The Garden Centre - Garden furniture

How to sell patio furniture

21/01/2010 -

Have a desire to sell garden furniture? You might be thinking about the first steps to achieving this goal.

If you're selling one off pieces thinking about how you can sell your unwanted aluminium garden table or teak dining set without having to pay fees. Consider putting up fliers in your local post office or supermarket. This could save on the cost of advertising in a newspaper, or through online market places.

You need to make sure that you description is accurate. Take measurements of any tables and chairs and write as much detail as possible about it: including brand, number of seatings, condition, any nicks or marks and describe the design. Take photos in good light with close ups, and use different angles. It's best not mislead prospective buyers, and a good ad may save too many questions being asked.

Garden furniture on eBay and Garden furniture on Amazon are currently experienced a lot of popularity, and are great for advertising both new and second hand furniture. If it is second hand it is often best to try and sell locally using Craigslist.org, Gumtree.co.uk or the local paper as garden furniture can be costly to deliver by courier.

Lastly, price your furniture fairly! Even if you paid a lot for it if it's used then don't expect too much, and overpricing often causes people to pass by an offer. If you are listing on eBay, consider the 'Best Offer' feature, which will allow customers to submit an offer to negotiate. You will attract more interest this way and are likely to sell more quickly.

Happy New Year from The Garden Centre!

05/01/2010 -

2010, the second decade in the 21st century is finally here! So Happy New Year from everybody at the Garden Centre!

Also, we are now pretty much in the midst of the Winter season...and with all this snow and cold weather we hope that you all have your aluminium garden furniture stored away safely from the freezing conditions. However the good news is that there's only 73 days and counting until the first day of spring! (20TH March). So on the 19th get ready to wip out the garden fire pit and enjoy the first few days of sunshine around Easter.

The Best of Garden, Patio and Conservatory Furniture

21/12/2009 -

It's almost Christmas, and before we know it summer will be fast approaching! Be sure that you are ready with your garden furniture to enjoy the first sunny day in miserable England.

There are various roads you can go down in terms of which garden furniture to choose. Do you want a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor space, to kit out decking with complimentary teak furniture, or create relaxing centre pieces on a lawn such as rattan or modern aluminium furniture?

If you are looking for furniture that will harmonise with a stone patio, aluminium or cast iron is always a good choice for al fresco dining. Here's a few handy tips:

Buying conservatory furniture should differ from buying garden furniture for a lawn. Conservatory furniture tends to be more formal, more like regular furniture than lawn furniture. If you house is decorated with dark woods then you may want to consider teak garden furniture.

For a stone patio, cast aluminium sets make perfect entertainment pieces. Cast aluminium also looks great next to trees and gardens, and due to its durability can last a lifetime.

Wood tables and chair garden sets look amazing on wooden decking. A round or oval wood garden table will optimise a space and can seat up to 8 people. Rectangular tables are also very popular with styles occupying our range such as six seater hardwood garden furniture with cushions and parasol.

Maintaining your aluminium garden furniture

17/12/2009 -

Aluminium garden furniture continues to grow in popularity, and it's easy to see why. Despite the rustic quality of wooden garden furniture, aluminium is modern, stylish, and unlike cast iron is lighter and much more durable. In comparison to other materials commonly used for outdoor furniture, aluminium furniture is very easy to maintain, and with a little tlc aluminium will last you a long time. Here's a rough guide....

For every day cleaning the best thing to do is to just spray down with a hose. Aluminium is not damaged by water and can be left wet without rusting. This resistance to corrosion means that you can buy an aluminium garden table and chairs and leave them out in the rain without worrying. However once the winter cold comes it is advisable to coat your aluminium furniture in oil before storage. You should also remember to store the right way up to avoid moisture building up in the legs, freezing under cold temperature and potentially damaging the furniture.

In the case that something is spilled on well loved aluminium garden table and chair set that could stain (likes sun lotion), clean with some soapy water. Try to use a mild soap because some strong cleaners may cause discolouration.

Lastly the most important thing is to pay close attention the manufacturer's care instructions. Do not take a one-cleaning-fits-all approach, different care will be applicable for different types of aluminium for example.

Not in my back yard! Two thirds Brits Ban children from playing in the garden

16/12/2009 -

No children please. Gardens are to be admired and not to be played with.

Surely not? But yes it's true. House proud Brits have become a nation of NIMBY's with two thirds of families banning their children from playing around aluminium garden benches , bird baths , and even rattan table and chairs set up on trendy decking. Such figures are a shocking contrast to those in the 1940's when three quarters of families allowed their children to play on the lawns.

Head of Horticulture at the Museum of Garden History said 'The fact that children play in the gardens far less today than they did in the past is very disheartening and a great loss'. It seems that gardens are now becoming an extension of the home, with carefully manicured lawns and modern garden furniture kept all clean and tidy rather than a slightly chaotic yet idyll playground for children's tea parties and outdoor sports.

Fire Pits, bring some ambience to your garden decking!

15/12/2009 -

If you want to take the charm of having a fire on the beach and bring it to your own back yard, a cast iron fire pit is for you. Compared to installing a gas or electric fireplace in doors a fire pit is relatively inexpensive. Fire pits are increasing in popularity, and are a great way to enjoy your decking throughout the summer and also once the warmer months have passed.

Portable fire pits are the cheapest option, available from just 45 pounds at the Garden Centre. Made from metal any fire pit from our range are ideal accompaniments for camping trips, and many have grill attachments.

Getting a permanent stone fire pit installed is more costly, but is often consider more aesthetically pleasing. Professional installations may cost thousands and some cities do not allow them so you should check regulations before committing to a purchase.

Go al fresco this summer with a garden party.

14/12/2009 -

Occasionally, just occasionally the British summer surprises us by presenting us a few days or weeks like it did during the summer of 2009. Such days are perfect for al fresco eating. Early morning sunshine will get us all feeling all continental with breakfast, whilst cosy evenings beg us to serve Spanish tapas or a traditional barbeque alongside outside entertainment.

It is worth investing money in some beautiful, and yet sturdy garden furniture for all the summer weather (rain included!). A white table and chairs might not be the obvious choice for the garden, but this 7 piece aluminium garden furniture set is modern, easy to clean and will prove hardy over the winter months if left outside. Splash out on some crockery, simple candle sticks and some colourful glass wear as well as a matching cast aluminium parasol base and you'll have a beautiful scene for entertaining. A couple of cushions will make life more comfortable, so now you'll just need a fortunate weather forecast!

Should you leave garden furniture outside all year round?

01/12/2009 -

There is a huge variety of garden furniture available for UK customers. The extent of materials, sizes and styles reflect the magnitude of demand.

When choosing furniture consumers often focus on such things like design and comfort but often fail to remember to consider whether the furniture they are buying- designed for outdoor use can actually be left outside all year round.

There are multiple reasons why it is beneficial to leave furniture outside, namely the effort it takes to move it to storage, and also the absence of storage because many people have little of no storage space. Some people also enjoy to see the furniture outside and consider it an aesthetic contribution to the garden.

Consequently the demand for garden dining sets that can be left out in the garden through all seasons has increased. This has made aluminium furniture sets , aluminium benches, and garden furniture constructed from woven plastic or textoline garden sets particularly favourable. And it's not just durable aluminium dining tables that can be left outside but also those made of natural materials such as teak, hardwood garden furniture and rattan dining sets .

It is worth remembering though that even with the most durable materials like aluminium, if left outside for many years these products will still change and must be treated according to the manufactures instructions. Teak will weather to a silvery grey colour, and aluminium and textoline may fade.

Fire-fighters allegedly posing fire risk by putting up Christmas lights

05/11/2009 -

During the last festive season spoilsport bosses dampened the mood at fire stations in East Sussex when they told fire-fighters to take down their Christmas lights because they posed a potential fire hazard.

An email was sent out to fire stations all over the area requesting the removal of the outdoor lighting decorations unless they had been officially approved. The fire-fighters think that it is unlikely the checking procedure will be carried in time for Christmas, leaving little festive cheer in the workplace. This has added insult to injury after they were ordered to remove snooker tables and comfortable chairs from the recreation rooms.

It's thought that such precautions are being carried out because the management don't want the fire service to appear unprofessional, but you would think the firemen could be trusted to put christmas lighting up safely so that they do no create any hazards. Fire bosses denied that indoor and outdoor Christmas lighting had been banned, but said that all decorations had to meet safety standards. Let's hope they are less 'scrooge' like this year, because everybody deserves a bit of Christmas festivity...