Garden furniture is often a big-ticket purchase, which we would define as:
“A big-ticket item is a product that has a high price tag. It is a major purchase that requires careful consideration and planning. Big-ticket items can include things like cars, houses, boats, jewellery, holidays, and indoor and outdoor furniture.”
While we have smaller dining sets that would fall into the affordable low-ticket bracket, the bigger the dining set, the more expensive it will be.
For example, while you can pick up our popular London Rose (above) bistro set for £209 (less if we’re running promotions), our top-of-the-line Isabelle (below) is over £3,200 . That is a lot of money but you are getting a lot of furniture as it’s a party-starting up to 12-seat outdoor dining table.
Value for money is a tricky thing to define though. It is subjective. It is based on individual needs, preferences, and circumstances. What one person considers good value may not be seen as such by the next.
With our range, yes, our wide array of more expensive high end garden sets are an investment. We think they’re worth it. However, their true value to you depends on several factors, such as material quality, longevity, aesthetics, and your personal patio needs.
In the context of the UK garden industry, where our outside spaces are both a hobby and a cultural touchstone, the decision to invest in high-end furniture carries broader implications.
Is an expensive set right for your outdoor space?
To establish if an expensive garden set is worth the money, you need to consider the factors that are important to you. Is it durability, comfort, design, weather-resistance, sustainability, functionality, or budget?
In this article, we want to take a closer look at the 5 critical elements we think you need to consider, so you can establish if the set you want is worth the investment and, if it will deliver the best return on your investment.
1. Material
Probably the thing people are most concerned about when shopping for new outdoor furniture is the durability of the material it is made from and how long it will last. This is something we discussed in detail with regard to our collection in our How long does cast aluminium furniture last? article.
Expensive garden sets are generally made from durable materials such as teak, cast aluminium, powder-coated steel, or a high-quality poly-composites. These materials are designed to withstand the UK’s variable weather, from frost to rain.
Our range is made from a premium material. Our high-grade cast aluminium is perfectly suited to the UK climate and how we use our outside spaces. It will not rust or rot, requires minimal maintenance, and the finish does not need regular reapplication.
Budget furniture will generally use lower-grade materials like untreated softwoods such as pine or plastics, which can all crack, fade, or deteriorate quickly, especially if left unprotected and exposed to Mother Nature.
A £3,000 teak or cast aluminium set can last 20+ years with minimal maintenance, whereas a £300 plastic set may need regular (often costly) maintenance (or even replacement) every few years.
Over time, the cost per use and (minimal) upkeep often justifies the initial higher investment.
2. Comfort & Design
When we talk about comfort and design, we are referring to both how it looks and how it is to sit on, eat at, etc. What our product design team would refer to as the ergonomics and design aesthetics.
Our high-end garden sets prioritise comfort. They feature contoured seating, propotions, and high-density cushions to enhance user experience. We want you to spend quality time at our tables.
Good garden furniture should be a focal point too. It should draw you outside in the summer months. It should be designed for all day use so we can make the most of the sunny days or evenings.
We have specifically designed our range in a classical style so that it will not go out of style. Premium patio furniture tends to align with broader trends in home design, such as seamless indoor-outdoor living.
Our range is designed to complement UK homes and gardens. A chic, well-made garden set can elevate the overall appearance of a garden and tie it to a homeowner’s interior decor.
In the UK, our gardens are often a significant selling point, so stylish, well-maintained outdoor furniture will add to the perceived value of our properties.
3. Sustainability
Whilst not as high on people’s lists as material, comfort, and design, sustainability and ethical considerations are certainly the growth factor we are seeing a buzz and demand for.
Expensive brands often use sustainably sourced materials and environmentally conscious manufacturing processes, appealing to our increasing eco-awareness.
However, the quality of the material is just as important in our opinion. Investing in high-quality furniture materials will reduce the cycle of consumption and waste, aligning with sustainability goals. Cheap furniture frequently ends up in landfill after a short lifespan.
This is something we looked at recently in our Is cast aluminium outdoor furniture environmentally friendly? article. Our furniture is built to last and hand finished. We use skilled labour and a traditional casting process.
4. Weather Resistance
There is no escaping the fact that the weather in the UK can be a challenge. Just recently we took a battering from Storm Darragh. Our unpredictable climate means garden furniture must handle wind, rain, frost, and sun fade.
Whilst many would assume anything sold for outdoor use is weather-resistant, there are degrees to that. High-end sets will come with a weatherproof finish and quick-dry cushions. Wether thats our durable powder-coated finish or teak with its high natural oil content.
Materials like teak and cast aluminium are better suited to changeable weather. They will resist the warping or cracking that can occur with lesser materials in cold weather. They will maintain their colour better over time when exposed to the sun’s UK rays.
Investing in quality reduces the hassle and cost of frequent replacement or high levels of maintenance to keep the furniture weather resistant.
5. Experience
Functionality is often overlooked in favour of style in our industry. We regularly hear of consumers making the mistake of purchasing a patio set that looks great, but they never use it.
This is known as the “Experience Economy” and our gardens are (or they should be) a “Lifestyle Space” where we can spend time with friends and family.
During the pandemic, for example, we increasingly transformed our gardens into extensions of our homes, investing in covered patios, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and luxury garden furniture to create a "staycation" spot. Spaces we can spend quality time in during the summer
Our expensive sets will accommodate larger groups. They are designed to be used. To be a focal point.
If you love a family BBQ, summer garden party, and al fresco dining, then a larger outdoor dining table is going to deliver excellent value for money. If you don't, then maybe a garden sofa set would make more sense?
Having the right type of set that gets you outside enjoying your garden when the sun is shining is priceless as a certain credit card company would say.
Our final thoughts on luxury garden furniture…
They are just the 5 elements we think are most critical when looking to get value for money from a new outdoor furniture. Budget, for example, is also critical, but not neccessarily linked to quality.
You should only spend what you can afford. If you rarely use your garden or you live in a rental property, then a cheaper low-ticket option will often suffice.
Plus, many premium modern garden furniture sets will still require some level upkeep (e.g., oiling teak, storing cushions, moving cast aluminium to a safe spot in high winds), which might deter some buyers.
Some people are happy to buy cheap and buy twice. Leave it outside for a few years then get the next on-trend style. Others like to buy the big brand names and having a "designer" set in their outdoor space is what's most important.
We would argue that the cost of those names can often reflect branding rather than intrinsic value. Ours is an industry where savvy shoppers can find excellent quality from lesser-known manufacturers.
We have definitely seen a shift towards more premium products and high quality materials in the UK garden industry in recent years though.
Consumers are more savvy. Gone are the days of a cheap plastic dining set. Even plastic outdoor furniture design is moving high-end.
The garden furniture industry in the UK has seen a big shift towards luxury, driven by rising disposable incomes and lifestyle aspirations. We want our homes and gardens to look like the TV shows and magazines.
As retailers, we too are increasingly marketing our furniture as a long-term investment, we are offering financing options to make our high-end dining sets more accessible.
For us, expensive garden furniture is definitely worth the money if you like to spend quality time in your garden and you prioritise durability, ergonomics, aesthetics, weather resistance, and longevity
Our luxury garden furniture collection represents an investment in lifestyle and long-term utility. However, the decision should also account for individual needs, space, and budget constraints.
The UK garden industry’s shift toward premium products underscores changing consumer priorities, blending tradition with modernity and a real focus on quality over quantity.
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.
