Picture a sun-warmed terrace in Paris. Metal chairs in a dozen vivid shades - honey, chilli, liquorice, clay - arranged around small round tables, the whole scene effortlessly stylish without trying too hard. That image, so distinctly French, so immediately recognisable, has a name behind it: Fermob. If you've sat in the Luxembourg Gardens, lingered over coffee at a Parisian café, or spotted those distinctive folding chairs in a design magazine, you've already encountered this brand. Now, during Fermob Week (11-22 March), Cedar Nursery is celebrating the full range - and it's the perfect moment to discover what makes Fermob genuinely worth knowing.
A French Brand with a Story Worth Knowing
Fermob is a French manufacturer with deep roots in traditional metal furniture. Over decades, the brand has grown from producing classic outdoor pieces to becoming one of Europe's most respected names in outdoor design.
In 2004, Fermob was selected to redesign the iconic chairs of the Sénat's Luxembourg Gardens in Paris - one of the most visited public gardens in the world. That commission went to a company with genuine craft credentials and a clear design philosophy. Fermob still produces its furniture in France, which matters when you're thinking about longevity, consistency, and quality control. At the heart of everything Fermob does is colour - not as an afterthought, but as a genuine design tool. Their palette runs to dozens of carefully considered shades, from quiet earthy naturals to bold, joyful statement hues, broad enough to suit a formal walled garden in Surrey and a relaxed urban balcony in equal measure.
The Easiest Way to Start: Fermob Accessories and Lighting
Garden furniture is a considered investment, so it makes sense to take your time with Fermob - and the best way to do that is to start small.
Fermob's accessory range, particularly their outdoor lighting, is an excellent entry point. A Fermob lantern on a table, or a string of outdoor lights threaded through a pergola, does something genuinely transformative to an evening terrace. It's not just about illumination - it's about atmosphere, and about introducing a specific colour into your outdoor space without committing to a full furniture set.
This is a useful strategy for anyone uncertain about colour. Choosing a lantern or accessory in a shade you're drawn to lets you see how that colour reads in your actual garden, in your actual light, before investing in a dining set. Think of it as a live colour sample that also happens to be a beautiful object. Accessories also work well alongside furniture you already own - a pair of Fermob lanterns on a teak table introduces the brand's character without requiring you to replace anything. In our experience, once people handle the pieces and see the colours in person, the decision about furniture tends to follow naturally.
The Furniture: Iconic Pieces Designed to Last a Lifetime
Once you're ready to invest in furniture, Fermob offers two collections that stand above the rest as genuine icons of outdoor design.
The Bistro Collection - A Classic Reinvented
The Bistro is the piece that started it all for many Fermob customers. A folding metal table and chair, it has become almost shorthand for French outdoor style. The design is elegant without being fussy, practical without being utilitarian.
The folding construction makes Bistro particularly useful in smaller gardens, on balconies, or anywhere you need flexibility. In a larger garden, a pair of Bistro chairs in a bold colour makes a strong visual statement at the end of a path or beside a garden wall. Available across Fermob's full colour palette, the powder-coated steel construction is designed for year-round outdoor use and holds its colour well over time. These are pieces built to be used, not stored.
The Luxembourg Chair - Fermob's Finest
The Luxembourg dining chair is, in our view, the pinnacle of what Fermob does. This is the chair chosen for the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris - and sitting in one, you understand immediately why it was selected. The slatted design is elegant and considered, the proportions generous, and it's genuinely comfortable for extended outdoor dining in a way that many metal chairs simply aren't.
The Luxembourg works equally well in a formal garden setting and a relaxed patio environment. Paired with a generous dining table and a full set of chairs in a single strong colour, it creates an outdoor dining space that feels intentional and beautifully resolved. This is a piece you buy once. With straightforward care, a Luxembourg chair will look excellent for many years, and the colour remains vivid rather than fading into a dull approximation of itself.
If you're considering the Luxembourg, we'd strongly encourage you to browse the Fermob range at landscaping.co.uk first, then come in to see the chairs in person. The difference between a photograph and the real thing is considerable.
How to Choose Your Fermob Colour
A practical starting point is to look at what's already in your garden. The tones of your planting, hard landscaping, and exterior paintwork create a context that your furniture will either complement or contrast with. Neither approach is wrong - a deep green Luxembourg chair disappearing softly into a planting scheme is as valid as a vivid red Bistro making a bold statement against a white wall.
What matters most is seeing the colours in real outdoor light. A shade that looks one way on a screen can read quite differently in a Surrey garden on a bright morning. Greens shift. Blues deepen. Warm terracotta tones come alive in sunlight in a way that's hard to predict from a swatch. Our team at Cedar Nursery can help you work through the options, and our colleagues at stylish garden furniture with colour offers further inspiration for integrating bold furniture choices into a considered outdoor scheme. If you are thinking of ordering Fermob furniture, do bear in mind that there is always a lead-in time, because pieces are sprayed to your colour choice in France and then shipped to the UK.
Visit Cedar Nursery During Fermob Week
Fermob Week runs from 11-22 March, and it's a genuinely good moment to explore the range at Cedar Nursery. Whether you're curious about a single accessory or ready to invest in a full dining set, our team can help you find the right pieces. We've chosen to stock Fermob because we believe in what the brand does - and we also carry other outstanding furniture makers including Barlow Tyrie and Alexander Rose, so you can make comparisons in person.
Cedar Nursery is less than 5 miles from RHS Wisley in Cobham, Surrey. Come and see the Fermob pieces in natural light. Sit in a Luxembourg chair. Hold a lantern and see how the colour reads outside. That's the experience no screen can replicate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fermob
Where is Fermob furniture made?
Fermob is a French manufacturer and produces its furniture in France. This commitment to French manufacturing is central to the brand's identity and underpins its quality credentials - from the consistency of the powder-coat finish to the precision of the metalwork.
Is Fermob furniture suitable for year-round outdoor use in the UK?
Yes. Fermob furniture is designed for outdoor use and is constructed from powder-coated steel built to withstand the elements. Many customers leave their Fermob pieces outside throughout the year. Protective covers are available for added peace of mind during winter months, though they're not a requirement.
How do I choose a Fermob colour?
Fermob offers an extensive colour palette ranging from subtle naturals to bold, vivid shades. The best approach is to see the colours in person, as outdoor light significantly affects how a colour reads. The team at Cedar Nursery can help you find the right shade for your garden and existing scheme - and starting with a smaller accessory piece is a great way to test a colour before committing to furniture.
What is the difference between the Bistro and Luxembourg collections?
The Bistro is Fermob's classic folding metal chair and table - compact, versatile, and ideal for smaller spaces or as a flexible addition to a larger garden. The Luxembourg is Fermob's premium dining chair, originally designed for the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, and is widely regarded as the flagship of the range - offering exceptional comfort and elegance for outdoor dining.
Visit Us or Browse Online
Cedar Nursery is a family-run nursery established in 1986, specialising in quality plants, bespoke planters, luxury outdoor furniture, garden structures, and outdoor kitchens. We supply nationwide via courier. Browse the full Fermob collection at landscaping.co.uk, or explore our full range of furniture brands to see how Fermob sits alongside the rest of what we offer. You're also very welcome to visit us in person at Cobham, Surrey - or call us on 01932 862473 for expert advice from our team.