The spring sunshine has appeared, and it’s got me thinking about revamping my outdoor space before the summer months. But, if I’ve learned anything in recent years, it's that you’re best taking the plunge and investing in new garden furniture early in the season before it sells out.

Last year, when we moved into a new home, I was lusting over the Palissade range from Danish designer Hay. The trendy garden furniture collection has tables, chairs and benches all made using the same slatted metal design. Though the range comes in five different colours (olive green, iron red, black, and grey), the green shade is the one that caught my eye. But, at just over £3,100 for the dining table set and £1,900 for the picnic bench, it was a bit over budget. 

So I was bowled over when I discovered a picnic table set that was convincingly similar at George by Asda. The best bit? It was £1,600 cheaper than the Hay set. Unsurprisingly, I wasn’t the only one who had spotted the bargain look-a-like, and I had to wait months for it to be re-stocked before I could finally call it my own. Now, it is the perfect space for outdoor dining on sun-soaked days. 

The good news is that the picnic set is back at Asda for another year, priced at £299. The metal slat bench and table are made mostly from steel, with a few plastic covers to hide the bolts holding them together. The green shade is lighter than Hay’s Olive green shade, but the tone works to brighten up our outdoor space. The George picnic table is also slightly more curved than the Hay design, but it has the same long rectangular table (140cm in width and 80cm in diameter) and two-bench set-up. 

It does arrive in parts, so you’ll need to construct it at home, which some shoppers on the George website have claimed to be tricky. However, we didn’t struggle at all putting it together, and it has stayed strong for a whole year. The galvanised steel has even survived the winter with minimal impact (despite us forgetting to cover it up during the bad weather). 

The table is still in stock at the time of writing, but it did sell out last year.

If you have a smaller space, George has a bistro set in the same style. Though the table doesn’t feature metal slats (it’s a classic round style), the chairs are made from metal slats with rounded arms. The set is also made from galvanised steel and is the same light green shade as the picnic bench.

You’ll need to put in a little bit of work putting it together when it arrives, but given my experience with the picnic bench, it will likely be a quick job. 

George at Asda isn’t the only brand to jump on the Danish-inspired design trend. Similar metal-slatted garden furniture has also popped up at the likes of Habitat and Argos, with products featuring everything from chairs to bistro sets.

For less than £100, I love Habitat’s relaxed bistro set, which uses the same metal slat design and a green colour. The two armchairs use horizontal slats, as opposed to Hay’s vertical slats, along with similar curved arms. Given the small table, it’s a great option for a cosier outdoor space and will set you back just £99. 

The cheap tag doesn’t seem to be representative of low quality, though, with shoppers giving the Habitat table a five-star review online. One shopper said: “Great products for the price and feel surprisingly sturdy. I went for the green, as my garden is quite calming, but the set still adds a pop of colour to the shade. Comfort-wise, they do the job but would benefit from a cushion if you’re planning [to spend] any time in them." [SIC]

If you prefer a more traditional bistro set, the John Lewis Camden two-seater table and chairs set is a great outdoor dining set-up for diminutive spaces. It's not exactly the same in terms of design, but the set is made from powder-coated steel, which looks similar to the metal used in Hay's design. It also similarly comes in various colours, including green, blue, pistachio, burnt orange, and grey.

While the table is a standard round design, the folding chairs use vertical slats. Plus, it's an affordable option, priced at £99.

Based on customer reviews, the set has a 4.8 out of five stars and doesn’t require any set-up (though some shoppers have said it is heavy to transport). One review said: "I could move this in its box alone on wheels, although it was heavy. I unpacked it, and it was ready to go. It just folds up when finished. Looks fab in my courtyard."

After a garden bench with a similar aesthetic to Hay? Argos has a slatted metal design in a shade of dark green for £130, along with a red and yellow colourway. 

The main body of the bench is reminiscent of Hay’s style, while the arms have a soft, curved shape. The bench is constructed from metal, but if you want some extra comfort, Argos sells a range of outdoor furniture cushions.

One of the perks of the bench is that it arrives fully assembled, which is great if you want to pop it in place as soon as it arrives.  

Habitat also has its own take on a metal garden bench, though with a curved twist. The Lucinda Garden bench has a slat design but a unique curved back panel and geometric shape. Unlike Hay's benches, the direction of the slats changes, combining horizontal and vertical panels. It costs £125.

The main bench comes in green, but you can also extend it with the contrasting Lucinda metal chair (£60).

The products are both made from metal, like the Hay garden furniture range. So far, customer reviews have scored the bench a four out of five-star rating. 

One customer said: “Love it. Strong and stylish."