Shoppers say the garden furniture set is ‘sturdy’ and ‘looks so much more expensive in real life’ – so I bought it myself and couldn’t agree more
When it comes to picking out patio furniture , it’s important to settle on something that ticks all the boxes. It needs to be within budget, comfortable and durable, but without compromising on personality and style.
As a first time homeowner in 2026, I was on the hunt for an affordable, colourful garden set to seat four, and with the Bank Holiday weekend looming, I wanted it fast. After searching high and low and realising that, much of the time, you get what you pay for when it comes to these things, we found a stunning set at Habitat that not only met all of our requirements, but was also on sale and could be delivered at short notice.
Habitat’s Cali 4 Seater Metal Patio Set was originally priced at £150, but was reduced to £120 in the sale. I actually ordered mine through TopCashback so I also earned £1.20 in cashback, and gained 120 Nectar points on my order, too.
Part of Habitat’s Cali collection , this four-seater set is made up of two chairs, a bench and a low rectangular table, all made from steel with textilene seating. While the online description states that the set is orange, the box says its terracotta, which I personally prefer as it brings those gorgeous Mediterranean vibes to the garden, but others who bought the set were disappointed it wasn’t the vibrant orange they’d hoped.
The assembly is relatively beginner-friendly, but like many flat-pack garden sets, this isn’t a quick 20-minute job. My partner and I – a 28-year-old journalist and 30-year-old mechanic – haven’t put all that much flatpack together yet, but we managed to build the whole set within an hour and a half at a pretty leisurely pace.
Habitat Cali 4 Seater Metal Patio Set
£150
£120
Habitat
Buy here
This bright orange 4-seater patio set oozes contemporary charm. Made from steel with fabric seats for a comfy fit with a low matching table perfect for drinks and nibbles.
The screws, nuts and washers all came in a very handy pack so as to not lose anything, and it contains everything you need for the build. If you have additional tools already like a wrench or allen bit, it may be faster than the supplied allen key, but it’s by no means essential. The instructions were easy to follow, but if you prefer, there’s also a YouTube tutorial available, which I found helpful to watch prior to unboxing.
The most difficult part of the build is adding tension rods to the chair and bench for support, and attaching the mesh seating to the main frame, as it requires one person to hold the seat taut, and one to put the nuts and bolts on.
Once built, the set is very comfortable to sit on, with a slight recline for that relaxed, lounging feel. The table is a handy size for drinks and snacks, and the whole set is surprisingly lightweight at 24kg, making it easy to move around the garden depending on the sun. One downside is, however, that the set doesn’t stack particularly well for storing, so we’re going to have to buy a good sized patio furniture cover.
For smaller spaces, this Padstow Outdoor 2 Seater Round Bistro Table and Chairs at DUSK is £139. Coming in a pretty Moss shade, the folding design makes it easy to move and store, while the durable metal frame ensures it stands up to everyday outdoor use.
For those in need of even more seating, Dunelm has this Windsor 8 Seater Large Corner Set available for £599. It’s made up of a stylish corner sofa as well as a glass top table and cushioned bench.
Back at Habitat, for those looking for items to match the set, there’s this Habitat Cali Metal Sunlounger available for £45 , but shoppers can get 20% off with the code GREEN20 at the checkout. I think it would be good if you could purchase some of the chairs from the patio set individually, too, as it would be ideal to turn it into a six-seater set, if we wanted to.
Speaking on the four-seater set, one person noted it ‘looks good and sturdy’, adding that it ‘brightens up the garden’.
Another said: “Really nice looking and comfortable garden set. Very light so easy to move around but at the same time feels very sturdy. Easy to put together but does need two people.”
“Funky and contemporary patio set – gorgeous orange,” wrote a third. “Looks wonderful on patio, grass or Astro.. really pleased with it.”
As noted earlier, it is tricky to put together, and the colour may not be as expected, with another review reading: “Defo a two person job to put together but not impossible. More terracotta than orange but still really nice and worth the price.”
Another wrote: “Love the look of this and it’s very comfortable but deducting a star as it was really a bit of a faff to put the sofa together. The chairs were easier. More of a terracotta colour but seems very sturdy and the table is brilliant. Very reasonable price too.”
But generally, people are as pleased as I am with the Cali set, commenting: “Beautiful and comfortable. We get so many compliments on it every time we have guests.”
With another customer said: “Such a gorgeous set and looks so much more expensive in real life. The colour is beautiful and the fabric feels nice and strong. Bit tricky to build but got the hang of it after the first chair – not as complicated as first thought or as some of the comments allude to. Looks so great in our garden.”
Habitat’s Cali 4 Seater Metal Patio Set is a stylish, comfortable and sturdy set that won’t break the bank but absolutely will be a great focal point in outdoor spaces. Now all that’s required is some sunshine and perhaps a Victoria sponge cake.
