Home and garden magazines offer valuable inspiration, expert advice, and practical tips on decorating, gardening, landscaping, and improving our outdoor spaces.
As a garden furniture company, we are spoilt in the office with several subscriptions and an impressive back catalogue of past issues.
They help us to stay informed on the latest design trends, styling tips, gardening techniques, sustainable practices, and DIY projects.
The magazines that feature garden furniture, in particular, are useful for us because they highlight stylish ways to integrate seating, tables, and decor into our outdoor spaces.
In this article, we are breaking down our top 10 home and garden style and design magazines, looking at why we still value print over digital media, and highlighting which publications we think are best when shopping for new garden furniture.
Our top ten home and garden magazine subscriptions
In no particular order, here’s a breakdown of Lazy Susan’s favourite home and garden magazines, why we love them, and why they might appeal to you, especially when seeking inspiration for new garden furniture:
1. Better Homes & Gardens
Whilst we generally prefer UK-based publications as the furniture markets and home styles are very different, Better Homes & Gardens is one you simply can’t ignore. It is one of, if not the, most popular home and garden magazines in the US, and it gets our vote of approval because it covers such a wide range of topics. From home improvement, gardening, design, and decor, we love their practical, budget-friendly tips for improving our outdoor living spaces. Plus, most importantly, they regularly share ideas on the latest styles, how to best set up, and the pros and cons of different garden furniture materials like teak, wicker, and (of course) metal.
2. Garden Design
Garden Design is right up our street as it focuses specifically on garden aesthetics, design principles, and high-end outdoor living. It is the perfect magazine for those who appreciate the artistry of landscaping and are interested in cultivating their outdoor spaces into beautiful, functional living spaces. Of course, we love how they often highlight innovative and elegant garden furniture that complements different garden designs, from modern to classic, and they always have fab ideas on how to integrate seating and dining areas into the rest of your outside space.
3. House & Garden (UK)
House & Garden has that perfect balance between interior and exterior design, showcasing luxurious homes, beautiful outdoor spaces, and garden styles from around the world. It is one of our favourite magazines in terms of patio design inspiration, and they always have a great blend of elegance and practicality. It often features outdoor furniture as part of its broader coverage of garden living and how you can incorporate it into the latest trends in garden design.
4. Country Living
As a company known for our classical style, this publication has the perfect aesthetic for us. Known for its rustic, farmhouse-style focus, Country Living shares a love for the traditional or cottage aesthetic. It features rural gardens and farmhouse decor, and they always have some wonderful ideas for making the most of natural materials. This is a publication that regularly features practical advice on choosing and arranging garden furniture for those who prefer a cosy, functional outdoor space.
5. Veranda
Veranda is the perfect home and garden magazine for those who love luxury and refinement. Budget out the window, this magazine focuses on high-end beautifully designed homes and gardens. It’s packed with inspiration for those seeking to create a grand and opulent outdoor space. What we love is the fact they regularly highlight elegant and upscale designer garden furniture from Italy, Spain, Germany, etc, so it is a great source of inspiration for us.
6. The English Garden
This is our go-to magazine for traditional English-style gardens. It focuses on all the elements we try to incorporate into our collection. From timeless garden design to horticultural tips, all are set in some stunning outdoor settings. When it comes to garden furniture they often focus on products that best complement traditional and romantic garden styles, including metal benches, wooden picnic-style tables, and cosy outdoor seating areas.
7. Gardeners World
If you have a love for gardening and outdoor living spaces, then Gardeners World is always packed with expert tips and advice for gardeners of all levels. Whether you are a novice or an experienced gardener, it covers various topics, from plant care to seasonal gardening tasks. And while the focus is mainly on gardening, it often touches on outdoor living and how to make the most of your garden space. The GW team regularly review gardening tools, garden furniture, and outdoor accessories, so if you're in the market for new, they’ll often feature recommendations or price comparisons.
8. Gardens Illustrated
This is another high-quality publication with a focus firmly on garden artistry and horticultural expertise. We love the way they offer more of an insight into professional garden design and the latest trends in gardening. The garden furniture stuff is often more of a summer issue thing but when they do include it they always deliver great advice on how to blend form and function, often featuring eco-friendly designs that cater to modern gardening trends.
9. Traditional Home
Traditional Home is another publication that fits with our style/design ethos. They emphasise classic home and garden design with a focus on timeless elegance, something we strive for with our collection. They always offer up an abundance of ideas that can help you create beautiful, traditional spaces both inside and outside your home. Plus, they regularly feature garden furniture that complements a traditional country home and formal gardens, often showcasing antique and high-quality materials like metal and teak in their summer issues.
10. Grand Designs
Whilst probably the least likely to feature garden furniture as a focus regularly, we still find it a great source of design inspiration, interior design, architecture, and landscaping ideas. While the magazine’s primary focus is on architecture and building projects, it regularly features articles on landscaping and garden design. When it comes to garden furniture specifically, it will often feature in photos, but they will also publish the occasional buying guide in the summer. It makes our list because we love the show and contemporary design. If you want your patio to reflect a modern, high-quality aesthetic, then Grand Designs magazine is a great resource.
Which printed home and gardening magazines are best for garden furniture?
As an online business, we understand that websites offer convenience and immediate access, but for us, there are still compelling reasons to consider subscribing to a couple of home and garden magazines if you’re planning a makeover.
Magazines are tangible, they can be physically held, flipped through, displayed, and cut up to create mood boards. Things can get a little lost on websites but in print, content is more carefully selected, ensuring focused and cohesive themes at different times of the year.
Photography has to be optimised for file size online too. You lose definition. Print quality is far superior, and a magazine is a great way to sit down, take five and flick through without the distractions of the digital rabbit hole.
When shopping for new garden furniture, our go-to magazines would be publications like Better Homes & Gardens or Garden Design. They offer valuable insight and inspiration, and for us, they’re both excellent choices for those seeking practical and varied outdoor furniture ideas.
Country Living, on the other hand, is the perfect magazine if, like us, you’re drawn to rustic and vintage outdoor pieces. While Outdoor Living is a great all-rounder for those looking to create a functional and stylish outdoor space with well-curated furniture options.
Ultimately, the decision of whether you buy or subscribe to any home and garden magazines or rely solely on websites depends on personal preferences and lifestyle.
However, if you value the tactile experience, curated content, and offline engagement, we think magazines will deliver a more worthwhile and rewarding experience.
Many of the magazines on our list will have dedicated sections or features on garden furniture in the summer, so keep an eye out for these issues and any special buying guides in particular.
Think about the size and style of your garden before making a purchase. Magazines can inspire us to incorporate different types of garden furniture into your specific space.
By exploring the magazines on our list, we’re sure you’ll find valuable inspiration and guidance as you shop for new garden furniture that perfectly complements your outdoor space.
If you have our garden furniture, then we would love to see a few photos for our Do Some Good charity campaign. You can tag us @LazySusanFurniture on Instagram or Facebook or Upload Here.
