I finally bought a garden egg chair after years of wanting one – I wish I’d done it sooner (cloned)
I finally invested in two pieces of garden furniture I'd wanted for years, including an egg chair and a clever storage bench from BedKingdom. Here's how they performed.
With the recent multiple heatwaves we’ve been experiencing, and experts predicting our summers are only going to get hotter, I decided it was time to invest in some proper outdoor furniture.
I chose two pieces from BedKingdom that serve very different purposes but work well together: the Rowlinson Alderley Rattan Storage Bench and the SOLACE+CO Lola Garden Egg Chair.
The rattan bench combines seating with hidden storage, while the egg chair is the kind of garden furniture I've been tempted by for years but never actually bought.
So, after finally taking the plunge, was it worth it?
What I like about this garden furniture
The first thing that struck me about both pieces is the quality. They feel extremely well made, look attractive and are very comfortable to use. I’ve sat on them both for several hours and have been very content.
The rattan bench is particularly clever because it solves a problem I had with my old average garden bench. I never had anywhere to put the seat cushions when they weren't being used, so they ended up piled up in the conservatory. It looked untidy and became irritating.
The storage bench has completely solved that problem, however, because the seat lifts up to reveal a generous 150-litre storage compartment. So, I’ve finally got somewhere to put the cushions away rather than having them taking up space indoors. It’s a little thing, but it has made a big difference.
The storage section could also be used for garden accessories, tools or other outdoor bits and pieces, but do bear in mind that it’s weatherproof and not waterproof. Because of this, one thing I would recommend is protecting anything you do put in there. I’ve been putting my cushions inside strong plastic bags with good seals, which I think is a sensible precaution to help keep them in good condition.
The hardwood timber frame and rattan-effect weave give it a smart, contemporary appearance. I think it looks far more expensive than it is, (more on the actual price below), and I think it would work just as well on a balcony, patio or conservatory as it does in a garden.
The included grey seat pad makes it extra comfortable too, although I do wish it came with back cushions as well. The bench is perfectly comfortable as it is, but adding a couple of cushions behind your back would make it even cosier for longer periods of sitting.
Then there's the Lola Garden Egg Chair, which is easily my favourite of the two. I've been tempted by an egg chair for years but never quite got round to buying one. Now that I've finally got one, I wish I'd done it sooner.
There's something wonderfully relaxing about curling up inside it with a book or a cold drink. The curved, cocoon-like shape makes it feel like your own little haven, while the gentle movement adds to the feeling of relaxation.
The Lola egg chair has a grey PE rattan basket suspended from a contrasting black powder-coated steel frame, with foam-filled waterproof cushions.
It looks stylish without being too fussy, and I think the neutral grey works particularly well outdoors and would fit well into any garden. It's also a substantial piece of furniture, weighing 25.8kg and supporting up to 135kg according to BedKingdom's specifications.
Plus, everything needed to put them together, from the screws to the allen keys, are included in the boxes so there’s no need to go rummaging around in your toolbox or having to make a quick dash to a hardware shop.
What I don't like about this garden furniture
There is one fairly major downside, and that is the assembly. I'm going to be honest, it took my mum and I around three hours to build the bench and another two and a half hours to build the egg chair.
We're both novices when it comes to flat-pack furniture, I admit, so I'm sure somebody more experienced and stronger could do it faster, but five and a half hours was still a lot of time and effort.
The bench was particularly frustrating. We managed to assemble the main part of the seat, but when it came to attaching the arms, one simply wouldn't line up. We had assumed that properly tightening every screw as we went along was the sensible thing to do, but that’s when we realised it wasn't.
After multiple attempts from different angles, we eventually realised we needed to loosen the screws we'd already put in so the seat had enough manoeuvrability for everything to line up properly. Of course, getting those screws back out wasn't exactly easy either.
The instructions didn't help much. For both pieces of furniture, I found the diagrams difficult to follow. This is not a criticism of BedKingdom and the items they sell as it just seems to be a given with any sort of flat pack furniture. I just really don't understand why flat-pack furniture instructions so often rely on confusing photographs rather than giving clear written instructions alongside them.
The egg chair instructions were particularly baffling. One thing I wish I'd realised much earlier was that the strap needed to be attached to the base during the build. By the time I understood this, we'd already spent more than five hours putting everything together and I was absolutely not prepared to start dismantling the chair to try to add it.
The egg chair is also heavy, so getting it lifted into position and onto the chain was quite a mission and I didn’t like the idea of trying to take it down. So, I ended up attaching the strap around the stand instead. I'm not suggesting that's the intended solution, so I'd strongly advise anyone assembling it to make sure they understand exactly where the strap needs to go before they get too far into the build.
My makeshift arrangement has held up fine during the first week, even as several people have sat in the chair at different times, but I'd still recommend following the manufacturer's instructions rather than doing what I did.
The most important thing is that we managed to put both the rattan bench and the egg chair together. I would just advise being prepared to exercise some patience and summon some strength.
My Verdict
Despite the assembly ordeal, I absolutely love both pieces of furniture. The Rowlinson Alderley Rattan Storage Bench has solved an annoying storage problem while giving me a comfortable place to sit.
The SOLACE+CO Lola Garden Egg Chair, meanwhile, is the standout for me. It's cosy, stylish and incredibly relaxing. I've spent years being tempted by an egg chair and, having now finally got one, I can say I should have done it sooner. Actually, I wish I’d got a storage bench sooner too.
The five and a half hours of assembly were frustrating, and I think the instructions could be considerably clearer, but once both pieces were finally built, that frustration disappeared pretty quickly. I’d definitely earned my first sit on them both though.
I now have a garden that feels much more inviting, with a practical storage solution and also somewhere I can switch off.
- The SOLACE+CO Lola Garden Egg Chair has an RRP of £330, but at the time of writing is currently on sale for £179.99,
- The Rowlinson Alderley Rattan Storage Bench costs £229.99.
- Please note that delivery charges may apply.