Four months of use, twelve months of storage
That is the paradox of outdoor furniture in Switzerland. You genuinely use it from May to September — sometimes less, depending on the year and the altitude. The rest of the time it has to be covered up, carried down to the cellar, or left outside to deteriorate.
A good-quality garden set quickly represents CHF 2'000 to 4'000. Spread over the handful of months you actually use it each year, the maths starts to look questionable — especially if you are not certain how long you will stay in this home.
Three situations where renting simply makes sense
You rent your home and you don't know for how long. Moving a garden set is a chore, and it probably won't suit the next balcony anyway.
You have no storage space. Plenty of Swiss flats don't come with the cellar you would need. Renting means handing the furniture back in autumn instead of hunting for somewhere to put it.
You are putting a property on the market. A furnished terrace changes how a flat is perceived during a viewing. It is home staging applied to the outdoors: the buyer pictures a place to live, not an empty concrete slab.
Getting the scale right for your space
Narrow balcony (under 4 m²) — Two chairs and a small round table are enough. The classic mistake is trying to squeeze in a full lounge set: you end up with a space you can no longer move through. Go for a folding table or a side table instead.
Generous balcony or loggia (4 to 10 m²) — Here a proper dining table for four becomes realistic, or two comfortable armchairs with a coffee table if you favour drinks over dinner. Choose according to how you actually live, not according to the catalogue.
Terrace or garden (over 10 m²) — You can create two distinct zones: a dining corner and a lounge corner. That is what makes it feel like an extra room rather than a walkway.
Materials that stand up to the Swiss climate
Our climate is demanding: frost in winter, strong light in summer, humidity near the lakes.
Aluminium doesn't rust and stays light — handy for moving pieces around as the sun shifts. Good-quality woven resin copes well with UV and moisture. Teak is beautiful and long-lasting, but it needs annual care if you want to keep its golden tone — otherwise it turns silver-grey, which has its own charm.
Be wary of cushions with fixed covers: they are the first thing to age badly. One less thing to manage when the furniture is rented: normal wear is included.
What renting from Swaap includes
- Delivery to your address, anywhere in Switzerland
- Assembly by our teams — no instruction leaflet to decipher
- Collection at the end of the rental period
- Normal wear from outdoor use
You can rent for the season, or over 3, 6 or 12 months. And if a piece wins you over, the option to buy stays open at the end of the rental.
When should you book?
Demand peaks in April and May. If you are aiming for the first warm days, book from March onwards: that is when the choice is widest. In high season, the most popular pieces go quickly.
That said, a request in July is often still workable — call us and we'll look at what is available straight away.
Furnish your outdoor space
Explore our garden furniture for rent and our Outdoor selection, then add outdoor rugs and a few decorative pieces to set the mood.
Not sure how to scale your terrace? Write to us with the measurements and a few photos: our team based in Gland will suggest a tailored selection within 24 hours.