Hanging or freestanding
Almost every egg chair sold in the UK is technically freestanding, in the sense that it comes with its own stand rather than needing a beam or a branch. The difference is in how the seat attaches. Hanging designs suspend the basket from a chain or hook at the top of the frame, which is where the swing comes from. A small number of egg-shaped chairs sit directly on the ground with no movement at all, more like a rounded garden armchair.
If the gentle swing is the point, go for a hanging model. If you're tight on space or want something that stays put on a windy balcony, the fixed style is easier to live with.
Working out the space
The stand takes up more room than people expect. A single chair needs roughly a 1.2 metre square of level ground once you allow clearance for the base legs, and a two seater needs closer to two metres across. Add about 30 cm above the top of the frame if anything overhangs it.
Level ground matters more than surface type. Paving, decking and a firm lawn all work. Soft or sloping ground will let the stand rock, which is unpleasant to sit in and puts uneven load through the joints.
Weather and materials
PE rattan is a synthetic weave. It doesn't split, fade or go brittle the way natural wicker does after a couple of British winters, and the powder coating on the steel frame keeps rust off the metal. That said, no garden furniture is genuinely all-weather without help.
The realistic approach is to leave the frame out through the season, bring the cushions in when it rains, and cover the whole chair over winter. Cushion covers on most models unzip and go in the machine, so the odd spilled drink isn't a problem.
What arrives in the box
Expect the frame in sections, the woven basket, the seat and head cushions, fixings and an instruction sheet. Several models include a rain cover. Two people make assembly considerably easier, mostly because the basket is awkward to lift onto the hook alone.
Where else to look
If a swinging bench or a classic hammock suits the space better, those sit in swing seats and hammocks. For a full seating area rather than a single statement chair, have a look at garden sofa sets or the wider garden chairs range.
