Curved garden sofas perfect for a modern patio

On the hunt for a new outdoor sofa? The hottest outdoor furniture trend this summer is for curved garden sofas in sweeping ergonomic forms that are as easy on the eye as they are on the body. So forget the long lines of last year’s low-slung modular seating, and enjoy this far more comfortable outdoor seating style!

These shapely sofas come in all sizes and configurations so, however big or small your patio is, there’s a design out there that will help you make the most of your garden. Choose from corner sofas, snug two-seaters, or roomy three-seaters that are ideal for piling on as a family or for lazing on your own.

Best curved garden sofas at a glance:

• Best curved sofa for families: John Lewis Chunky Weave 5-Seater Garden Corner Sofa Set – View on John Lewis
• Best two-seater curved sofa: Marks and Spencer Capri Garden Sofa – View on Marks and Spencer
• Best high-end curved sofa set: Tatta 4 Pieces Textilene Rope Woven Outdoor Sectional Sofa Set – View on Homary

Add in a matching footstool, garden armchair, and side table and you’ll have the perfect al fresco lounge that you won’t want to leave. And from intricate open-weave faux rattan, urban rope-strung to retro chic Lloyd Loom styles, these curvy sofas are seriously stylish and set to top everyone’s garden wish lists this season.

Best curved garden sofas

FAQs: Curved garden sofas

Why choose a curved garden sofa?

Full of sweeping lines and seductive curves these sofas not only look good but are also sublimely comfy. With no sharp angles or edges in sight, they’re a welcoming seat for visiting friends and a snug haven when you want to snatch a sneaky daytime nap. There are all sorts of comfort-enhancing designs too, from high backs to winged headrests.

They’ll instantly bring an indoor-outdoor vibe to your patio and some boutique chic into your backyard, so think about how this would work best for your patio. Most sets consist of a sofa and two armchairs for a lounge look, but many sofas are available to buy separately, so think whether a pair of two-seater sofas facing each other would be better for you, perhaps with an outdoor fireplace or water feature as a focus.

What are curved garden sofas made from?

These curvy seat designs are made possible thanks to the very latest outdoor materials.

The recent development of synthetic rattan and polypropylene rope has revolutionised garden furniture and made new shapes possible, with durable strands woven around a rigid steel or aluminium frame. The strength allows for more intricate, open weaves, a far cry from the dense, plasticky rattan furniture of old.

The look and feel of synthetic rattan or resin wicker, as it’s also known, is now much nearer to the natural material and is easy to keep dirt-free with a soft bristle brush and non-foaming cleaner. And synthetic rope, repeatedly looped under tension around the frame, is a huge trend this season. With just a nod to the current interior craze for mid-century design, it’s available in a wide range of thicknesses and colours, from vibrant ombre to sophisticated black and pewter grey.

What about the extras?

Every curved garden sofa needs a curvy coffee table, and designs vary from barely-there glass and faux rattan combos to sleek and sturdy metal numbers with a matte and sometimes coloured, powder-coated finish. If you’re after a lounge look then go for a table with a handy storage shelf underneath and, if in heavy use, opt for easy-to-clean toughened glass.

Do read the small print on the outdoor cushions before you buy as they vary hugely as to whether they can cope with being left out in the rain. While some must be brought inside at the slightest glimpse of a shower, others can remain in place in all but the heaviest winter downpours. This is particularly important for these curvy sofas as the cushions aren’t as square and easy to store. You will pay more for all-weather or shower-resistant cushions, but your investment will save you from those stressy it’s-raining dashes.

What to read next:

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Jill Morgan writes regularly for Modern Gardens, and loves everything to do with gardens, plants and outdoor living.