At the first sign of sunshine and warm temperatures, Torontonians are out on patios in full force. We crave these fleeting summer moments all through the cold winter and thrive outside from May to September.
Now, the latest patio furniture trends reflect how much time we spend outdoors and focus on comfort and style, not just function.
Shannon Eckel-Braun, owner and principal stylist at The Design Factory in Kitchener-Waterloo, says pieces commonly found indoors are now being adapted to suit outdoor settings.
“It’s not just a patio anymore, it’s another room from your house that’s outside.”
This means everything from couches and coffee tables to recliners, ottomans and floor lamps are being designed for the great outdoors.
Here are 6 of this season’s biggest trends for outdoor living:
Deep seating furniture and coffee tables
What do you typically do on your patio or deck? Is it a family zone, like a living room, or is it reserved more for guests?
If you’re catering primarily to family, think about what you like about rooms in your house and try to create a similar feel outside.
Duy Vinh, general manager at Salco Patio and Leisure in Markham, says the theme of bringing the indoors out isn’t brand new, but this year, he’s seeing more people buying deep seating pieces and coffee tables as opposed to dining sets. This creates more of an outdoor sitting room rather than a formal dinner table.
If entertaining is your main priority, you may want to opt for a more traditional dining area. Eckel-Braun says you’ll still find lots of upholstery and thick, comfortable cushions, much like the deep seating furniture.
Area rugs
Whether indoors or out, “an area rug automatically creates a defined space,” says Eckel-Braun.
If you’re having trouble dividing your space into distinct zones — whether they be for eating, lounging, cooking or just for the kids — think about how indoor floors and tiles help us define rooms inside. The same concept can be applied outside with an all-weather rug.
Tip: Look for rugs designed for the outdoors. Martha Stewart Living, for example, has outdoor rugs designed to look like natural fibres, but they are actually manufactured from “100-per cent enhanced polypropylene for UV protection and mildew- and mould-resistance.”
Curtains and fabric dividers
Looking for a way to create a private space without boxing in your deck?
In the same way an area rug can define a space, sometimes all you need are some outdoor curtains or movable fabric dividers. Both are simple ways to create a wall without having to build a permanent divider.
Comfort accessories
Outdoor furniture has started to mimic what we have indoors because it’s more comfortable and that reaches beyond major pieces.
Eckel-Braun calls throw pillows, area rugs and inexpensive lighting “comfort accessories” because they make spaces easy to live in, whether indoors or out.
If you can only afford to change one element in your outdoor space, Eckel-Braun says it should be these items. A few bright throw pillows in a bold pattern will refresh any patio set.
Tip: Choose mildew and water-resistant fabric and look for “UV protected” on the label so you know the colour won’t fade.
Stools and benches
“Function is trendy,” says Eckel-Braun.
Step up your patio functionality with a few stools, which can be used for seating or side tables or can even serve as pedestals for urns and planters when not in use.
The same goes for benches. They’re great for seating guests, but can be pushed aside when they’re not in use. And, like many indoor benches, their outdoor counterparts are now starting to have under-seat storage for throw pillows, candle holders or whatever else you want to stash away while you’re not outside.
Bright colours — maybe
“Showrooms are utilizing vibrant colours on their umbrellas and cushions,” says Vinh, “but people are still going with the earth tone colours.”
“[Trends are] shifting slightly towards more eye catching colours such as the yellows and reds but a majority [of people] still prefer the safe choice of browns and grays,” he says.
According to Eckel-Braun, the best choice depends on the rest of your yard.
If you grow mostly foliage and greenery, she says you can play up pattern and colour in your furniture. She loves bold prints like damask; thick stripes are also popping up everywhere this season.
However, if your garden is an oasis of bright flowers, choose a more neutral scheme for your furniture and accessories so you don’t have too many elements competing for attention.
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