Best wooden garden furniture: from lounge sets to dining tables

Whatever you garden style, wooden garden furniture will fit right in. Wood is the most traditional material for garden furniture, and the most versatile. Big or small, rustic or contemporary, every garden will look good with a wooden lounge set or dining table in it.

When properly cared for, wooden garden furniture will last years, and even decades. However, for most of us, design will be as important as durability, and so we've picked wooden garden furniture that's as good-looking as it is practical.

Want to browse more than just wooden choices or looking for a bargain? Check out our garden furniture sales page.

What is the best wooden garden furniture?

Our first choice is the Catania lounge set – stylish, well-built and pocket-friendly, the holy trinity of virtues for outdoor furniture, but there’s storage, planters, benches and more, so read on to find your new favourite addition. 

Once you've chosen your perfect wooden garden furniture, visit our sourcebook of top garden suppliers for all your gardening needs. 

Okay, it might seem like a slight cheat, but hear us out: our first choice patio set is remarkable in that it combines wood (polywood, to be precise) and powder-coated iron to perfection, for a blend of beauty and durability that’s exactly what we want from our garden furniture. The slatted wood and white-toned hardware gives a beachy Cape Cod vibe, while the sleek, open design of the arms and legs cut back on bulk for a design that gives the illusion of more space, ideal for smaller patios. 

Shop more wooden outdoor furniture sets at Made.com

The substantial Oleron outdoor table is made from FSC-certified teak. It’s a superb addition to a patio, terrace, or deck: traditionally designed, well built, and naturally weatherproof. What really sets it apart, though, is its generous size: with a sliding leaf of an extra 50 centimetres, the table will extend to two metres long, making hosting an outdoor supper for all the family easy. 

It’s worth remembering that although it's made from teak, it's still best practice to cover it during the colder months – or move it somewhere under cover like an outbuilding, if you have the space.

Shop more garden tables at Maisons du Monde 

Another fun take on the park picnic bench for home use, this Mead bench set from MADE takes the traditional slatted top and mixes it up a bit for an almost mid-century-modern look. The rounded edges on the table top and benches are a surprising comfort feature in the realm of garden furniture, and give the set a quirky look when not in use, while the contrast metal legs in a choice of on-trend teal or classic white keep things fresh and unexpected. A great alternative to a traditional table for modern gardens. 

Many of us are turning to container gardening as a means of adding colour and life to our gardens without the bother of borders or beds, and this wooden planter is a wonderful way of going about it. Sturdily made from solid wood, the Rowlinson planter has been pressure treated to resist rot and stay strong in the face of adverse weather, and is deep enough to play host to herbs, fruits or vegetables as well as flowers for a simple way in to growing your own. 

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As well as acing the traditional look we love in a classic outdoor furniture set, the Plumley package of dining table, six chairs, and seat cushions represents phenomenal value. If you’re being careful not to overspend in the garden but have already gone way over your rose budget (guilty), buyers have found that this eucalyptus hardwood dining set takes some beating for its durability, comfort and ease of assembly, and we love the little touches that belie the small price, like the cut-off corners and plush holly green cushions. 

Shop more wood outdoor dining sets at Wayfair

You might not think there’d be much you could do, design wise, with garden storage. But think again, because Cox & Cox have come up trumps with the gorgeous Chatsworth unit. They say it’s suitable for indoor or outdoor use, but we think its sturdy build and natural materials would make it look right at home outdoors, storing wellies, pet paraphernalia, or anything else you can imagine. Wherever you put it, the combination of natural spruce, with its sun-bleached look, and the industrial-looking galvanised lid, is utterly swoon-worthy. 

Shop more wood outdoor furniture at Cox & Cox

Is it a bench or a bistro set? The choice is yours with this cleverly designed transformer ensemble that can be configured together to form a bench, or separately as a small table that slides up against a wall and bistro chairs. The real bonus here is the solid wood construction: very impressive for the price.

More of the best bistro sets in our buyer's guide. 

This well constructed Anchor Adirondack chair is made from eucalyptus, which makes it weather-resistant and durable. The anchor detail is a lovely touch and, together with the pretty periwinkle blue colour, makes this chair the perfect addition to a nautical garden design scheme. Browse more Adirondack chairs in our buyer's guide. 

How to buy the best wooden garden furniture

Check maintenance

Despite its hard exterior, even wood needs a little love now and then, so be sure to check what kind of maintenance your new furniture needs. It's likely you'll need to give your furniture a seasonal clean at the end of the summer, and treat it to the occasional coat of wood oil or preservative to keep it sweet over winter. 

Store indoors or out?

It can also be prone to warping or splitting in reaction to changes in temperature, so be sure to check the manufacturer’s care instructions for more in-depth advice, lest your cups and cutlery go sliding all about the place come next summer. And, if you have little room to move it indoors over winter, ensure it's designed to be left outside – some woods withstand it better than others. Otherwise, look for foldable pieces that can be neatly stacked away.

Cushions included?

Most garden furniture benefits from added cushions – check whether your pick has cushions included or not.

For more know-how, find out how to choose garden furniture and check out our garden hub page. 

Read more:

• Get more garden ideas at our dedicated page
• How to create an outdoor dining area
• 9 of the best outdoor dining sets