Outdoor furniture for summer: aluminium, teak or wicker-look?

Summer is when the outdoor table earns its place: long lunches, a late dinner under the patio light, wet towels on every chair. The harder question is what it should be made of. Here is how aluminium, hardwood such as teak and eucalyptus, and wicker-look compare, with the outdoor dining settings and lounges we sell in each.

First question: is it under a roof?

Before you choose a material, decide where the furniture will live. A covered patio and an open deck are different jobs.

Some of our timber pieces say "for undercover use only" on the product page, with a cover recommended when they are not in use. The Marrakesh and Alberta pieces below are like this. Read that line on every product page before you order for an open space.

Aluminium outdoor furniture

Aluminium does not rust. It is also lighter than steel, so a chair is easy to move around the deck. A powder coat on top gives the colour.

• Baska Extendable Outdoor Dining Set, Table + 4 Stackable Chairs is made for a deck or courtyard. The frame is aluminium with a white non-rust powder coat. The slatted top is oak-look polywood with rounded corners. The table opens with a butterfly leaf from 97 to 149 cm: closed it seats four to six, open it seats eight. The four chairs stack when you need the space back.
• Burano 5 Seater Outdoor Corner Lounge, Gunmetal Aluminium is two 3-seater sofas on a powder-coated aluminium frame in gunmetal. The cushions are weatherproof, water repellent and UV protected. Allow an area of 253 x 329 cm.

Choose aluminium if you want a frame that will not rust and furniture you can move or stack.

Teak and eucalyptus: hardwood outside

Teak and eucalyptus are dense hardwoods with a high natural oil content, and the oil helps them shed water. As a general rule, hardwood left unoiled weathers to a soft silver-grey over time. Oil it if you want to keep the warmer timber colour.

• Marrakesh 9 Piece Eucalyptus Outdoor Dining Set, 220cm is our biggest outdoor dining setting. The table is 220 x 100 cm in solid brushed eucalyptus. The armchairs have a rope seat in black or beige on a steel ED-coated frame, with a 45 cm seat height. It is for undercover use only.
• Alberta Outdoor Coffee Table 120cm, Solid Teak in Grey Wash is solid teak, 120 x 60 cm, with a grey-wash finish applied by hand. It is also for undercover use only.

Looking for a teak outdoor sofa? Our teak pieces are tables. For a hardwood sofa, the Marrakesh 3 Seater Outdoor Lounge, Solid Eucalyptus with Cushions is 237 cm long in brushed eucalyptus, with deep cushions in cream or dark charcoal. It is made for the covered patio.

Choose hardwood if you have a covered area and like real timber that changes with age.

Wicker-look: resin over a frame

Outdoor "wicker" is not cane. It is a synthetic strand, often PE (polyethylene), woven over a frame. You get the woven look without natural cane outside.

• Portia 3 Seater Wicker Outdoor Lounge with Reversible Chaise is 5 mm round wicker over an aluminium frame. The chaise swaps sides to fit your space. The light grey cushions are weatherproof, water repellent, stain resistant and UV protected.
• Chios 7 Seater Outdoor Modular Sofa Set, Light Grey Wicker seats seven across corner seats, middle seats and a one-armed love seat, with a footstool and a table with a tempered glass top. The frame is aluminium wrapped in light grey PE wicker.
• Paso Outdoor Sofa Set with Coffee Table, Grey Wicker is a 2-seater, an armchair and a coffee table. The frames are acacia and aluminium with grey wicker, and the coffee table has a white polycement top.

Choose wicker-look if you want a soft, woven lounge setting, and you like to rearrange it.

Side by side

| | Aluminium | Teak or eucalyptus | Wicker-look |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Metal frame with a powder coat | Solid hardwood | Synthetic strand woven over a frame |
| What to know | Does not rust | Weathers to grey unless oiled | Check the frame under the weave |
| In our range | Baska, Burano | Marrakesh, Alberta | Portia, Chios, Paso |
| Where | Deck or courtyard (Baska) | Undercover only (Marrakesh, Alberta) | Check each product page |

Cushions and covers

The cushion fabric matters as much as the frame. Check each product page for what the cushions are and what they resist. The Burano, Portia and Chios cushions are described as weatherproof, water repellent and UV protected. For the Marrakesh and Alberta pieces, the product page recommends a cover when they are not in use.

Good to know

• Measure the space. As a rule of thumb, leave about 90 cm behind each dining chair so it can pull out. Lounges need their full footprint: the Burano needs 253 x 329 cm.
• Measure the way in. Check gates, side paths, doorways and stairs. The setting has to reach the backyard.
• Delivery. Mid to large items mostly go by furniture removalist, who texts you the day before delivery. See our delivery page for details.
• Undercover or open. Read the "for undercover use only" line on each product page before you order.
• Assembly. Many pieces need minor assembly. The product page says which.