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Outdoor Spaces: Design Beyond Your Home’s Walls
I love summer, when my home seems to “grow” (no pun intended). The sunshine gives me the opportunity to take things outside, and utilize my outdoor living areas. My deck with its wrap around banquet seating, and my dining table under my gaze they just call to me when I’m at home in the summer!Think of all your outdoor spaces as additional rooms.Make a Small Space Feel LargeMany of us don’t have the luxury of a huge outdoor space. But, you can still make the space feel large. A good trick to create this illusion is to keep the colors both inside and out consistent and complementary. From the tones of your brick, to the flowers you plant.Avoid the Decorator Show House EffectWhat do I mean? This is when every room is a completely different look and color scheme. Itstops you abruptly, and spaces just don’t flow together. That doesn’t mean you should shy away from color. It’s okay to introduce a new color in a space, as long as it blends well with existing colors.Size Does Not MatterWhether your outdoor space is a little porch, a courtyard, or rolling acres — again, consistency is key. If you have a large space, try to create different “rooms” throughout your space. For example, you can separate your outdoor space into:Outside sitting areasWater featuresFire pitsThese “rooms” make people want to tour your outdoor home!Bring the Inside, OutsideWho says indoor furnishings have to stay inside? Weather permitting, I’ve used some of my indoor tables and chairs to set up for parties! There’s a lawn care commercial running on television that shows an entire living room set up on the front lawn. When the pizza delivery boy shows up, they ask him to remove his shoes before he enters their front gate! Get creative with the furniture you choose.Don’t Forget LightingJust as it does for indoor spaces, the right light can completely transform your outdoor space! I use lighting for my trees, architecture and sculptures. Tiki torches, even strung Christmas lighting hidden in my ground covers. I even have an outdoor chandelier with candles and clay flower pots as candle holders. Try a low bowl with floating flowers and candles as a table centerpiece. It doesn’t block people’s view and the warm glow makes everyone look fab. Nature’s own twinkling fireflies will also give your space a dreamy look! There is not limit to your outdoor lighting options.
6 OUTDOOR FURNITURE TRENDS OF 2020 – FOR ANY BUDGET
We tapped hundreds of design professionals to get their reads on this unique summer’s outdoor furnishing directions. For each, we’ve offered specific suggestions both pricey and affordable, so you can shop the trends no matter your means.
- House-Worthy Patio Pieces
The favourite outdoor trend is furnishings that appear to belong indoors. Improved materials and finishes make it possible to layer unpredictable pieces and to transcend expectations. Though sturdy teak furniture is a patio stalwart, brands have begun deftly integrating slivers of the wood into more sinuous forms made of other materials. For example, 1stdibs’s is a great source of things such as a Sandglass side table that features a teak top and powder-coated aluminum base, while West Elm’s Mexa design incorporates nylon cord. With their mixed finishes, these two seem to have escaped from a living room, yet both will stand up to the elements. - Watching the Weaves Change Colour
Paola Lenti produces a chair with a clever and unexpected blend of colour. For years, the only colour conversation in outdoor furniture was primary or pastel. Multihued weaves hammer the final nail in the safe-colour coffin. Ms. Lenti’s lounge comes in hundreds of colourways. Textiles, textures, colours and weaves allow for incredible personalisation,” says Ms. Lenti, “but also a vibrancy that promotes a sense of joy.” Of MoMA’s more accessibly priced new retro aluminum-framed folder, Amanda Lindroth, a designer based in the Bahamas, said, “It reminds me of childhood. Everyone carried those chairs to the beach and sat high up over the sand.” - For Love of the Flame
With our options for places to relax and recreate drastically curtailed, patios are increasingly becoming outdoor living rooms. If you add a heat source, those alfresco spaces can be enjoyed from early spring well into Autumn. Fire pits, already popular but newly relevant, let us escape to open-air seating areas that are an antidote to screen time, a source of calm and serenity, said Los Angeles-based landscape designer Patricia Benner. She favours designs of hardworking corten steel: “I love the weathered, earthy patina of the naturally oxidized finish.” Robert Plumb produces a popular range, while Design Within Reach’s line arrives assembled. - Dark Matters
Something traditional like wicker, usually found in natural or white, looks fresh and current in black,” said Stefan Beckman, whose design studio produces homewares under the label Lateral Objects. Of the almost-black nautical rope used to execute the weatherproof, it turns a classic wicker basket on its head. The affordable carryall designs suddenly popping up, meanwhile, let people cart interior accessories like cushions out to a terrace and back, another trend. “I keep baskets near our patio doors and bring them outside when needed,” said Joanna Leung, vice president at Ratana Outdoor Furniture. - Curvy, Cosy, Comfy
If you ask New York designer Keita Turner, the boom in bulbous, enveloping outdoor furniture might reflect our collective desire to return to the womb. Her other theory: People “are opting for an alternative to the boxy, clean, linear shapes” that have dominated the market in recent years. Judy Olson Dunne of New York’s Butter and Eggs Interiors concurs: “The shapes are interesting and typically very comfortable.” The concave seat of Ligne Roset’s new outdoor version of its 1965 modular Saparella Sofa (left) beckons like an adult cradle. Of the Repp Patio Sofa (right) with its tufted seat cushion, Ms. Turner said, “It could hardly be more inviting if it tried.” - So Long Fairy Lights
Experts have pulled the plug on string lights, which they think are overused and just too cutesy looking. Plus, you need to be wary of the unflattering glow of exposed-filament bulbs. Instead we will seek the grown-up glow of outdoor light fixtures with shaded fabrics, and randomly placed, low indirect lighting creating special moments and highlights.
Designer outdoor furniture trends
It’s that time of year again when the first sight of tulips signals a move to the great outdoors just in time for High Point Furniture Market.Depending on your locale, the spring, summer and fall months provide an excellent climate for outdoor living. And as the trend of treating the outdoors as an extension of the house continues, home furnishings are stepping up to the plate with a variety of sophisticated and weather friendly fabrics, furniture and accessories.This High Point season Summer Classics incorporates customized outdoor rooms designed with relaxation and functionality in mind. Leading up to market we looked to a few of our favorite designers for tips on creating your own outdoor retreat.QualityTailoring your décor to complement the colors of nature, making space for dining and entertainment as well as a functional room layout are just a few of the main considerations when planning your exterior’s interior. “My number one piece of advice is to buy the best quality,” says Shay Geyer, owner and designer of IBB Design Fine Furnishings. “Well made outdoor furnishings have rigorous testing and high standards to ensure these pieces will withstand the outdoor elements. No one wants to replace the furniture once a year!” Based in Dallas, the designer notes, “In Texas, we have hot summers with intense sun. I always suggest looking for woven fabrics as printed fabrics often fade much faster. It’s important to read the light fast ratings and take into account if the fabrics will be sitting in direct sunlight or under a covered patio.”ColorWhen choosing color, the sky is literally the limit – no pun intended. Geyer notes that she “steers clear from boring beige as there are so many beautiful colors in nature to pull from to create a palette.” If you are poolside, the aqua and blue shades of water provide a variety of tones to choose from, particularly the classic blue and white palette which is on trend both indoors and out. “I also love black and white with punchy pops of color – think Palm Beach Chic,” details Geyer. She also advises the use of Sunbrella fabrics that are made to “take on the abuse of Mother Nature.”Summer Classics Creative Director, Chris Hutchens designed the High Point Showroom to be one of great serenity. “We’re keeping the colors neutral with some pops of vibrant jungle colors and beach tones,” Chris explains. “The overall feel is soothing. We want the showroom to feel like an escape from reality.”FunctionFunction obviously plays a key role in your design plan and entertainment is paramount and has recently been a major outdoor furniture trend in the industry. Pamela Kellogg of Costa Mesa, California based Designers Resource Collection details, “Gone are the days where there was one specified sitting are in the backyard. People desire to have more of an experience and are maximizing the use of their space to create more of an outdoor living area, full kitchens, cabanas and bars are being installed along with fireplaces and TV/entertainment units. And daybeds are being used in dedicated lounging areas lending to more of luxury type feel.”MaterialsMaterials are also key. Kellogg says her clients “Often wish they could have their outdoor design match their indoor décor. Well they can! There are so many amazing stylish options for furniture and accessories! Whether your style is traditional, modern or eclectic, there is something for everyone.”