Eating and drinking outside is a huge part of being able to enjoy our gardens, but have you considered multi-functional garden furniture that can be used inside or outside the home? There is a huge choice of outdoor furniture available but here we’ll guide you through which pieces are best for all year round use and furniture that could be re-purposed inside during the winter months. From stylish hanging chairs to larger casual dining furniture pieces, here we’ll explore the benefits of buying multi-functional furniture and we’ll give you tips on how they can be styled.

Contents

Create an outdoor living room
Conservatory furniture to bring the outdoors in
Casual dining & conservatory furniture ideas
Ways to style your outdoor space

Outdoor spaces are often used as an extension of our homes, so it is no surprise that we're trying to turn them into replicas of the living space we have inside. Consumers are also looking to create cosy havens in other rooms in the home, especially ones that link the inside of the home to outside garden or patio spaces.

Outdoor spaces are often used as an extension of our homes, so it is no surprise that we're trying to turn them into replicas of the living space we have inside. Consumers are also looking to create cosy havens in other rooms in the home, especially ones that link the inside of the home to outside garden or patio spaces.

We try to encourage our customers to design their garden rooms, conservatories and orangeries as they would with an indoor living room. These spaces are ideal for socialising and entertaining and can be decorated with items such as corner lounge furniture, love seats, and even outdoor rugs and tabletop candles. How you style a space and the furniture you choose needs to be adaptable to be suitable for various purposes, to make the most of an indoor-outdoor space opt for durable materials like wood or rope furniture that can be used all year round and will stand the test of time. These materials add warm tones to your space and using soft furnishings like outdoor rugs, cushions and blankets can help to create a cosy area for you and your guests to enjoy.

One of the joys of quality outdoor furniture is that it can be jointly used in a conservatory, sunroom or orangery then relocated to an outside space if you want to enjoy the sun. If you love to entertain why not look to invest in a casual dining room set or lounge garden furniture you can use all year round? The type of furniture you choose in a conservatory and outdoor space is really important, you’ll want to pick something durable, stylish and relatively lightweight so it can be easily moved from one space to another.

Bringing your outdoor furniture indoors through the winter months means that your furniture will get all year round use and should prolong its life. Using outdoor rattan furniture as conservatory furniture will keep it in a better condition than if you stored it outside for several months. Rattan furniture has another couple of benefits for use indoors, it is fully resistant to UV rays so will not fade if exposed to sunlight through your glazing. Plus, it requires very little maintenance, so is likely to look fresh and new for years to come, especially if you decide to store it inside during the winter months.

Get inspired and view some of our garden furniture top picks suitable for outdoor use as well as conservatories and garden rooms. To make the most of an indoor/outdoor space we recommend furniture made from rope, wicker and rattan materials, this will allow you to relax in your conservatory this season and enjoy the view of your garden. 

These furniture materials are both comfortable and versatile pieces that can withstand both indoor and outdoor conditions. They’ll help you create a cosy and inviting space without any ongoing maintenance.

An outdoor space or conservatory isn’t just about the furniture, it’s important to style the space with soft furnishings, additional seating and cosy accessories to make the room feel special. You can browse our top recommendations below and style your inside or outside space with these must haves.

• Add outdoor rugs for warm textures - A simple way to add softness to your outdoor space is through the addition of a weatherproof rug. An outdoor rug will help to create a welcoming feel in your garden or conservatory and take the space to a whole new level, they also carry a safety aspect and can prevent guests from slipping if your patio gets wet.

• Incorporate a swinging chair - What's a garden these days without a stylish hanging chair? There is nothing nicer than feeling the soft sway as you sit and drift away reading your favourite book! Our range of hanging loungers and egg chairs look just as good indoors as they do outside, browse our top picks below.

• Keep warm with outdoor heating - If you want to enjoy your garden long after the sun has gone down then you’ll want to invest in an outdoor fireplace, fire pit or outdoor stove. Not only do these outdoor heaters add ambience and keep you warm outside, but some of these models have cooking accessories allowing you to toast marshmallows and entertain the kids.

• Don’t forget stylish storage boxes - You may not consider a conservatory as a natural spot for storage, but it can be a useful place to store cushions from your outdoor furniture. Rustic wicker or rattan boxes work as excellent storage vessels as they’re both stylish and practical, they can also double up as a side table.

• Tenderflame candle - A bit of extra lighting can help make a sunroom or garden room cosy, especially in the evening time. So why not look to decorate your garden furniture or side table with an eco-friendly Tenderflame tabletop candle? These stylish candles burn Tenderfuel and help give your interior a special warm glow and feel.