7 glorious sun loungers: wooden, rattan and metal designs – Gardens Illustrated

Forget ugly plastic and black metal designs – we’ve found the best sun loungers offering great value for money this year. Think golden acacia wood, beautiful woven rattan and minimalist metal recliners in tasteful sage green

By Alice Tuffery

Published: Tuesday, 30 May 2023 at 12:00 am

Sun loungers might just be the ultimate furniture piece when it comes to relaxing outdoors. On a warm day, there’s little better than putting your feet up and stretching out on a cushioned recliner – whether you’re unwinding after a tough stint of gardening or just making the most of the sunny weather.

There’s a huge selection of sun loungers out there, ranging from inexpensive seating to exquisitely crafted luxury recliners. We’ve gathered together the best sun loungers we’ve found so far this year, including wooden, rattan and chic metal designs.

Whatever your style, you’ll almost certainly find the sun lounger to suit you here.

We’ve also found these outdoor seats:

The best sun loungers to buy for summer 2023

Plant Theatre Reclining Hardwood Steamer Chair

Traditional design, golden colouring and foldable for easy storage; steamer chairs like this one are a great option if you’re in need of a new sun lounger.

Their carefully crafted wooden design means they can be expensive – especially if you need a couple – but we’ve scoured the internet to find the best steamer chairs available. While cheaper options usually sacrifice design flourishes like subtly curved armrests, this one balances elegant style with a budget-friendly price tag. It’s our top cost-effective choice for this summer.

As part of the package, you’ll get a pre-assembled acacia frame, complete with three reclining positions, a removable footrest and galvanised hardware.

Add the fitted cushion with a head pillow, and mix and match with Plant Theatre’s other furniture, like the Adirondack chair and rocking chair.

Cox & Cox Hatfield Lounger

Buy now from Cox & Cox (£825.00)

Whether for style inspiration or potential purchases, Cox & Cox is always worth checking when you’re buying new garden seating. Its outdoor furniture collection includes dozens of beautiful designs with a traditional, elegant look.

We love this beautiful faux wicker sun lounger. By adding gently curved armrests and a rounded back cushion, Cox & Cox elevates the standard garden chair to create a luxurious seat with a vintage-inspired twist.

The cushion is also an impressive addition; not only is the filling made from recycled plastic bottles, but it’s water-repellent, UV-resistant and quick-drying. Plus, you can remove the cover easily if you need to clean it.

If you’re in the market for a new dining table too, you could opt for the matching dining set, or the lounge set or curved modular dining set – both featuring a fire pit.

Sage Green Lounger

Buy now from Dunelm (£79.00)