As summer winds down, retailers are clearing out homeware and outdoor furniture to make room for autumn collections, offering some of the year's biggest discounts. From garden dining sets to decorative lighting, these are the pieces worth snapping up before they disappear.
Invest in Garden Furniture While Prices Are Low
Outdoor furniture is one of the categories most likely to see significant markdowns in late summer. John Lewis has reduced its Holte six-seater garden dining table from £499 to £199.60, while OKA's sculptural Belsay dining chairs are now £119, down from £595. Cox & Cox's Rondane lounge set has been discounted from £1,295 to £777, and Habitat's yellow metal coffee table is reduced from £100 to £80. Ruggable's Cleo Trellis outdoor rug, which is machine washable, has 30 per cent off at £167.30.
The Table Is Always the Heart of the Home
Mango's cotton tablecloth with vintage-inspired porcelain motifs is now £22.99, down from £35.99. Mrs Alice's soft blue lace dinner plates are reduced from £34 to £23, and Liberty's botanical plant wall plate, a collaboration with Moroccan brand LRNCE, is now £100 instead of £395. The Conran Shop's lattice napkins are £6 from £15, and Nkuku's Shirali marble swirl wine glasses are half price at £30 for a set of four.
Colour Is Back
Oliver Bonas's Estrella full-length mirror with a blush frame is now £97.50 from £199, while Casa by JJ's mustard ribbed table lamp is reduced from £110 to £65. The Conran Shop's Bolt vase in sage green is a bargain at £15, down from £50. Pooky's Cala table lamp, designed by Matthew Williamson, is £33 instead of £110, and Birdie Fortescue's scalloped block-print cushion is now £39.50 from £70. Sanderson's Fenne Mimosa fabric is half price at £43 per metre.
Don't Overlook the Everyday Essentials
Avery Row's striped storage basket is now £10 from £26, and Salt & Stone's refillable body wash set is £86, down from £95. Sukun's Cheeky Cherub pillowcases are £44 instead of £55, while its Positano bundle is £140 from £175. Love Your Home's online outlet has the Byron 3.5 seater sofa in rose velvet at £1,372, reduced from £3,795.
The golden rule of summer sale shopping is to focus on classic investment pieces that will earn their keep for years to come. A beautifully made dining chair, an artisanal tray, a linen tablecloth or a sculptural lamp will never feel tied to one season. As for the outdoors? Summer will be back soon enough and you will feel smug that you planned ahead.
