We think cosy is an important word when it comes to our garden dining tables and chairs.
The Danish call this philosophy “Hygge” and we think it is the perfect way to style an outdoor dining area.
Defined by Denmark.dk as:
“Hygge is about taking time away from the daily rush to be together with people you care about - or even by yourself - to relax and enjoy life's quieter pleasures. The word Hygge dates back to around 1800, at least in the meaning it has today. However, various definitions of Hygge can be traced back to the Middle Ages, where a similar Old Norse word meant protected from the outside world.”
Our recently published comprehensive guide to choosing the perfect garden table and chairs is the place to go if you want help finding the right material, type, style, shape, size, number of chairs, etc.
However, if you’ve already purchased from us but you want to up the cosiness and introduce a little Hygge, then this is the article you need to read.
The definition of cosy is a feeling of warmth, comfort, and safety. They are all adjectives that we think also fit perfectly with our garden table sets. When we sit at them, we want all of those things and a whole lot more.
Good garden dining tables and chairs should effortlessly combine comfort and function, allowing you to spend a little indoor-like quality time with your friends and family outside when the sun is shining.
Our garden tables and chairs, for example, bring the dining room experience onto your patio so you can enjoy some good food and maybe a few drinks under blue skies and bird songs.
So cosy is our word of the summer and in this article the team have compiled our 10 top tips to help you bring a little cosy Hygge to your outdoor dining area.
The team have popped our Hygge hats on, and these design tips will help you to kick back at our outdoor dining tables, create a warm, cosy, ambience, and spend some well-deserved quality time with your loved ones.
1. Add Comfort
Having a place to sit and eat is essential for creating a cosy outdoor dining area and a place you can take some time away from the daily rush.
Take a garden table set such as our Jill 4-Seater Family Garden Dining Table & Chairs (shown above in our white finish), and pair it with our garden cushions and a parasol for the perfect cosy alfresco dining spot.
2. Add Lighting
The right lighting will set the Hygge mood and create a cosy atmosphere when the sun goes down.
Hang some festoon lights, lanterns, or candles to add a soft warm glow to your garden and keep your garden party going into the evening.
The customer above has paired our stylish Olivia Garden Dining Table & Chairs with some beautiful wall up and down-lighters that bring out the beautiful brickwork on their home.
3. Add Heat
If there is one thing sure to bring the Hygge when the sun goes down it is a fire pit or chimenea.
We looked at some of our favourites in our recently published top Fire Pits for Summer 2023 article and in that, we said:
"If you enjoy spending time in your garden and having friends and family over for a barbecue or a few drinks in the summer, then a fire pit can be a great addition to your outdoor space."
What's more Hygge than that or the stunning cosy-looking customer photo of our London Rose Garden Bistro Table & Chairs (above)
4. Add Texture
By introducing different textures in your garden, you can make it feel super cosy and inviting.
Consider adding fabrics such as our garden cushions, outdoor throws, or even a garden rug like the customer above has done with our popular June 4-Seater Garden Dining Table & Chairs for maximum Hygge points.
5. Add Height
For good Hygge, we want to be relaxed and not feel like we are overlooked when enjoying a meal or drinks at our garden table sets.
Add a little privacy with tall planting or a garden structure such as a pergola or screen.
Our customer has captured the Hygge look perfectly, pairing our Mia Garden Dining Table & Chairs with a stunning timber gazebo and raised deck area.
To really up the cosy Hygge-living factor you can also add height with tall soft plants such as ferns and grasses to create a feeling of privacy and intimacy. Bamboo can help to bring a little seclusion, so you can enjoy a meal without the feeling of being watched.
6. Add A Water Feature
The sound of flowing water is soothing and will bring a sense of calm to your garden.
You don't need a high-maintenance pond too, just add a small fountain or water feature to your garden, so that as you dine the gentle sound will add to the cosy Hygge-mood.
Our customer has again paired our Mia Garden Dining Table & Chairs (but this time in our Antique Bronze finish) with a stunning stone trough-style water fountain.
7. Add Natural Materials
Incorporating natural materials like wood and stone can also help to create a warm and cosy feeling in your garden.
The customer photo above shows how our sophisticated white Frances Metal Garden Dining Table & Chairs pairs beautifully with a natural stone patio and structured planting.
8. Add Fragrance
Of course, we want our plants to look pretty but they can also work our sense of smell too.
By incorporating plants with fragrant flowers or herbs such as calming lavender or sweet jasmine, we can add a sensory experience to your garden and make it feel even more cosy and inviting.
The customer above has paired our Ivy Garden Bistro Table & Chairs and all that beautiful planting, which will not only smell wonderful but is sure to bring the wildlife in too.
9. Add Colour
Another great way to create a cosy outdoor dining area with our garden table sets is to introduce colour with your table accessories.
A bright-coloured tablecloth can help brighten up a shady dining area, while the bold spotty blue tableware on our June Garden Dining Table & Chairs (above) not only adds depth but still keeps things cosy, calm and Hygge-like.
10. Add A Seamless Transition
By adding a connection to your home so the inside and outside feel as one, you make the space automatically feel more Hygge and cosy.
By blurring the lines, the transition between the two becomes effortless, as the customer has done in the photo above of our sleek 4-seater Alice Garden Dining Table & Chairs in Slate Grey.
If you have any photos of your Garden Dining Table & Chairs looking Hygge and cosy in an outdoor dining area, then we’d love to see a few snaps for our Do Some Good charity campaign.
You can tag us @LazySusanFurniture on Instagram or Facebook or email them to us at [email protected].