Outdoor Sofas and Loungers

Buying Guide

An outdoor sofa or sun lounger is a significant investment in how you use your garden. Done well, it turns a patio into somewhere you genuinely want to spend time.

The frame is the foundation. Powder-coated recycled aluminium is a very practical choice for UK outdoor use: rustproof, lightweight, needs no treatment and is durable in our weather. FSC certified hardwood brings warmth and character but requires annual oiling to stay looking its best. Avoid frames that use a lot of plastic joints or connectors, which become brittle with UV exposure and are usually the first thing to fail.

Cushion fabric is where a lot of outdoor sofas fall short, and it is worth paying attention to. Solution-dyed acrylic is the gold standard if you are looking for the most sustainable choice: the colour is embedded in the fibre before weaving, so it does not fade with UV exposure the way surface printed fabrics do. It also handles moisture and mildew better. One thing worth checking before you buy is whether the cushion covers have been treated with PFAS based water repellents. PFAS, often called forever chemicals, persist in the environment indefinitely and are increasingly being phased out across the UK and Europe. Some brands now explicitly state they are PFAS free, which is worth looking for.

Every garden furniture brand featured in our outdoor sofas and loungers edit goes through our 8 lens sustainability review before it reaches this page. You can read the full breakdown for each brand over on our blog.

Technical and Sustainability FAQs

Q: What is solution dyed acrylic and why does it matter for outdoor cushions?

A: Solution dyed acrylic is a fabric where the colour is added to the raw fibre before it is spun and woven, rather than being printed or dyed onto the surface of the finished fabric. Because the colour runs all the way through the fibre, it does not fade with UV exposure in the way that surface dyed or printed fabrics do. For outdoor cushions that spend months in direct sunlight, this makes a real difference. A solution dyed cushion cover that looks good after five summers is far more sustainable than a cheaper surface dyed or printed alternative that fades and needs replacing after two. It is one of the most useful things to look for when comparing outdoor cushions.

Q: What are PFAS and should I be worried about them in outdoor furniture?

A: PFAS stands for per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are a large group of synthetic chemicals used in outdoor fabric treatments to repel water and resist staining. The problem is that they do not break down in the environment or in the human body, which is why they are sometimes called forever chemicals. They have been found in soil, water and human blood samples globally. Regulatory bodies in the UK and EU are increasingly restricting their use. From a practical standpoint, the easiest way to check is to ask the brand directly whether their outdoor fabric is PFAS-free, or look for this stated explicitly in the product information. Some brands are already ahead of the curve on this.

Q: How do I make an outdoor sofa last as long as possible?

A: Bring cushions inside over winter and store them in breathable bags rather than sealed plastic. Clean the frame at the start and end of each season with soapy water, checking any joints or connectors for early signs of wear. For aluminium frames, touch up any chips in the powder coating before rust can take hold. For wooden frames, apply teak oil or the appropriate treatment before the wet season. Use a breathable furniture cover during extended periods of non-use rather than a fully sealed cover, which traps moisture. Replace cushion covers if they fade or wear rather than replacing the whole cushion, which significantly extends the product life at a fraction of the cost.