Skip to main content Skip to accessibility help House by John LewisNothing says British summertime more than a relaxing spell in a deckchair with a good book or glass of Pimms. So named for their use on cruise ships or ocean liners, our love for deckchairs hasn’t waned since John Thomas Moore patented the idea of an adjustable folding chair in Macclesfield, 1887. From stately hardwood options that complement your garden furniture, to light-weight steel framed chairs for beach trips and picnics, our selection covers the traditional and the innovative. Think about maintenance and durability while choosing, as well as adjustability and comfort. 1. House by John Lewis Scandi beach chair: £15, John Lewis For a modern take on the classic folding deck chair, John Lewis offers this good-value steel-framed version which comes in a range of bright colours ideal for the beach or park. It’s much lighter than traditional wood, making it easily portable. There’s also a carry handle on the back of the chair.
2. Panama deck chair: £49, Debenhams Debenhams’ Panama deck chair is a solid piece that will age well. Made from sustainably-sourced acacia wood with a natural oil finish, it’s low maintenance and can be left outdoors all year round. This elegant deck-chair comes with a high price tag, but is a good investment if you love time in the garden. It comes with a warranty of one year. 3. Wooden deck chair: £29.99, Alfresia Alfresia’s deck chair updates the classic design for modern use. Its softwood construction means it weighs just 3kg and is easy to take to the beach or garden parties. Its polyester fabric seat isn’t the most luxurious but does for the odd outdoor occasion. The chair has four different back positions, giving a degree of flexibility. The wood frame will need maintenance to keep looking fresh. 4. Brommö lounger: £40, Ikea Part deck chair, part lounger, the elastic back and seat on this design from Ikea offer even more comfort than the classic fabric sling.
If your style is contemporary, this is a great minimal take on the wooden deckchair, which still folds for ease of use. If you plan on keeping it outdoors, you’ll need to stain it regularly to keep it looking its best. 5. Bahama reclining chair: £89, Made In Design The Bahama foldable chair is made for days lounging by the water. The steel frame keeps it lightweight and easy to move around for catching the sun. Steel also lends itself to a range of vivid colours, which contrast with the textile sling across the many combinations this chair is available in. There’s only one, practically horizontal, seating position, so be prepared to relax! 6. Southsea Deckhairs Wideboy chair: £128, Houseology The romantics among us will love this idea: a classic striped deckchair that’s made for two. Cosy up on the vibrant showerproof seat, or use the extra space to yourself with some added cushions for comfort. The hardwood frame has been stained with teak oil, and the sling is printed cotton.
The blue and white stripes have us nostalgic for trips to the British seaside. 7. MAUI deckchair: £40 (frame only), Habitat Habitat’s MAUI deckchair looks fairly standard, for a decent price. But the clever thing about it, is its interchangeable slings, which can be purchased separately to the solid oak frame. If you like to mix up your style every now and then, the slings are just £10 and the range goes from neutral tones to vibrant tropicals. 8. Wooden deck chair: £29.78, Homebase Another budget option for your garden is Homebase’s wooden deckchair, which comes with a wider-than-average polyester sling and a sustainably-sourced eucalyptus wood frame. The colours are fresh and contemporary in coral, aqua and grey. This one needs self-assembly, but the task is fairly straightforward. It should also be brought indoors when not in use. 9. SPLIT chair: £69.99, Maisons du Monde Maisons du Monde’s tres chic version of the deckchair has a metal frame and a toned-down colour range of charcoal grey, taupe and white.
The attached head pillow and sling are made from textilene, a polyester mesh that’s durable and resistant to fading. A cross between a sun lounger and a deckchair this foldable design has five settings. At 9kg it’s probably best at home in the garden than one to take on beach trips. The Panama deckchair represents the quintessential British summertime staple, and there’s a reasonable pricetag for its attention to durability. Better yet, it’s a cinch to maintain and comes fully assembled. If your idea of a deckchair is less snoozes in the garden, and more something to throw in the car for beach trips – then John Lewis’ bright steel-framed Scandi beach chair is your winner. Made in polyester with an Oxford weave, this House by John Lewis sling is ideal for brightening up your garden space. It arrives in a choice of coastal navy or vibrant zest yellow finishes; pair it with a deck chair frame to offer comfortable seating in your garden, or use it to refresh an existing deck chair.
For use with John Lewis Sycamore deck chair frame.Our House by John Lewis range is designed to be at the heart of a contemporary home: well thought out, well made and surprisingly affordable. The feel is modern and uncluttered; useful products that you'll love to live with.Please note: Not all of our ranges are on display in our furniture departments. Please callyour nearest John Lewisto check before you visit.0% APR Representative: If you buy this product in our shops, it's eligible for Interest Free Credit, which is available when you spend £1000 or more on selected home products. Terms and conditions apply: find out more Wash at 30°C, do not tumble dry. Garden Furniture Care Guide Help your furniture last for longer More than 10 in stock Standard delivery within 5 working days International delivery not available How we may still help you Returns are free -Where will I find a birdhouse in the shape of a real home? The following websites offer birdhouses and also bird feeders in a variety of house shapes.
The most architectural is the Hanging Bird Townhouse, £45, from Berry Red. Also look at Sparrow & Finch, where birdhouses are named after well known hotels. There are small houses for wall fixing, such as The Berkeley, £59, Four Seasons, £99, and The Metropolitan, £35, as well as tall stand-alone models such as Claridges (pictured), with its tiled roof, £395. Try Garden Trading, for the Wooden birdhouse, £17.50. Not on the High Street supplies birdhouses from a number of small companies, including a Country Cottage, £44, and Beach Hut models, from £49 each. Last year, I found a reclining weatherproof rattan chair with leg rest, but the supplier only had one and I would like two. Could you suggest anything else that might be similar? The Marguerite (pictured) in synthetic rattan is an attractive combination of chair, cushion and leg rest, which costs £895 from Holloways. Tango from the Dedon range at Leisureplan, includes a rattan recliner, priced at £1,614, and footstool, £468, with cushions for both chair and stool as optional extras.
At Go Modern, you may like the Swing Garden Lounge chair, from £1,010, including footstool. It comes in a choice of colours and cushion fabrics. The chair which is nearest to the one you found last year is the Rimini rattan reclining armchair, £739 from Oka. It has no footstool but there?s a matching low rattan coffee table, £389. We would like to add a veranda to our house. Who could design one and would it need planning permission? A veranda will need planning permission if your house is listed, in a conservation area or has been significantly extended since it was built. Check with your local planning office before going ahead. You could engage an architect who, besides designing a veranda sympathetic to the style of the house, could deal with any planning applications and supervise its construction. Or look at firms such as Veranda Living, which has designs based on a steel framework with a glazed roof and Lloyd Christie, which offers bespoke verandas with wood or metal posts and a glazed or metal roof.
Both companies can assist with planning issues, too. My Victorian porch has a red, ochre and black tiled floor but the tiles are ingrained with dirt. How can I clean and seal them? Various products from the range by Lithofin, 01962 732126, lithofin.co.uk, will revive your Victorian tiles. Wexa, for example, £13.16 for 1 litre, will deep-clean for an immediate improvement. Further procedures are only advised for an internal porch with a damp-proof course, otherwise moisture could be trapped within the tiles instead of evaporating naturally. If there is a damp course, apply Lithofin?s impregnating sealant called KF Stainstop, £37.76 for 1 litre, to prevent dirt from being ground into the tiles; and if you want a polished effect, finish with KF Tile Polish, £13.08 for 1 litre. Lithofin products can be purchased from a number of online companies, or visit its website for your nearest stockist. One of my terracotta pots cracked last winter and, when I water the plants in it, the water comes through the crack.
Is it possible to repair the pot without disturbing the plants? I remember a similar query being asked on a china restoration course at The Mowbray School of Porcelain Restoration, so I asked tutor Maureen Aldridge to remind me of what she had said then. It is better, she advises, to remove the plants so that the pot can be cleaned first, but if that’s not possible, allow the pot and the earth to dry out before attempting the repair. The products you will need are Milliput Terracotta Putty, £4.25, and Araldite Precision, £4.49 from Bostik. Mix each as directed then take a small knife and, into the Milliput, mix in some Araldite in a ratio of one part Araldite to three parts Milliput. This will give you a more pliable composition with improved adhesion. Use a palette knife to fill the crack, pushing in the mix as far and as firmly as you can. If possible, allow to dry out for three days before watering again. Where can I find decorative clips that I can use on our tablecloths to stop them blowing in the breeze when
we have lunch in the garden?
For something that will sparkle in the sunlight while weighting down the tablecloth, try the outdoor table clips with glass droplets, £12.50 for
four from Cox & Cox. Others to check out are Stone Heart tablecloth clips, £11.95 for four, from Velvet Brown and Aged Ceramic tablecloth weights, £6.95 for four, from Garden Boutique. For securing the tablecloth directly to the table top, Lakeland?s transparent clips work on tables up to 5cm thick; £3.99 for four from Lakeland. Can I buy fabric in the correct width and quality to restore our garden deck chairs? Deckchairstripes offers a wonderful range: 35 colourways of striped cotton deck chair canvas, including vintage stripes reproduced from its archive, all 45cm wide, £10m. The company suggests using the existing canvas to establish how much fabric you will need: 1.5m
is standard but larger chairs may take more. Tack on the fabric with its antiqued upholstery nails
(a pack of 25 at £2 is enough for one chair).
You will also find three deck chair canvas stripes, 42cm wide, £14.50m, from Ian Mankin, and one striped canvas, 45cm wide, £5.95m, from John Lewis. At two years old, our hardwood garden furniture is greying nicely. We have been told that oiling it will turn the wood brown and make it unattractive. Oiling provides a protective finish but the pigment added to it would turn the wood brown. How you should treat your ?nicely? greying hardwood depends on what it is and its quality. If it is teak, it won?t need oiling and should last for decades. Hardwoods of less superior quality deteriorate if left untreated, leaving you with the option of either enjoying its pleasing colour for however long it lasts or treating the wood to prolong its life span but altering the colour. One treatment that could work is Earth Oil by Mylands. Usually this is a blend of tung oil and natural resins but the Silver Grey version is an acrylic resin. The product is intended as a floor finish, but its ingredients make it an effective garden furniture oil.