20 of the best outdoor sofas for stylish gardens

Piero Lissoni’s ‘Borea’ outdoor sofa for B&B Italia, with its elegant black tubular frame, flicked out legs and maritime-inspired fabrics, has a distinctly 1990s flavour. The big interiors trend from last year is heading outside. From £6,220, B&B Italia

Named in honour of Otti Berger – the late textile artist and teacher at the Bauhaus – this outdoor sofa by Vincent Van Duysen is the first design by Sutherlands to use sister brand Perennials’ high-performance acrylic rope for the backrest. From £3,654, Sutherland

Rodolfo Dordoni has designed a modular outdoor sofa that is a visual ray of sunshine, bringing lightness to gardens with a flat teak base and cord backrest. His intention was to bring an intimate and relaxing atmosphere to the outdoors. £19,812, Minotti

Available in 30 colours, ranging from neutral to tropical, this outdoor sofa by British design duo Doshi Levien is ideal for people who want to stamp some personality on their garden. From £5,449, Kettal

It was during a trip to Greenland that Cassina’s art director Patricia Urquiola noticed trampolines outside the houses. ‘I found they were so joyful,’ she says. When creating her latest range of outdoor furniture collection, she wanted to reproduce that carefree feeling. From £2,430 for an armchair, Cassina

Ideal for beside the pool, this sofa’s cushions are upholstered in a fabric that is resistant to chlorine and salt water, as well as rain showers. Designed by Antonio Citterio, it also features a stylish and highly durable stainless steel frame. From £16,188, Flexform

The unusual backrest of this design by Paola Navone has echoes of driftwood on the beach, with various sizes of brushed or pickled teak beams held together by visible metal staples. From £1,792, Ethimo

Outdoor furniture expert Dedon’s first fully upholstered range, this was designed by Lorenza Bozzoli. Her background in the fashion industry is apparent in the stylish detailing, such as the diagonal seam that breaks the sofa’s blocky silhouette. £4,302, Dedon

Chi Wing Lo has designed a minimalist frame for this outdoor sofa, maximising the impact of its chunky waterproof cushions. Its name comes from the Greek for ‘the earth’ and there’s a grounded quality to its style. £7,755, Giorgetti

This design by Hans Hopfer is a contemporary icon – it even graced the outdoor VIP lounge at the 2021 Oscars party. Low to the ground, with a laid-back exuberance, it is available in mix-and-match colours and patterns. £20,990 (as shown), Roche Bobois

Created by Patricia Urquiola, this charming outdoor sofa’s name is taken from the Italian word for wicker, which happens to rhyme with Bimini, one of Urquiola’s favourite holiday islands. The piece is, she says, ‘an object of memory’. £3,989, Kettal

Classic and elegant in its style, this sofa’s slimline aluminium frame was intended by designer Francesca Rifé to create a visual lightness. Available as a two-seater or three-seater. £1,650, Go Modern

Translated into English from the Spanish ‘Suave’ means soft, and this modular outdoor sofa by Dutch designer Marcel Wanders is certainly that. Using injected polyurethane, it’s both cosy and weather resistant. From £2,080, Vondom

Matthew Hilton’s ‘Eos’ outdoor range for Case Furniture now includes a sofa and lounge chair – the brand’s first upholstered garden pieces. Their slim, rust-proof aluminium frames can be powder-coated in black or white, with cushions covered in fabrics by Sunbrella. Sofas, from £1,260, Case Furniture

The aim for designer José Antonio Gandía-Blasco when creating this sofa for his family’s eponymous brand was, as the name suggests, timelessness. Inspired by the clean lines of 20th-century architecture, it is pleasingly simple. £2,976, Chaplins

With tapered teak legs and a braided rope back, this outdoor sofa looks like it belongs on the terrace of somewhere hot – ideal for relaxing while sipping a cooling cocktail. Luckily, it’s just as suited to the changeable British summer. From £1,990, Indian Ocean

Designers Maurizio Manzoni and Roberto Tapinassi promise ‘echoes of distant places and spaces’ with the look of this outdoor sofa, making it a great way to add a holiday vibe to your garden. From £15,190, Visionnaire

This design’s smart modular form by Patrick Norguet consists of an aluminium frame with slats made of bamboo or WPC – an eco-friendly composite made of recycled bamboo wood and fibers. From £4,488, Nunido

Featuring extruded and die-cast aluminium elements, this outdoor sofa by Antonio Citterio for B&B italia is incredibly practical for the garden. However, with seat and back cushions, it refuses to compromise on comfort. £4,792, Chaplins

Crafted from mahogany, this design by Massimo Castagna is a truly modular offering. Add occasional tables, adjust the depth of the cushions, rotate the backrests and armrests to suit your lounging style… it’s all up to you. £20,110, Global Luxury London