This rattan garden set transformed my space - and it's now cheaper than I've ever seen it
When I first bought this outdoor furniture set in 2020, I posted a photo on my Instagram Stories, which quickly got a bigger response than any carefully curated flat lay or crazy outfit I've shared over my ten years on the app.
I was expecting a few "good job" comments from close friends who know that assembling anything - especially flat-pack furniture - is not my forte. But I wasn't prepared for the slew of heart-eye emojis and messages like "OMG I love that!", "It's SO nice! I'm so jealous", and "where from????".
I bought it five years ago for £250, which I thought was excellent value for the four-piece set, especially considering similar rattan sets can cost up to £800. In the past half a decade, the price has risen with inflation to £350. It's now on clearance for the lowest price I've ever seen - available for only £175, half the original price. But since it's a clearance deal, it might be your last chance to get it.
🛍️ Product reviewed: Habitat 4 Seater Bamboo Effect Garden Sofa Set ⏰ Tested for: Five years ⭐ Rating: 5/5 💸 Reasons to buy: It's excellent value, looks super trendy and has great durability ✋ Reasons to avoid: Some shoppers said they found it difficult to put together, however, I didn't have any issues (and I'm not the most DIY savvy) 💰 Best deal we've found: It's currently discounted at both Habitat and Argos to just £175
This outdoor set has truly been a great investment and worth every penny, so if your garden furniture has seen better days and you've been thinking of upgrading - here's why I highly recommend this super affordable set.
💸 Reasons to buy
The first thing that attracted me to the Habitat 4-Seater Bamboo-Effect Garden Sofa Set was its luxurious (and very on-trend) rattan aesthetic - and, compared to similar styles, it was very affordable. Trust me, I did my research.
You get a two-seater sofa, two large armchairs and a matching glass-top table - which, for under £200, is an unbeatable price. It works out at just £43.75 per item!
The set is also a complete all-in-one, which is not always a given when shopping for outdoor furniture (and those extras can really add up). It comes with black padded cushions for the sofa and chairs, which can be easily tied on.
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The one issue we had was being limited on space. I held my breath as I measured my small London balcony to see if the largest item (the 120cm-wide sofa) would fit. I can confirm that, as advertised, the set is indeed "suitable for garden and balcony use."
The set has stood the test of time remarkably well. The only thing that's shown its age is the black cushions - after years of direct sunlight, they faded to more of a grey tone, so we have replaced them since. That said, we did leave them out year-round (as our balcony is covered) but you could easily preserve them by using a storage box or a garden furniture cover.
Replacing the cushions wasn't expensive either, we bought two seat cushions and a bench cushion for just £36 from Homescapes.
Score the clearance deal today
As for assembly? I was pleasantly surprised (and relieved) to find that the set came in four parts with minimal effort required - all you need to do is screw in the legs (which are clearly numbered) using the Allen key provided. While the website states that two people are needed for assembly, it's easily a one-person job. You may just need an extra pair of hands to move the sofa frame into place.
In fact, I had all the legs screwed in and was sitting in the sun within 30 minutes of its prompt arrival. Just don't forget to remove the numbered stickers from the tops of the table legs before attaching them - otherwise, you'll see them through the glass and spend more time peeling them off than it took to assemble the entire set.
✋ Reasons to avoid
My one concern about the set was the delicate nature of the handwoven rattan-effect bamboo that wraps around the steel frame. In five years, we've only had one minor issue - a small section started to unravel along one of the sofa rows. However, a little bit of superglue fixed it, and it's held strong for over four years with no further wear or tear.
Each year, we give it a quick blast with the pressure washer and it looks as good as new. For added peace of mind, the set comes with a two-year manufacturer's guarantee (one year for the fabric).
💰 Best deal we've found
The set is currently the cheapest I've ever seen it and that's coming from someone who bought it in 2020 for an already great value £250.
You can buy the set through either Habitat or Argos, both of which are currently discounted by a whopping 50%, down from £350 to just £175, which is an absolute bargain. I'd hurry though, as it's a clearance deal, so I don't see it coming back anytime soon.
Shop now: Habitat 4 Seater Bamboo Effect Garden Sofa Set | £175 (Was £350) from Argos
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