Summer is on its way, and with it comes the promise of hosting friends and al fresco dining. And while preparation is key — garden furniture cleaned, lawns freshly mowed, cushions curated, and maybe even a pizza oven in pride of place — nothing can prepare you for one of your guests turning up with an unexpected plus one. Or can it...
IKEA's new foldable SOLUPPGÅNG stool may be part of the brand's camping collection, but its simple, refined design is what makes it most useful. In fact, Livingetc's editor Hugh Metcalf even styles a similar design in his bedroom. "It’s the kind of stool that just tucks away in between things, or behind a cabinet, so when you don’t want to see it, you don’t, but when you need a quick spot to perch, you can pull it out and set it up with one hand."
And yes, it's perfect for when you need to squeeze in one extra seat in your garden. Made with a durable canvas seat and eucalyptus legs, it's simple, sleek, and designed for the outdoors.
At just £17, this compact (43x40cm) foldable stool will be something you reach for on all kinds of occasions. It's even lightweight enough to carry to the park for a picnic. IKEA's designer Ola Wihlborg was inspired by his own adventures outdoors when he came up with the design, and says it's exactly the sort of thing he wished he had with him.
Plus, considering it's designed for adventures, you know it's going to be able to withstand the elements in your garden — easily!
When it comes to outdoor furniture ideas for small spaces, there are two things worth keeping in mind: multifunctionality and foldability. Pieces that can double up in function mean you need fewer overall, and pieces that can cleverly fold away — like this stool — take up less valuable floor space.
It may be simple, but I bet it'll be a small space saviour, inside and out. But, for those who appreciate the utility of a fold-away stool but would prefer something with a little more luxury or architectural flamboyance, here are a few other options that achieve a similar goal.
This folding stool from HAY's Outdoor Market collection with Jasper Morrison is a very similar style to IKEA's, just with a slightly more design-forward fabric. If you want to complete the look, there are also matching armchairs and fabric bags, too.
It may not fold back, but when it looks this good, why would you ever want to put it away? Made from teak and finished with a geometric-patterned seat, this footstool will have people fighting over who gets to sit on it.
If you are truly channelling the Italian Alfresco lifestyle this summer, these fun ceramic outdoor stools are the perfect final touch to your garden setup. They won't fold away, but they can easily double as side tables when you don't need an extra seat.
IKEA's outdoor NÄMMARÖ collection is a crowd-pleaser, and this foldable stool is very similar to the SOLUPPGÅNG design, except for a timber top, which makes it feel more permanent. It could also easily be styled as a side table.
For a more Parisian look, these rattan stools in fun colors will make your patio feel like a European cafe. With a sturdier frame, they could also double as side tables or footstoos when not needed as a chair.
With all the same advantages of the foldable stool, this vibrant canvas director's chair offers a little more comfort and back support. When no longer needed, fold it up and store it in a garden closet or next to the BBQ.
The IKEA SOLUPPGÅNG stool is the secret weapon for hosting garden parties and elevating picnics this summer. But that's not all the flat-pack retailer has to offer by way of folding furniture — make sure to check out IKEA DJUPON outdoor folding table, too.
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