Personalising your garden furniture

Personalisation allows you to make your furniture your own, whether you are marking a meaningful occasion, remembering someone special, or adapting a piece to suit a particular space or setting. From subtle engraved details to changes in size and proportion, our approach focuses on creating furniture that feels considered, appropriate and made for its purpose.

Many customers choose to personalise their furniture with engraving or a plaque, adding names, dates or short messages that give the piece lasting significance. Others come to us with more practical or design-led requirements, such as adjusting dimensions, seat heights or layouts to suit how and where the furniture will be used, or incorporating subtle details into the design itself, for example a heart or crest worked into the back of a bench, or an anchor motif shaped into the back of a chair. In all cases, the aim is the same: furniture that feels thoughtfully made, not mass produced.

Because each piece is handmade here in the UK, we have the flexibility to subtly adapt our designs to suit your space and how you’ll use them. Unlike mass-produced furniture, which comes in fixed sizes, a hand-crafted piece can be tailored for comfort and practicality. Depending on the product, this may include:

These adjustments allow a piece to feel considered and comfortable, while remaining true to the original design. If you’re unsure whether a change falls under personalisation or bespoke design, we can guide you through the options.

If you’re imagining a design that goes beyond minor adjustments or personal touches, our Bespoke Design service allows us to create furniture entirely tailored to your space and vision.

Engraving is a simple and permanent way to add meaning to a piece of furniture. Names, dates, symbols, quotes or short messages can be engraved directly into the timber, creating a subtle detail that becomes part of the furniture itself rather than something added afterwards. It is often chosen to mark a special occasion or to create a lasting memorial, and can be as discreet or prominent as feels appropriate.

We engrave directly into the wood, creating a beautifully natural and enduring result. Each engraving is carefully routed into the timber and then hand-finished to ensure clarity, depth and a clean edge. This approach works particularly well on wider rails, table edges or backrests, and over time the engraving weathers gently alongside the furniture, becoming an integral part of its character.

Plaques offer a flexible way to personalise furniture, not just for names and dates, but particularly where longer messages or additional detail are required. They can include names, dates, quotes, dedications or imagery, and are often chosen where a piece is intended to tell more of a story, whether commemorating a life, marking a gift, or recording something of lasting importance.

Our plaques are available in a range of premium materials, including heavy-duty bronze, engravers’ brass, stainless steel and high-quality plastic, which has the advantage of being non-tarnishing. Each plaque is neatly rebated into the timber, then both bonded and screwed for added security. Plaques can be produced in a variety of sizes, and where a longer inscription is required, we can adapt the design of the furniture itself, for example by widening a top rail or incorporating a plaque into the backrest using a larger upright section of your chosen timber.

In some cases, personalisation goes beyond words. We can incorporate subtle design details into the furniture itself, shaping elements of the piece to reflect a symbol, motif or idea that has personal significance. This might include a heart or crest worked into the back of a bench, an anchor motif shaped into a chair, or a tailored detail introduced into a table, frame or support. These features are always designed as part of the furniture, ensuring they feel balanced, appropriate and true to the overall form.

Whichever option you choose, we’ll work closely with you to create something that feels right, looks beautiful, and will stand the test of time.

Here are a few examples of how engraving, plaques and design detailing can turn a piece of furniture into something truly personal.