If you are looking to purchase furniture for your garden but you want to veer away from more traditional styles, there is an extensive selection of modern garden furniture to choose from in stores and online. But with such a variety of options, it is important that you know what you're looking for before you hand over the money.

When choosing your furniture, consider these key questions:

1. How much room do you have in your garden? 2. What pieces of furniture must you buy (e.g. four chairs, two side tables, two loungers etc.)? 3. How much time do you want to spend taking care of it? 4. What is going to fit in well with your outdoor space and your lifestyle? 5. What is your budget? 6. How many years do you want it to last and will the weather be a problem?

When you've decided what you are looking for, follow the following simple guidelines which are sure to make your furniture look as if it was made just for you and your garden:

1. Choose colors that compliment the foliage and design of your garden. For instance, if your plants are mostly green, choose a natural color like dark brown or cream; if you have a yard with year-round colorful flowers, choose bold colors for your furniture like yellows, oranges and blues.

2. Go for some modern materials (like dark wicker, bold plastics and chunky cut wood).

3. Choose a shape that fits in with the surroundings. If your greenery is rugged and has an overgrown look, the you should go with an organic, curved shape. For gardens with tidily maintained, sparse plants, choose angled, neat furniture to fit in naturally with the surroundings.

4. If your chairs have cushions and pillows, make sure the fabric suits the surroundings - for instance, don't choose a feminine, floral design for a highly architectural, tidy garden as it will just look out of place.

Finally, enjoy your updated garden! Gardens are places to relax and make memories, so choose key accessories that will compliment your new fittings and your garden's landscape. Whether it is some hidden lights in the foliage that give the garden a bigger, magical feel at night, or a water feature that gives a zen feeling to the space, or, even, a modern sculpture that draws the eye to a focal point near your new furniture. The art of accessorizing your space will compliment the modern feel you will create with your carefully chosen furnishings.