As the credit crunch bites in earnest those with homes & steady incomes are deciding to ‘improve not move’ and one of the first places they start is the garden. A well designed garden, with the right outdoor furniture and accessories can literally add an extra room to a home and of course there is no need to bring in builders, plumbers or electricians to create an outdoor space.

The trend for 2009 is to decide on the furniture and accessories (parasols etc) & plant around them, choosing the styles & colours of the plants to match.

But what do you do when winter arrives and your carefully chosen and rather expensive garden furniture needs to be bought in from the cold, rain and maybe even snow? Unless you have allowed storage room for it (eating up that precious space) you have to leave it outdoors, and watch as the elements take their toll.

However, over the last two years a quiet revolution has been happening in garden furniture. Synthetic rattan furniture, designed to last forever & called All Weather furniture, this garden furniture won’t rot or fade & can withstand even the most extreme weather conditions. Designed to be left outdoors all year round the new weatherproof furniture designs really are investment pieces as they last so long. No need to store indoors or in a garden shed, and no doubt visiting smokers will appreciate having a comfortable seat outside!

The new all weather garden furniture is also available in furniture pieces not usually available for the outdoors, including corner garden sofas, modular sofas, large daybeds & comfy armchairs – all with large, comfortable cushions in a huge variety of colours & patterns. These pieces work equally well in the patio, garden or conservatory.

The top synthetic rattan is made in Europe (Hularo & Shintotex are two of the best) & the material is then sent to the Philippines or Indonesia to be woven into funky modern designs by artisans with years of experience in weaving cane. The finished items are then shipped back to Europe (where the cushions are made) ready for sale.

Designs from China in synthetic rattan are widely available, and much cheaper, however the materials won’t last and although they look like other all weather furniture to begin with the materials used simply do not have the same resistance to the cold, the sun or the wet.

And good quality European synthetic rattan is very comfortable to sit or lie on, staying cool in even the hottest sun, with a soft yet smooth surface. It is easy to clean, just needing to be hosed down every once in a while, & the material repels the dirt. The weave lends itself to a huge variety of designs & shapes, perfect for the contemporary garden. And finally it is also environmentally friendly as it is toxin free, biodegradable and recyclable.

This new synthetic rattan garden furniture is set to become dominant in the mid to high end of the outdoor furniture market over the next few years as it has so many advantages over traditional garden furniture, teak furniture and even plastic garden furniture. The designs are more contemporary and cutting edge, the furniture itself more roomy and comfortable, and maintenance required is non existent.

The best of the new garden furniture is available from Go Modern. If you are looking for white garden furniture The White Home specialise in high quality white garden furniture.