rug.
Credit: @the_old_posthouse Brunel sofa and Fawn coffee table
Calming neutrals complete with pops of blue, we're currently wishing we were settled down for the night in this inviting space, featuring our Brunel sofa and Fawn coffee table.
Fancy being featured on our Instagram? Tag us in your photos and use the #HealsHome.
Discover more
-
Behind The Design
-
At Heal's
-
Tips & Advice
