There's never a bad time to start dreaming of warmer weather. That's why we have the basics for planning your comfy outdoor hangout – regardless of what the thermometer says. Just be sure to check back in February, when we'll have even more options for welcoming those warm, sunny days. Lounging & relaxing furniture(84)By using this site you agree to the use of cookies.Make your home feel a bit bigger this summer – just by opening the door. Whether you want to dine on your balcony, relax in your garden or spend time together on your patio, we've lots of comfortable and durable outdoor furniture for creating (even more) space for living in.That is why we have the basics for planning your comfy outdoor hangout – regardless of what the thermometer says. Lounging & relaxing furniture(75)Ikea Patio HacksIkea Patio IdeasIdeas IkeaIkea Hack GardenOutdoor Ikea HackDecor IdeasHacks InstagramInstagram IkeaInstagram FindsForwardIt's time for the best IKEA Hacks Instagram finds for October.
The creativity of these Instagrammers never cease to amaze me. Let's take a look.Outdoor furniture sales during the height of winter was the star performer for Ikea, which has started selling traditional summer items the whole year round.The retailer famous for its cut price flat-packed products changed the way it sells garden furniture and revamped its stores, driving UK sales up 3.1 per cent to £1.2bn for the year to August 31.The stand-out performance comes at a time when consumers are reining in spending on all but essential items and the housing market is still depressed. The firm said it has grown market share by 0.2 per cent to 6.4 per cent by focusing on value lines and creating better in store displays.It spent £4million recreating its living room and children’s department which it said resulted in an immediate return on investment as sales in both areas rose by 6 per cent.But the biggest success was seen in outdoor furniture, up 58 per cent after it moved away from selling items during just Spring and Summer.
It found many items including chairs and tables could be used both indoors and outdoors with people moving items from conservatories during the cold months into the garden during the warmer months.It also advertised the category for the first time.Gillian Drakeford, Ikea’s UK Retail Manager, said: ‘We have worked hard to put a renewed focus on the customer over the past year. With the continued uncertainty around the recovery from the recession, we have continued to invest across our online and in-store shopping channels to create a simpler, more convenient and enjoyable experience.’There has been strong growth in online sales, with an increase of 29 per cent compared to the previous year. This was achieved after Ikea increased the number of products available to buy online to 7,500 which is 80 per cent of the total range, as well as making the service available to the majority of Scotland. It also launched Ikea mobile towards the end of the year and has free Wi-Fi in all stores.
Drakeford said: ‘Over the coming year we will be putting a renewed focus on our kitchens business, making IKEA the most simple and convenient retailer to buy a kitchen from.‘We will invest £8million in improving the kitchen business, including rebuilding all showrooms, staff training, improving our delivery and installation services.’Small Patio Furniture IdeasCondo Patio IdeasApartment Patio DecorSmall Apartment Patio IdeasApartment BalconyYellow Outdoor FurnitureApartment DecoratingBalconies Patio SPorch Balcony PatioForwardSmall Patio Makeover: Before and After + Tips and Tricks via Live ColorfulIt's long been a standing joke among gardeners that we invest in a great bench and then never sit on it. True, we are always grovelling around on all fours weeding and pruning, but the real reason is most garden benches are too uncomfortable. That is why I am so excited by the recent arrival of all-weather garden sofas. There is none of the usual hassle of lugging them outside the moment spring arrives, they are maintenance-free and last for ages.
- Eight of the best garden chairs Fabrics, which were developed for yachts, can be left out all-year round, while Teflon-coated fabrics will tolerate light showers. As well as allowing us to relax, stretch out and enjoy our gardens more, another reason to create an outdoor lounge area is the smoking ban, which leads to that irritating split between inside and outside groups at parties. If you provide a comfortable space outside, everyone is happy to mingle. A design to suit your home A garden sofa makes a large statement and is an expensive investment, so it is important to get right. Unless you go for the totally waterproof fabrics, the sofas will invariably be without cushions for the cooler months of the year. They must look good "naked", and on those "so-so" days should ideally be comfy to use without cushions. You must be able to store the cushions conveniently close by for when we get periods of non-stop rain. The first wave of garden sofas and chairs were predominantly made from a plastic type of imitation wicker.
The styles tended to be boxy and cuboid, and though they might look fab with a modern Spanish villa, they don't look so good around old stone properties. The styles have been copied en masse and are produced in the Far East. There are a few, however, which have great style and are different. It's a highly individual Spanish design with bold curves on the arms and will not look out of place outside in the winter garden, or with an older house. Point UK also sells the more traditional styles that have the air of the Lloyd Loom about them, if you want to play really safe. • Getting your garden furniture right with rattan: Our guide to the best rattan garden furniture For wow factor and great design it is worth visiting the Go Modern website (gomodern.co.uk). It is exhibiting a few pieces on its stand at Chelsea this year. The Amalfi is an Italian design and is made from polished teak with steel feet and has a definite feel of understated luxury. A couple of chairs and a sofa in this would set you back £6,000 or so.
Flow is another style from Go Modern. These look just like modern indoor sofas but are totally waterproof as the cushions are made from nautical fabric. This comes in a leather or a fabric type finish which feels soft to the touch, despite its totally waterproof characteristics. I can see these working in modern city gardens but elsewhere they might be tricky to fit in. The Kartell sofa and chairs (01753 866333; urbansuite.co.uk), are set to be a design classic. They are made from moulded polyethylene and could be furnished with jazzy cushions for extra comfort. They come in a range of colours and cost £515 and £339. , also available in many colours and with the added surprise of being able to be lit up. Habitat does two outdoor sofas, Catalina is a long-legged all-weather black rattan sofa (and chair) and the Winchester lounger has a more laid-back style. Ikea comes up trumps cost-wise. Its Arholma range of modular units in brown plastic rattan is £59.99 for a middle module and £79.99 for a corner one and looks similar to other blocky styles that are vastly more expensive.
A difference is the Ikea ones are only recommended to be left out in the summer (so should tolerate light rain). The cushions are thin and portable, practical but not lavish. The other style, Ammero, comes in beige or brown plastic rattan. It is a chair/sofa hybrid, lighter looking, with a clean modern design. There are various sized sofas and chairs from £69.99. Many ranges of furniture have low tables, ottomans or footstools to complement larger pieces. Though I think it can work better if you try to avoid the showroom suite effect. Graham and Green (0845 130 6622; grahamandgreen.co.uk) do round woven natural wicker "pouffes" (60cm diameter) for £30. Ideal for a footstool or occasional sitting. They need to come in when it's wet, though. Making your seating area really usable is not just a question of shelling out on wonderful furniture. The other big factor is location. At home, our main area where we gravitate for a cup of coffee or glass of wine, is directly outside the kitchen, where we spend most of our down time.
So it makes sense to make our premier chill-out zone as close to this as possible. Shelter from wind, so your papers don't rustle and flap, and privacy are other important factors in choosing your site. Shade and warmth The other factor is climate control. Sunshades and heat may be required and both can be tricky elements. The simplest approach to shade is the parasol and the Coupe parasol base is in the form of a modern planter which you could either plant, fill with pebbles, or fill with water and floating candles. You could even use it as an ice bucket. It will take most shades that are up to 3m in diameter and comes from Go Modern in white or black. A pergola, partially cantilevered out from the building, is another solution. Removable fabric can be attached over the beams on sunny days. Heating your space so you can enjoy summer evenings is a controversial topic, but a small open brazier emits a glowing warmth without the emissions of gas-powered patio heaters. Browse the Mode range (0844 463 8034, mode.co.uk).