Ideal Home Awards 2026 garden winners – the best outdoor brands and products of the year, selected by our panel of experts
The results are in!
We can't wait to share the Ideal Home Awards 2026 garden winners with you – there are some really exciting outdoor products and brands to add to your radar this year.
Our panel of experts have assessed the best garden furniture, lighting and more to narrow down a list of 2026's market-leading products for outdoor living. Below, you'll find our favourites from each category, and a few others we've highly commended, too.
Retailer of the year: Charles Bentley
This year, we had our eyes peeled for a retailer that offers a broad range of outdoor living products without compromising on quality – and Charles Bentley delivers both.
‘A family-run British brand with oodles of heritage, Charles Bentley offers everything you need for outdoor living in one spot, from furniture to BBQ, storage and accessories,' says Ginevra Benedetti, Ideal Home's Deputy Editor (Print).
Charles Bentley’s thoughtful range of outdoor living solutions, from seating to fire pits and barbecues, seamlessly combines style with affordability. With over 165 years to its name, it’s a worthy winner.
Best charcoal BBQ: Masterbuilt Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1150
For that authentic charcoal flavour and digital precision, the Masterbuilt Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1150 was the best charcoal BBQ we judged at the Ideal Home Awards 2026.
'Masters of barbecuing, Masterbuilt have aced this charcoal BBQ,' says Sophie King, Gardens Editor at Ideal Home. 'With options to smoke, roast, bake and sear, you can even set the temperature on the digital control panel, so there’s no need to manually tend the coals.'
Highly commended: Vonhaus XL American BBQ with Smoker
Best Gas BBQ: Ninja FlexFlame
We're constantly on the lookout for new best gas BBQ contenders, and at this year's Ideal Home Awards, the Ninja FlexFlame took the top spot.
'Ninja’s FlexFlame is a jack of all trades,' says Sophie. 'You can grill, smoke, roast, griddle, and even make pizza in this gas BBQ, and it preheats in just 10 minutes.'
Highly commended: Grillstream Sanctuary Birch Deluxe Outdoor Kitchen
Best Exterior Paint: B&Q GoodHome Garden Colours Multi-Surface Paint
Garden paint ideas can totally transform an outdoor space, and B&Q's GoodHome Garden Colours Multi-Surface Paint will weatherproof surfaces, too.
'This exterior paint is showerproof in just one hour, so it’s perfect for our unpredictable rain showers here in the UK,' says Sophie. 'It makes DIY jobs far more efficient and even protects surfaces from rain and water damage.'
Highly commended: Frenchic Al Fresco
Best Fire Pit: Charles Bentley The Snug Santiago Steel Fire Pit
We love a cosy fire pit idea, and this budget-friendly fire pit from Charles Bentley is ideal for adding style and atmosphere to the garden after the sun goes down.
'The Snug Santiago Steel Fire Pit is ultra-affordable and perfect for a minimalist yet stylish outdoor living area,' says Sophie. 'You can either burn wood or charcoal in this fire pit, and assembly is tool-free.'
Best Garden Building: Tiger Modular The Nexus
Garden rooms are quickly becoming coveted outdoor features, and we think Tiger Modular ticks every box: functionality, style and longevity.
‘The Nexus is a personalised outdoor space made simple, with options covering everything from size, cladding, door style, internal finishes, flooring and accessories,' says Heather Young, Ideal Home's Editor-in-Chief. 'Plus, the thermally modified hardwood cladding requires virtually no maintenance.’
Best Garden Landscaping: Millboard Enhanced Grain Decking
We've found a new favourite garden decking idea: boards that look antique, with all the benefits of composite decking. That means no splinters, minimal maintenance, and mould resistance.
'Millboard Enhanced Grain Decking is hand moulded from real pieces of oak, so it looks exactly like real wood, but it’s a lot less maintenance,' says Sophie. 'All it needs is an occasional clean with soapy water.'
Best Garden and Outdoor Lighting: Noma Garden Lighting Lume Collection
For stylish garden lighting ideas, the Noma Garden Lighting Lume Collection takes the top spot at this year's Ideal Home Awards.
‘This chic cordless collection totally nails that indoor-outdoor vibe, helping make your garden feel like an extension of your home,' says Ginevra. 'From pendants to floor lamps, each has coordinating rope-like rattan shades that diffuse light beautifully.’
Highly commended: B&Q Piceo Outdoor Solar Wall Light
Best Garden Power Tool: Vonhaus 40V Cordless Lawn Mower
The Vonhaus 40V Cordless Lawn Mower is the best lawn mower we judged in this category at the 2026 Ideal Home Awards. We love the convenience of cordless lawn mowers – and this one is an absolute steal for the price.
'If you’re after an affordable cordless lawn mower that delivers, the VonHaus 40V model ticks all the boxes,' says Jenny McFarlane, Senior Digital Editor at Ideal Home. 'It’s lightweight at 10.4kg, easy to manoeuvre, and offers five cutting heights, plus the option to mulch or collect grass clippings. You’ll get up to 25 minutes of runtime, a quick one-hour charge and a foldable design for easy storage. It’s also a total bargain buy, priced at £184.99.'
Highly commended: STIGA Next-Generation Autonomous Robot Mowers’ Range
Best Garden Shade Solution: B&Q Cucino Bioclimatic Pergola
Pergolas are perfect if you're looking for stylish garden shade ideas, and we absolutely adored this entry from B&Q.
The Cucino Bioclimatic Pergola is thoughtfully designed, with integrated gutters to direct water away from the space.
‘This smart pergola boasts a realistic wood-effect steel frame and adjustable blades,' says Heather.
Genius Garden Innovation: Elho B’s For Biodiversity Range
Elho b's for biodiversity range puts wildlife first, and the designs stand out from other bird and insect homes and feeders on the market.
‘Made from 100% recycled plastic, these cleverly designed nests, feeders and bug hotels encourage wildlife to your garden, which in turn will make your garden thrive,' says Ginevra. 'I love how the organic shapes and muted shades of the boxes ensure they blend into your outdoor space rather than stand out.’
Highly commended: NOMA Garden Lighting Mag-bulb
Highly commended: Onduline Classic
Best Outdoor Dining Set: Charles Bentley Almada 6 Seater Dining Set
We positively swooned over this garden furniture set! The Charles Bentley Almada 6 Seater Dining Set features a beautiful round table and stylish wood-effect seats.
‘The style of this dining set is very timeless and extremely elegant,' says Sara Hesikova, Ideal Home's Room Decor Editor. 'It’s sure to elevate any outdoor space. It’s made from aluminium, which is the most durable, weather and rust-resistant material you could choose for your outdoor furniture, finished with a very convincing wood finish.’
Highly commended: George Home Riviera Green and White Stripe 6 Piece Patio Set
Highly commended: Bridgman Bordeaux Outdoor Dining Collection
Best Outdoor Sofa: George Home Santorini Natural Curve 5 Piece Outdoor Sofa Set
Our panel of expert judges also loved the George Home Santorini Natural Curve 5 Piece Outdoor Sofa Set. It's actually one of our new favourite outdoor sofas.
‘I’m a big fan of anything modular as it offers versatility and flexibility,' says Sara. 'That’s exactly what this sofa set does with its modular seating – and even the coffee table can be separated into two parts and used as side tables.’
Highly commended: Cox & Cox Dalarna Lounge Set
Highly commended: LG Outdoor Laguna
Best Pizza Oven: Gozney Dome Gen 2 Series
As far as the best pizza ovens go, this one is a strong contender. It seriously impressed our Kitchen Appliances Editor, Molly Cleary.
'Gozney is already the market leader for stylish home ovens, but the Dome Gen 2 goes even further – it’s a design feat that also delivers on practical improvements,' says Molly. 'It’s the pizza oven to buy if you want to create the most impressive outdoor kitchen possible.
Highly commended: Ooni Koda 2 Gas-Powered Outdoor Pizza Oven
Best Small Garden Solution: Charles Bentley Balcony Garden Half Parasol
We're always on the lookout for small garden ideas, and during the judging for the 2026 Ideal Home Awards, it's Charles Bentley’s Balcony Half Parasol that impressed us the most. It's so simple, but so convenient for small outdoor spaces (and very affordable!).
'This is an excellent buy for small gardens that still need shade but would otherwise drown under a full-sized parasol,' says Ginevra.
Best Outdoor Kitchen Solution: B&Q Cucino Modular Outdoor Kitchen Units
Outdoor kitchen ideas are perfect for making the most of your garden during the summer, hosting guests and family outdoors. We think B&Q's range of Cucino Modular Outdoor Kitchen Units is ideal for building a setup from scratch.
‘This modular kitchen features seven different units so you can create a layout to suit even the smallest of spaces,' says Heather.
Highly commended: Westin BBQ Pro Outdoor Hood
Best In Sustainability: Peat-free hub, Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres
The merits of peat-free gardening aren't to be ignored, which is why we love that Hillier Garden Centres is raising awareness with such an informative approach.
'Hillier Garden Centres' Peat-Free Hub stands out because it has sustainable gardening at its heart,' says Sophie. 'Peat-free compost is becoming more and more popular, and this hub is the perfect place for people to learn more about its benefits.'
Highly commended: Earthborn Suffolk Silicate Masonry Paint
The Judges
Heather has worked on Ideal Home for over 17 years and loves gardening.
Ginevra Benedetti has been the Deputy Editor of Ideal Home magazine since 2021, having first joined the team in 2011.
Jenny is Senior Digital Editor at Ideal Home. She manages the gardens section and has tested several lawn mowers, BBQs and other garden tools.
Since joining the team as Gardens Editor, Sophie has looked after Ideal Home's key garden buying guides and ideas features. She's always up to date with the latest garden trends.
As Ideal Home's resident kitchen appliance and cookware reviewer, Molly has tested several of the best BBQs and pizza ovens on the market.
Ever since taking on the role of Room Decor Content Editor, Sara has overseen some of Ideal Home's key furniture buying guides, including best sofa, having sat on over 150 models and counting.
We'd like to say a huge congratulations to the Ideal Home Awards 2026 garden winners, and thank them for entering market-leading, future-forward products and designs.
