Everything You Need for a Garden Party in 2026

Setting the scene for any good alfresco lunch or soirée is the furniture. Finished with natural touches and blurring the line between indoor and outdoor style, this year’s cohort of comfortable garden furnishings centre on ergonomic and community-focused design.

Many of the pieces recommended below can only be found in our Third Floor outdoor furniture showroom, said to be the largest of its kind in the UK. So if a particular chair or Charlie Oven takes your fancy, why not reach out to our team or visit them in-store?

From there, exact specifications, personalised colours and finishes can be discussed. Until then, browse some of our newest pieces, many of which have design heritage that makes for excellent conversation starters.

Whether your guests roam through manicured rose gardens or spread themselves across an expertly mown lawn, the right decorations are paramount to helping them enjoy themselves.

Lighting, in particular, is of the utmost importance: setting an uplifting glow beneath leafy canopies can bring romance and warmth as the evening sets in, while the right amount of walkway lighting helps the party continue when night descends.

Music from portable speakers, comfortable cushions and details that show you’ve considered every inch of your space all go a long way in the outdoors – browse our top picks below.

Garden party food is at its best when guests can graze, filling small plates throughout the afternoon.

Place bowls of juicy strawberries alongside pedestal bowls overflowing with grapes, decant your dips into appropriately floral-patterned porcelain, and ensure Pimms and couture-level cocktails are displayed in pitchers bursting with summertime motifs.

Our Food Halls hold the freshest fruit and tastiest canapés, but here we’ve chosen some cupboard-suitable nibbles to stock up on in time for your first garden party of the season.

You’ve catered, curated and crafted some truly exceptional decorations and now it’s time to set the tables.

For a charmingly British flair, opt for a mixed array of floral and chinoiserie pieces. For a more streamlined aesthetic, find serveware within the same colour palette, such as greens to reflect your garden’s voluptuous vegetation, or daring citrus hues to match the abundant hydrangeas, marigolds and tulips that line your stone-paved walkways.

Chilled, sparkling and fruity – these are the drinks to ensure every guest’s palate is provided for during long summer afternoons.

For the sommeliers on your invite list, a crisp white or rosé will suffice, with a glass or two of Champagne to welcome them.

Those with non-alcoholic preferences will enjoy our range of herbal teas, which make excellent iced drinks. From the perennially popular Strawberries & Cream loose leaf tea to the delightfully bright Mango, a refreshing beverage can be created for everyone.

Now, what to serve your still-or-sparkling concoctions in is something of a conundrum. On the one hand, clear vessels display colourful creations to maximum effect, but patterned or tinted glass can bring playful energy to an outdoor tablescape.

Here, we’ve selected a few of both: stripes are very ‘in’ this season, especially in botanical hues, while clear or sharply cut glassware can act as foils to florals, colourful shapes and statement pieces.

Alongside these are designs suited to your home bar – somewhere your guests can whip up their own signature party beverages or where your specially trained mixologist can work their magic.

As intimate, at-home gatherings continue to pick up steam in the hosting landscape, it helps to have a range of unmissable entertainment options to make your garden party invitation the most coveted.

Our range below showcases some ways to keep guests entertained between rounds of bowls or croquet. It includes items to keep younger guests engaged, as well as more elevated activities for those with a mind for strategy.

If turning up with a bottle of bubbly is your go-to calling card, why not leave your host with something that surprises them next time? After all, a well-thought-out gift might find itself placed at the central table alongside the canapés and wine coolers.