In Conversation with Emily Joy: How to Choose Garden Furniture That Works for Your Space

Emily Joy Garden Design shares her expert advice on choosing furniture that complements your garden, makes the most of every space and becomes an integral part of the overall design.

There's a tendency to think of garden furniture as the final box to tick. The paving has been laid, the borders have filled out and the planting is beginning to settle. Only then does the search begin for a table, a sofa or somewhere to enjoy it all.

But according to garden designer Emily Joy, that's where many gardens miss their greatest opportunity.

For Emily, garden furniture is never simply an addition to a finished space. It's an essential part of the design process, helping to shape how a garden is experienced, how people move through it and, ultimately, how they spend time outdoors.

It's a philosophy reflected throughout her own garden. Rather than treating furniture as something separate from the planting, each piece has been carefully chosen to complement its surroundings, respond to the materials within the space and create places to gather, relax and enjoy the changing seasons.

The result isn't simply a garden with somewhere to sit. It's a landscape that feels complete, where every seating area has its own purpose while contributing to a cohesive overall design.

Start With How You Want to Use Your Garden

Whenever I'm designing a garden, choosing the furniture always begins with one simple question…

How do you actually want to use your outdoor space?

Sometimes you want to entertain and have a generous dining space for family and friends. Other times, you crave a quiet spot to enjoy a morning coffee or read a book amongst the planting at the end of a long day.

I always encourage clients to think beyond the furniture itself and instead imagine how they actually want to live in their garden. 

Once you understand how you want to spend time outdoors, choosing the right pieces becomes much easier because every one has a clear purpose.

Furniture should always feel as though it belongs to the garden.

Before choosing any furniture, I like to imagine someone actually sitting there. 

What will they be looking at? Will they feel surrounded by planting? Does the space catch the morning sun or become a lovely spot to enjoy the evening light? Is there enough room to move comfortably around the table without feeling cramped?

I often walk the route from the property to each seating area, testing how the space unfolds as you move through it. The most successful gardens draw you from one destination to the next, with furniture positioned so it feels like a natural part of the landscape rather than “plonked” on a patio.

Whenever possible, I like to position seating to make the most of a view, whether that's a beautiful specimen tree, or a water feature, it’s all about creating “frames” and putting yourself in the place where you may view them.

These small considerations often make the difference between a seating area that looks good and one that you will gravitate towards, day after day.

What I did in my own garden.

In my own garden, I wanted something that felt soft and natural, which is why I chose the Stanley Casual Dining Set. The warm acacia wood, woven rope detailing and neutral cushions sit comfortably amongst the hydrangeas and perennial planting without competing for attention. The rope also allows light to filter through, helping the furniture feel lighter.

Elsewhere in the garden, the mood changes completely. A terrace laid with herringbone clay pavers called for something more contemporary, and the Hoxton Dining Set created a cleaner, architectural feel while still remaining open and airy.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is choosing furniture in isolation. Don’t forget to take inspiration from your planting, hard landscaping materials and your property so everything feels connected.

Don't be afraid to mix styles.

Many people assume every seating area has to match, but I actually think gardens become much more interesting when each space has its own identity.

Rather than repeating the same furniture collection throughout, I prefer to create continuity through colour, texture and materials. Repeating tones and fabrics helps different spaces feel connected whilst still allowing each area to have a personality.

As with planting, repetition is one of the simplest ways to create harmony. 

Echoing the same materials or colours in different parts of the garden gives the eye something familiar to return to, creating a natural rhythm as you move through the space. 

It's these subtle cues that makes us feel like a garden is effortless.

Make Smaller Gardens Feel Bigger

In a small garden, furniture choices become even more important because every square metre needs a clear purpose.

One mistake I often see is people choosing furniture that's too small because the garden is compact. While it might seem like the safer option, undersized furniture can actually make a space feel less inviting. Getting the scale right encourages you to spend more time outdoors.

The “visual weight” of the furniture matters too. 

Pieces with open rope detailing, raised legs or metal frames allow light and views to pass through them, helping the space feel lighter and more open.

I also like to soften seating areas with generous planting. 

Layering low mounding perennials, ornamental grasses and the occasional multi-stem tree creates a gentle sense of enclosure, helping you feel immersed in the garden. It's often this combination of carefully chosen furniture and layered planting that makes a compact garden feel both spacious and secure. 

Never Compromise on Comfort

However beautiful a piece of furniture looks, it still needs to be somewhere you genuinely want to spend time.

The best garden furniture is the furniture you forget about. If you're comfortable, your attention shifts to conversation, birdsong, or just enjoying a quiet moment.

Deep cushions, supportive seating and generous proportions will encourage you to stay out there a little longer. 

In my experience, comfort is every bit as important as style because it's what turns a beautiful garden into one that's lived in and loved.

Invest in Furniture That Will Last

A well-designed garden grows and evolves with the seasons, and I believe your furniture should do the same.

Rather than chasing the latest trend, I'd always recommend investing in quality materials that will continue to look beautiful as the garden matures. For example, hardwoods such as teak or acacia develop a soft and silvery hue as they weather, giving a feel that sits beautifully amongst mature planting. 

Some of my favourite gardens are those where the furniture has gently settled into its surroundings. When you choose well, your furniture becomes part of the garden's story rather than something that feels dated or needs replacing every few years.

Emily's Top Tips

If you're planning to invest in new garden furniture, these are the principles I always come back to:

• Start by thinking about how you want to live in your garden before choosing any furniture.
• Position your seating so it has purpose, make the most of sunlight, shelter and the views.
• Create different destinations for dining, relaxing and entertaining where space allows.
• Choose furniture that complements your planting, architecture and hard landscaping so it feels natural and part of the garden.
• Don't underscale furniture simply because the garden is small – getting the proportions right will make the space feel more generous.
• Use layered planting to soften seating areas, create a sense of enclosure and help you feel immersed in the garden.
• Invest in timeless, well-crafted pieces that will age beautifully.

Bringing It All Together

When you choose the right furniture, it doesn't just “complete the patio”. It changes how you experience the entire garden. Suddenly you're staying outside for another drink, or finding yourself appreciating a corner of the garden or planting you rarely noticed before.