AS spring weather hits, it’s the perfect time to upgrade your garden furniture.
Some stylish sets can cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds, but there are also bargains for a fraction of the price.
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Check out our top tips for cutting costs below…
GRAB A BARGAIN
Budget supermarkets are – surprisingly – a great place to look for basic garden staples like garden tables and chairs.
Later this month – on April 24 – Aldi is bringing back its popular furniture range, including its sell-out Rattan Corner Sofa and Acacia Garden Day Bed, which can switch between a three-seater sofa, left or right corner sofa, full day bed or twin loungers. Both cost £199.99.
A simpler option is Lidl’s steel set consisting of a sofa, two chairs and a glass-top table, which are for sale in stores for £79.99.
Read more on Deals and Sales
Argos, B&M and The Range are also good for cheap outdoor furniture, together with digital stores like the Online Home Shop.
If you’re browsing for deals, try the hotukdeals app, where bargain-hunters upload details of discounts and sales they have seen, and the Latest Deals app, which works in a similar way.
Type in “Garden Furniture” for the latest round of reductions and filter the results by price to suit your budget.
Many retailers are currently discounting sets knowing that shoppers are kitting out their gardens for the summer.
This week’s deals include a wooden barbecue shelter discounted from £515.99 to £257.99 from Robert Dyas and a large wooden planter, £21.99, down from £39.99, from Debenhams.com.
For online purchases, grab cashback via sites like Quidco.com and Topcashback.co.uk.
Also look for discount codes, which you can find on sites like vouchercodes.co.uk or by just Googling the name of retailer and “discount code”.
EX-DISPLAY
For an investment piece without the price tag, ask your local garden centre if it has ex-display stock.
These items might have a few scuff marks from people testing them out and will usually be sold as seen.
IKEA offers Re-Shop and Re-Use sections in its stores where you can find reduced ex-display, returned and slightly damaged items and these are listed on the retailer’s website too.
This week for example an ex-showroom hanging parasol was available from the Birmingham store for £49, reduced from £79. The only defect is a tiny bit of orange paint on the fabric.
You can also find end of line stock with discounts of up to 70 per cent.
An anthracite indoor or outdoor cabinet is available from Ikea’s Nottingham branch for £35, reduced from £70.
To find the biggest discounts at your favourite retailers, visit their online clearance sections, which will mostly be end-of-line items.
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SECONDHAND
Car-boot sales as well as websites like eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace are great for second-hand bargains.
Kim Faura, consumer expert at Gumtree.com, said: “Whether you’re buying wood, metal or plastic furniture, checking for signs of damage is a must.
“Are there any pieces missing? Can you see inside the drawers or at the back?
“Does it have wobbly legs or torn upholstery? Some problems – like a spot of rust or the need for a new paint job – might not be the end of the world, but if you can’t easily fix it then it’s best to walk away.”
He added some items might reek of smoke or oil, which you could only know from inspecting it in person.
Molly Mileham-Chappell, consumer shopping expert at TopCashback, said: “A couple of years ago, I scored a rattan furniture set, complete with cushions, for just £50 from Facebook Marketplace – and it’s stood the test of time and weather.
“There’s often room to haggle with these kinds of sellers for a better deal too – being polite and friendly is the way to go about it. The worst that can happen is you’re told no.”
Freecycle.org lists giveaway items, mostly from people who want to get their homes or gardens cleared for free.
In Kent’s Sevenoaks area this year, there have been listings for a free garden sofa, seven outdoor chairs, a large collection of decorative rocks, 60 white tiles left in a garden by a previous owner and a set of plastic tables and chairs.
You can also post requests on the site.
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MAKE YOUR OWN
Old garden furniture can be restored and upcycled at little cost if you like DIY, and the result can be really special.
Linda Webb, 60, who runs a property business called Refresh and Impress, upcycled an old rotten bench with her dad Brian Darlow, then 90, last Spring at her home in Hayling Island, Hants.
She said: “It had been left by the house’s previous owners and I said we should buy a new one but my dad was intent on fixing it.
“We chiselled out the rotten wood, filled in the spaces, sanded it all down and repainted it, as well as replacing the broken slats in the seat and trellis on the sides.”
The pair spent the Easter weekend on the project at a cost of around £100, including £45 on treated wooden slats cut to the right size, £11 on Ronseal wood filler and £40 on Cuprinol Garden Shades paint from the local hardware store.
Brian, a retired mechanical design engineer, died last month at 91, and the bench has since become a cherished memory of their last springtime.
Linda, who is a mum to four grown-up children, said: “I’m really chuffed we didn’t throw it out and buy a new one as it holds such precious memories and has so much character. I sit on it and know that we did it together.”
If you fancy a similar project but are not sure where to begin, try YouTube for video tutorials on upcycling.
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GO BIG ON LITTLE THINGS
You’ve got your table and chairs sorted, but little details can really elevate the look of a garden without being a huge expense.
Kim Faura, of Gumtree, said: “Savings can be made by buying plant pots second-hand – you can get beautifully aged terracotta at a bargain.
“In small spaces, planting flowers in a handful of the biggest pots you can find will create a more cohesive and relaxing feel than lots of little ones. Your plants will be happier, too.”
Terracotta plant pots cost around £10 on Gumtree, and you can also find things like railway sleepers and rockery stones sold cheaply by builders and tradesmen.
Anna Service, buyer for the Dobbies garden centre chain, added: “Fun parasols and outdoor rugs can completely transform the look of a space and give old furniture a new lease of life.
“Trendy outdoor cushions and throws are another fantastic way to make an instant impact and cost as little as £9.99.
“These can be brought indoors after the warmer seasons are over.”
‘I drove 90 minutes for cheap hammock’
Anxiety therapist Vic Paterson, 50, from Spalding, Lincs, last month bought a Fatboy hammock for £150 from Facebook Marketplace.
If bought new, it would have cost around £400.
Vic, who runs her own business Fantastic Day Therapy, said: “It sounds a lot for a hammock, but it’s a huge two-person one with a very firm and wide sling, rather than the softer blanket type which aren’t as comfortable or supportive.
“I found this bright green one on Facebook Marketplace, and although it meant a 90-minute drive to Birmingham, it was worth it as it was in really good condition.
“The seller was very nice and I paid her in cash with no problems.
“I’ve had it for a couple of weeks now and my dog Forrest and I have had a fabulous time relaxing in the warmer weather.
“I specialise in anxiety therapy and have been fascinated by how much my heart rate drops when I use it.”
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