The garden and patio become an extra room for the summer months. We no longer have to make do with the grubby white plastic garden furniture and collapsible click sun beds that were so popular a few years ago. The choice of outdoor furniture is growing. Now materials like aluminium, teak, brightly-coloured plastics, iron and even stone are widely available from the DIY stores and mail order catalogues. Since it stays outside throughout the summer a seating group should look sculptural and as with all else, be in sympathy with the style of the house and garden.
Metal furniture is the toughest, but the most uncomfortable.
Aluminium is one of the lightest, most easy to stack and durable of the materials used at the moment. The aluminium caf -style chairs and tables are favoured by many of the pavement cafes springing up in York. One of the best innovations has got to be the gas-powered outdoor umbrella heaters, no longer does the party break up as soon as the evening chill sets in. As their popularity increases the costs are tumbling, but expect to pay in the region of 200 at the moment. The humble barbecue has now turned into a competition for designers to make more innovative shapes, style and sizes to meet every outdoor cooking venture.