Your questions on garden sofa sets answered What is the best garden sofas set?Swyft secures its place as the best garden sofa set thanks to its luxurious acacia wooden finish and comfortable green sofa cushions that are both practical and attractive. If you’re looking for a set that’s a fraction of the price my overall best budget buy, however, is Habitat’s Simone 5-Seater Sofa Set that gives you four enticing spaces to sit and two robust side tables for more than half the price of Swyft. How I tested garden sofa setsKeen to find a garden sofa set for your outdoor space? To help you choose, I’ve tested a wide range of the latest designs first hand. Over the course of March and early April, with very unpredictable weather conditions ranging between 1-16C, I tested a selection of good-looking garden sofa sets available online. I chose a variety of configurations including corner and modular designs to loveseats and coffee sets, in a mix of materials including metal, wood and rattan. During testing, I considered the following criteria.Delivery and setup: For each set, I marked them on how swift and efficient I found the delivery service and how easy each sofa set was to assemble myself. Quality: I tried out each set and rated its comfort, style and design. I noted the quality of the materials used, whether they are UV and waterproof and how I think the sets will age over time. Maintenance: I also assessed how easy to maintain and clean each sofa set is and whether they come with a dedicated protective cover. Value for money: Finally, I took the cost into consideration, to ensure that each sofa set lived up to its price tag. What should you look for in a good garden sofa set?“Comfort is obviously an essential starting point when it comes to choosing a garden sofa,” says award-winning garden and landscape designer Matthew Wilson. “But, aside from general wear and tear, the main difference between an outdoor and an indoor sofa is that it needs to be able to tolerate seasons of living outdoors – [being] rained on and bleached by the sun. I suggest reading plenty of online reviews before you buy, and where possible, try it out for yourself in person. “Also consider build quality as outdoor living will bleach materials quickly. Timber will silver, which isn't a bad thing, but worth keeping in mind, while metal will rust unless it’s either galvanised, stainless steel or properly painted – usually by powder coating. “Good quality weather and UV-resistant ‘PE’ rattan (polyethylene rattan) with tight weaves will be low maintenance and stand the test of time, while cushion material should be strong, colour-fast and quick to dry out. “Finally, take note if the covers come with the set or if you’ll need to buy them separately. I prefer to remove cushions completely in winter and store them in the garage, but if that isn't possible, strong winter covers are essential.” My top tips for assembling garden sofa setsAfter testing a host of garden furniture in the last month, my top tip would be to make sure you have every piece out of the box and to check you have each piece ready to be fixed in the right place before you start. There’s nothing worse than compiling a side chair only to discover a piece is missing, after all. Throughout my test, I came across a couple of sets that had a piece missing, so I had to request a replacement, which fortunately was quickly resolved. I’d also recommend that you don’t tighten any screws completely until the whole set has been assembled, as it can be frustrating to fix a piece together only to discover you’ve screwed a section in the wrong section. I also noticed that while you’re fixing each screw in, it helps to have a little wiggle room to make sure each piece fits before the screws are completely tightened. And finally, when building metal furniture make sure the surface you’re building it on is soft –grass works well as opposed to a concrete patio – as metal can get easily scratched when you’re putting things together. Do I need a waterproof furniture cover for garden sofa cushions?It’s advised to cover your garden furniture wherever possible to protect it from rainfall and UV, which might damage and rot wood, fade materials and cause mould. However the set’s material and the climate conditions where you live will factor into this. While teak and hardwood furniture can generally withstand rain, covering it ensures fading and weathering is kept to a minimum. Likewise aluminium and powder-coated steel furniture can handle rain, but over time you might spot water stains and rust. When it comes to rattan and wicker furniture, natural rattan should never be left uncovered in rain as the material can warp and rot. While synthetic rattan is more weather resistant, covering it protects it from UV damage. Why you can trust IndyBest reviewsEmily Peck is a lifestyle journalist with more than 20 years of experience writing about gardens and interiors, smart homes, wellbeing, fitness, and modern living. Over the years, she has tested a wide range of gardening furniture and equipment in her garden – from lawnmowers to lighting – so knows first-hand what makes for a great buy. For more garden furniture finds, check out our edit of the best bistro sets