I tested bargain egg chairs – the winner from Dunelm is perfect for curling up on autumn evenings
AN EGG chair is the perfect place to curl up in your garden both in the summer and beyond.
These stylish swing chairs have a distinctive, cocoon shape and they are more than just somewhere to rest your legs.
They are a statement piece and can really spruce up your outdoor space.
There are some really innovative designs for 2024 and as brands compete for business, the once unaffordable item is now within reach.
Whether you have a large garden or a small patio or balcony, there’s an egg chair.
I tested out some bargain buys – here’s what I thought.
Grey Faux Rattan Hanging Egg Chair
- £149.99, vonhaus.com
I loved this egg chair. What struck me most about it was the relatively loose structure, which makes it look different to rivals.
I worried it wouldn’t be as sturdy or comfy as a result – but I was wrong, this proved quite robust.
It makes you feel cosy and cocooned without cutting you off from your surroundings completely, and would generally be perfect for a long autumn evening.
It has an on-trend contemporary grey finish, too, and the deep and plush grey cushioning was the comfiest we tried.
The basket folds flat for slimline storage, but there’s also a robust powder coated iron stand and galvanised steel frame if you want to keep it out all year long.
You can clean the cushions effectively by sponging down with a warm sponge and mild detergent.
- Ease of assembly: 8/10
- Durability: 9/10
- Value for money: 8/10
- Comfort: 10 /10
Overall score: 10/10
Charles Bentley Egg Shaped Garden Swing Chair
- £230, wickes.co.uk
Make the most of lazy afternoons with this chic, open weave rattan chair.
It’s supported by a sturdy grey steel frame and the cushions were extra thick and comfy.
Super easy to maintain, the chair is showerproof so you don’t have to worry about leaving it outside all year round – though you can also buy a matching cover.
It took longer than all the other chairs to build, but it is a sturdier and more robust as a result.
Good quality. The deep comfy cushions made it hard to get out of.
- Ease to assemble: 7/10
- Durability: 10/10
- Value for money: 6/10
- Comfort: 9/10
Overall score: 8/10
OHS Foldable Hanging Egg Chair
- £95, onlinehomeshop.com
This is an ingenious design and a great price from OHS, even if you only have a small space you could enjoy this full-sized egg chair at home.
While most are woven in inflexible poly-rattan, this one boasts a clever rope design which means it can fold flat.
This is super handy if you are short on space or even if you want it to be stored away over winder.
The natural rattan (and rope) egg chair comes complete with a charcoal-coloured seat cushion which makes it look chic and contemporary and the frame was sufficiently strong despite being slimmer than most.
- Ease of assembly: 9/10
- Durability: 8/10
- Value for money: 10/10
- Comfort: 7/10
Overall score: 8/10
How to find gardening bargains
Doing up your garden to enjoy on warm and sunny days needn't cost the earth.
Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to get a top deal on items for the garden…
You can bag big savings on plants, shrubs and flowers, as well as gardening tools and furniture.
Many retailers have flash sales across entire seasonal ranges – often these promotions tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout.
Sign up to mailing lists of your favourite brands and you’ll be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too.
Use a price comparison site to search out the best value items.
And keep a close eye on the specialbuys at Aldi and middle of Lidl drops which drop a couple of times a week and usually mean great value seasonal items for your outdoor areas.
If you are not in a hurry to buy an item, try adding it to the shopping cart online and leaving it for a couple of days.
Sometimes big brands will try to tempt you into the sale by offering you a discount.
And always check if you can get cashback before paying.
It’s especially worth using sites such as Topcashback, Quidco and app Jamdoughnut when buying bigger ticket items such as garden furniture as you’ll get a nice kickback.
Grey Cocoon Egg Chair (Dunelm)
- £189, dunelm.com
I thought this Dunelm chair was a great option. Instead of rattan, it’s made with waterproof textilene fabric giving it a more contemporary vibe and making it suitable for use all year round.
The middle seating part is smaller than most and it’s a little lower to the ground, so if you are particularly large or tall you might want to pick a larger model.
It’s foldable and easy to store, but it was harder to put together than all the others I tested.
Despite all that, it quickly became the children’s favourite place – and mine.
Overall I thought it offered the perfect blend of practicality and elegance. It’s relatively affordable too.
- Ease of assembly: 6/10
- Durability: 7/10
- Value for money: 8/10
- Comfort: 10/10
Overall score: 9/10
Vita5 Egg Chair
- £169.95, amazon.co.uk
This foldable polyrattan chair felt quite robust with a stable frame and a generous seating area.
The hanging basket is made of plastic mesh, rather than rattan, and is not likely as durable as others but it does fold in half for easy storage.
The powder-coated steel frame was very robust and the soft cotton padded cushions were very comfy.
The hanging chair did have a tendency to swing against the pole, which made this a less relaxing experience than I hoped for.
- Ease of assembly: 7/10
- Durability: 5/10
- Value for money: 6/10
- Comfort: 5/10
Overall score: 5/10
Dobbies Folding Egg Chair
- £139.90, dobbies.com
This egg chair is quite compact compared to others, but it still offered a cosy spot to unwind, no matter the weather.
It’s stylish, low maintenance and has a distinctive oval shape.
One of the biggest bonuses of this chair is that it folds up for easy storage.
It was one of the quickest and easiest to set up, too, with a slightly smaller base if you are tight on space.
The cushions are extra soft and spongy, but they are also removeable and cleaned up well with a simple sponge clean.
A good buy overall if you’re short on space.
- Ease of assembly: 7/10
- Durability: 8/10
- Value for money: 7/10
- Comfort: 7/10
Overall score: 7/10
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