High Street Heroes

A monthly perusal of High Street seasonal newness to find my Top 12 lustworthy items to add to your home or inspire you this May (vaguely outdoor entertaining related).

May 31, 2025

Rain of seemingly Biblical proportions has hit Yorkshire this week which is just bloody typical. It’s been so warm and sunny that we were deluded into thinking that this was it but no, it’s not. Today, the temperature has hit the heady heights of 13 degrees and I’m wearing a jumper. Which is annoying as I was fully into vest top, flip flop and cold rose mode. Max FaceTimed me from Bangkok this morning where he’s gone travelling with two friends for three weeks and told me it was 32 degrees which for me, is heaven. They’d had a pad thai for lunch after arriving at 7am from a 14 hour flight and were battling the tiredness with multiple Chang beers. He also told me that he’d discovered that vapes are illegal in Thailand (and have been since 2014, in fact) and you can be fined 100 baht for simply holding one in public. Who knew? I didn’t. Every day is a school day when you have a 21 year old son who is partial to an Elf Bar.

I started pilates last week after many years of not doing it, simply because I felt that I needed to do SOMETHING other than sit at a desk and occasionally pop to Waitrose. I have done pilates before, albeit about 13 years ago, but I had forgotten how deceptively effective it is. My first group session seemed fairly easy - legs up, arms stretched, bending over, all the stuff. Piece of cake, I tell you. Until I woke up the following morning and realised that my stomach muscles (which I had forgotten I had) were agony and my legs hurt and I remembered how secretly strenuous it was. I forced myself to a strength training PT for almost two years and the only time I really ever ached was when I did graduated weight squats (even that sentence makes me shudder). Anyway, I am going back tomorrow and I think I am going to quite like it which is a huge surprise to me. Ha.

Okay, back to the High Street and I have a vague theme running through this months edit and that is the garden. It may be pissing it down now, but I am certain that if we all manifest it enough the sun WILL return and we’ll be out there socialising or reading books with a glass of wine and a bowl of crisps before we know it. I hope so, anyway, as we’re having a mini garden party next week and I’m counting on it. I’ve hit the (virtual) shops on your behalf to see what’s there and the future is sunshine bright - there is much excellence to be found, some of which I am fuming that I’m unable to invest in as we are (hopefully) about to move home to a house with a tiny courtyard. Anyway, that hasn’t stopped me getting excited on your behalf, in particular about the new influx of garden furniture into shops, much of which does not have cushioned seating - BIG fan of this and not worrying about drying out cushions or watching them get more and more mouldy.

So without further ado, here’s my monthly round up of the best of the best, from glassware to servers through to lighting and textiles. And my fave find this month? The Lisbon stripe outdoor cushion from John Lewis which has a Summer perfect palette.

1. Outdoor Solar Light - H&M Home, £29.99

Let’s start with this little beauty which is garden perfect. It’s a solar light that’s 30cm high and it’s also dimmable, excellent for ramping up those cosy garden feels. It also comes in dark tan and black so you can match it to your outdoor decor. This would be excellent popped on a coffee or side table for those long warm Summer evenings. HA! We live in hope. Perfection.

2. Lobster Candleholder - Zara Home, £19.99

I need no excuse to add a crustacean into any edit, but this one is a particularly good one. Lobster, tick. Candleholder, tick. Plus, of course, Zara Home have managed to make lobsters look chic in a way that no other brand can do so this is an immediate Add To Basket. Excellent for adorning your summer dining table.

3. Lisbon Stripe Outdoor Cushion - John Lewis, £14.40

Now THIS is a good outdoor cushion. Begone the classic garden floral or pink flamingo print; this Lisbon stripe is super cool and the colour combo is spot on. These are the perfect tones for outdoor living and if I had a garden (LOL), I’d be buying it pronto. Also currently on 20% off until Monday so winner winner chicken dinner.

4. Chip & Dip Platter - Dunelm, £20

It wouldn’t be Summer without as many crisps that you can stuff in your mouth in one go and this huge stoneware chip and dip platter would do the job perfectly. You can fit BAGS into here (personal choice would be Chicken & Thyme Walkers Sensations - I tried to upgrade to Torres last weekend but they just didn’t do the same for me) plus a dip of your choice in the middle. Personally? I’d pick taramasalata every time.

5. Indu Outdoor Bench - Habitat £130

LOVE this bench. The colour is perfect (not too bright) and the style is simple and chic. You could add this to a vintage table or something sleek and modern and it would look equally good. Or just put it somewhere where you’ll have a pretty view. Either way, it’s a great bench and a bang on price point as well.

6. Four Petal Rim Wine Glasses - Marks & Spencer, £25

If you’re going to invest in a new set of wine glasses the Summer, then a petal rimmed set will give you ALL the warm weather feels. These are super pretty and more importantly, they’re green (I do love green) which means that they’ll look colour tone coordinated in the Great Outdoors and on your table set up. Petally perfection.

7. Ice Cream Bowl - Anthropologie, £10

Anthro always has some of the coolest and individual homeware and these little ice cream bowls are no exception. By Cafe Violette, they come in three colours (pink and lemon too) and are ideal for making sure that you don’t overdo the Ben & Jerrys (Phish Food, though - I cannot trust myself near of pot of this chocolate and marshmallowy loveliness, godammit). Perfect for Summer living.

8. Dandelion Solar Light - Oliver Bonas, £34.50

I’m not generally one for ‘fun’ outdoor lighting but this dandelion has entirely converted me. You just poke it into the ground, then it turns on automatically at dusk and stays lit for six hours. And it’s a metre high! For £34.50! This has good buy written all over it. Again, if I had a current garden I would be dotting these all over the shop.

9. Hand Woven Wicker Food Cover - Toast £65

I am faintly obsessed with Toast homeware - it’s all so beautifully made and practical and the colours are always muted and earthy Anyway, I actually own this food cover and I can tell you that it’s absolutely HUGE - 40cm diameter. SO huge that I have to stop Flo my massive fat BSH cat sleeping in the dish of it. It’s super sturdy and is perfect for using outdoors this Summer. Or, as I am in my cake era at the moment, carrying cakes to peoples houses for BBQ’s.

10. Large Fish Platter - Mango Home £35.99

Mango have thrown themselves into the colour blue with a vengeance this month, with a whole range of beachy fishy inspired outdoor homeware and textiles which is all really beautiful. The Piscean side of me has gone straight for this big fish platter but there’s also some great tablecloths and huge beach towels. They do things so well in Spain. Can I move there now, please?

11. Bianca Outdoor Coffee Table - La Redoute, £219.99

This entire range at La Redoute is currently in the Sale and I am VERY much here for it. It’s woven rattan and is made for outdoor use - this checked top coffee table has a huge 45% the normal price which makes it a brilliant buy. The range also includes benches and a couple of side tables and they would look amazing on a patio. So nice to see garden furniture this year which is not the standard - I feel that finally home brands are moving away from the traditional brown rattan and into more design led pieces.

12. SKOGSON Easy Chair, IKEA £75

I am finding myself leaning more and more towards practical solid garden furniture, mostly because I never remember to bring in the cushions on the sofa stuff and as a result, even though they are supposed to be waterproof they always end up with mildew stains. So this one which is new in at IKEA would be perfect. I love the mint green but it also comes in a light grey and looks comfortable (although I have not sat in it, in fairness). Easy care garden furniture is the future.

So there you have my favourite finds this month. Which do you like the best? Do tell me in the comments below!

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