On a fine day with gentle breezes, it’s a joy to sit on a patio or deck and look out over a lawn and garden. It’s so nice, in fact, that you might find yourself wondering why you aren’t in the middle of the garden rather than contemplating it from a distance. Is it because there’s no place out there to sit? Well, maybe there should be! After all, there is wonderful outdoor furniture designed specifically with the garden - or another backyard spot - in mind.

A Place To Smell the Roses

Whether you have roses or some other plants, garden furniture gives you a prime spot to sit and enjoy them. Sure, gardens are idyllic scenes to walk through, or to view from afar, but there’s a whole different perspective when you’re surrounded by one! It’s a great place to read a book, enjoy a cup of tea with a friend or just escape from the world’s insanity and take a few deep breaths.

For one thing, it’s healthy to spend time surrounded by nature. It satisfies our biophilic tendency, our desire to be in harmony with the outdoor world. For another, garden furnishings and decor provide a unique opportunity to express your style and personality and create a space that’s special to you, a retreat like no one else’s.

Defining the Space

Designing a sittable garden space is a low-stress experience. It takes less effort than remodeling a living room or family room. Even a few elements – a chair, a bench, a small bistro table, some outdoor decor – transform your garden into an attraction that practically begs you to visit and relax.

Take a look at your yard and garden and imagine where you might establish your peaceful place. You could locate it under a tree and or next to a row of flowers. You might even be able to delineate your zone of relaxation with a pathway of bricks, pavers or gravel.

Combining Beauty with Function

In a garden, the furniture’s looks are as important as its functionality! It’s not just a place to sit or rest your beverage, it’s a focal point that becomes part of the garden’s ambiance. That’s why wrought iron and wrought aluminum are such favorites, and why so many garden pieces are elegantly stylized.

Consider, for example, the outdoor butterfly chair. They come as chairs or two-seater benches, and the back, sometimes in combo with the legs, are shaped like butterfly wings. You’ll see them in black and their natural metallic color, and some are white. Other places in the house and yard, white is a background color, but it becomes an accent when nestled among garden greenery.

Few gardens can accommodate a large table, but there’s always room for an outdoor bistro set! The tables are usually as ornamental as the chairs. There couldn’t be a better place for you and your BFF to share a chat and an afternoon snack.

A garden bench is decorative and comfortable to sit on as well. These benches typically feature the wrought patterns that are the signature of so much yard furniture.

Your garden retreat doesn’t have to be all black, white and metallic. Liven up your happy place with a colored or patterned cushion. For even more color, consider an Adirondack chair in your favorite bright hue and a matching Adirondack side table. And for a different flavor of relaxation, opt for some snooze time with a hammock. Tie it between trees or stretch it on a hammock stand. If you’re feeling more lively vibes in your garden, why not plan a small gathering there for a beverage and dessert. You can place a small bistro or dining set in an open area by your garden, leave it for the season or easily move it when your gathering is done.

Finishing Touches

Complete your backyard Eden with some decorative items. Artistic garden stakes, for example, come topped with whimsical flora, fauna and other decorations. A kinetic wind spinner is even more of an eye-catcher! These creative stakes whirl in the wind and transform into windmills, whirling butterflies, kaleidoscopes and a variety of other colorful delights.

In a garden, not all flowers need to be planted in the ground. An assortment of planters can add texture and echo your accent colors. As a bonus, you can change the flowers during the year, opting for asters and mums in the fall and featuring dry grasses as winter rolls around. Don’t forget a wind chime for background tones.

Not Just for the Garden

Butterfly benches and small bistro sets are often called garden furniture, but you don’t need a garden to enjoy them! They’re happy to live anywhere in your yard, such as next to your favorite tree or even on an open expanse of grass. If you own a lake cabin, they make a great oasis on the shoreline where you can relish the lake breezes and the full delights of the sun and water.

This summer, don’t merely walk through your garden or admire it from a distance. Add a few items of garden furniture, sit for a spell and get the most out of your enchanting flowers and greenery.