Garden gadgets: colourful seating

Are you making the most of your outdoor furniture?  A great way to add a splash of long-lasting colour to your summer garden is through seating and soft furnishings.  A bright bench or a striking table and chairs can really provide a lift if you’ve got a rather boring corner of the garden, or a patio which is lacking something special.

A punchy pink bistro set or a beautiful blue hanging egg chair could be just the thing to bring the wow factor to a sad spot.  If you don’t fancy replacing the whole set, there are other inexpensive and temporary options to brighten things up a little: cushions in a tropical print, deckchairs with pretty patterns – or perhaps an outdoor rug.  These are a great way to soften an area of decking, giving that impression of the garden as an ‘outdoor room’, as well as providing a generous hit of colour.  The benefit of soft furnishings is they can be easily moved or removed altogether if they become discoloured or your tastes change.

Perhaps you’ve got a wooden bench which is a bit weather-worn?  There’s a whole range of colours available for repainting wooden furniture, not to mention sheds and summerhouses, from vibrant yellows to zingy pink shades.  It’s a great way to freshen up your furniture and give your garden a burst of bright colour that will last long after the flowering season is finished.  

There’s an added benefit too: making your furniture more noticeable means you might be more easily lured into a comfortable, colourful chair, encouraging you to put your feet up, put your trowel down, and enjoy a nice cold drink!