When furnishing an outdoor living space, comfort may be king but quality and flexibility rule
With all the chilly weather of late, you might find yourself daydreaming about summer. Think lunches on the deck, picnics on the lawn, dinner under the stars and lounging by the pool. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about the outdoor space you’d like to create for the warmer months. Having a well-furnished, beautifully decorated outdoor living space with quality outdoor furniture makes all of these scenarios so much more appealing, and it provides an additional ‘room’ you can use when entertaining.
“A great outdoor living area is like an extension of your home — it’s that extra room we all need when we want to gather with friends or family, or simply take some time out for ourselves,” says Steve Warner, director of Outhouse Design. “A thoughtfully designed, well-furnished space doesn’t just add value to your home, however. More importantly, it adds lifestyle value to you and your family.”
“Well-selected garden furniture is the icing on the garden design cake,” says Brent Candeo, director of Candeo Design. “You can design and build beautiful spaces but never use them due to the fact there’s either no furniture or you’ve chosen the wrong furniture. When you equip an outdoor living area with comfortable furniture that’s suited to purpose and complements the design of the space, you’ll find you want to spend a lot more time in it.”
Serving its purpose
“The first thing to think about is how you want to use specific areas,” Brent advises. “Are you intending to dine out there or would you like to have an outdoor lounge area? Maybe you want the space to provide for more than one function or you have multiple spaces to furnish. Once you’ve worked out how you intend to use each area, then you can think about the furniture you’d like for that space.”
“To achieve the maximum potential for an outdoor living space, it’s necessary to take a holistic view that includes all outdoor components in the landscape such as an adjoining pool, lawn and vegetation,” says Justine Carlile, founder of Justine Carlile Landscape Design. “Consider the entire area, then selection of appropriate furniture such as dining table and chairs, sofas, sunlounges and daybeds can be made. It’s essential that the outdoor furniture integrates nicely with the outdoor living space as well as being attractive and functional.
“The selection of appropriate outdoor furniture that will withstand exposure to the elements is critical, so best to choose high-quality materials such as synthetic wickers and true outdoor fabrics.
“The style of furniture will be very much dependent on both the specific area to be furnished, such as a pool or dining area, and how it will help the space integrate with the overall landscape theme — and also your interior decorating scheme if it’s an indoor-outdoor area.”
Compact living
If your space is limited, don’t despair. There are a number of options, such as custom or built-in solutions, that will create form and function in your outdoor space.
“In small spaces the answer is flexibility, so selecting items of furniture that can be folded away, stacked and stored is always a good idea,” Steve says. “Building in seating is a great way to make the best of those awkward corners. This might also be a chance to create that highly needed storage space for additional cushions that can also act as floor beanbags or the good old hammock for those lazy Sunday afternoon naps.”
Choosing furniture of the right shape and size is also important. “In smaller areas, choose more compact furniture and avoid bulky items. Also, give a thought to shape. For example, a square dining table can be a great option, while tub chairs instead of sofas will create more space,” Justine suggests.
What’s hot
Flexibility is what most people want, which is why modular settings continue to hold sway. Being able to buy the pieces that best meet your needs and then fashion a seating arrangement (possibly integrating side tables, ottomans and more) that’s perfect for your space holds great appeal.
Casual seating options are also in vogue. Popular are comfy ottomans that can be used as seating, plush floor cushions, outdoor beanbags and stools.
According to Brent, where creating an outdoor kitchen/dining area was once the priority, there’s now a push towards outdoor lounging with large and comfortable sofas, coffee tables, side tables and televisions.
“People are insisting on quality furniture to dress these areas so they closely resemble interior lounge spaces, and they’re insisting on furniture that is really comfortable,” he says.
“Comfortable is the go,” Steve agrees, “and flexibility, but with the cost of furniture on the rise we’re finding that repurposing is really hitting home at the moment. Upcycling or recycling is more common and a positive move away from disposable furniture.
“Clients are keen to have unique seating that has a bit of history, or a built-in seating area with timber that has character. This seems to be driven by a sense of connection and allowing furniture to be more of a talking point.”
Vintage is in vogue
“Vintage is back in vogue,” says Kristen Fillery of Colonial Castings. “Lately we’ve seen a resurgence of interest in all things retro. Many people are moving away from sleek modern lines and contemporary styles and turning to a vintage outdoor look. The 1970s, for example, has proven to be a popular design influence making its way back into outdoor arenas.
Think retro and vintage-chic lounge chairs and strong aluminium colonial-style cast furniture. This nod to yesteryear is all about comfort and quality that’ll stand the test of time.
“To take advantage of this trend, you don’t necessarily need to buy a new outdoor setting,” Kristen continues. “If you’re DIY-inclined, you could easily bring an old outdoor setting back
to life, add a fresh coat of paint and add some new cushions in a vintage pattern for some
retro charm.”
Durability and quality
As with most things in life, buying the best quality you can afford is always a good idea, and with outdoor furniture that is becoming easier. Buying quality is about comfort and style, and it’s about choosing something that is strong, durable and easy to care for. Exterior-grade hollow aluminium finished with a UV-stable powdercoating rates right up there for longevity and low maintenance. It’s lightweight enough to move around with ease but can be prone to dents, unlike cast aluminium.
“With more and more furniture finding its way into landfill, consumers are opting for durability,” Kristen says. “When choosing hard-wearing and long-lasting materials like cast aluminium, there’s no reason it can’t last a lifetime. Non-corrosive cast aluminium is ideal for all environments, so rust and harsh sun aren’t an issue.”
Timber remains a popular choice but it does require regular maintenance to preserve its looks and structural integrity over the long haul. If opting for wood, choose dimensionally stable hardwood. This means it won’t shrink and expand excessively due to moisture gain or loss.
Then there’s the fabric. With advancements in technology, outdoor fabrics have made quantum leaps, so if you buy quality, a lounge upholstered in all-weather fabric can rival the look and feel of its indoor counterpart. Buying quality fabric also means UV-light fastness and, perhaps most importantly, something that’s easy to clean.
Dress for success
Furniture on its own is only part of the equation. Adding decor helps create the right ambience and allows you to personalise the space. “I think it’s key to create a space that represents you,” Steve says. “Ask yourself how you want to feel when you’re in the space — calm and relaxed or awake and revitalised? Both these experiences can be created by the way the space is dressed.
“Treat the area like any room. Start with the main building blocks such as the solid structural furniture, then your second layer, which might include a feature lamp and an outdoor rug, then finish with personal touches and tableware.” Introducing potted plants is an easy way to add colour, texture and some design accents to an outdoor space.
‘While neutral, earthy tones are still in vogue, as are white, black and charcoal, today’s colour palette is diverse. So if you want lime, orange, red or purple, that’s no problem.
Cushions, throws and outdoor rugs can be used to accent an outdoor living space and thematically connect it with indoor living areas, but don’t forget the importance of wall art, sculpture, decorative screens, lighting and heating as forms of decor.
Lighting can easily take on a pivotal role in decor in the form of, for example, a row of votives running down the middle of a dining table, fairy lights draped around the branches of a tree, or rechargeable LED lanterns that look beautiful during the day and bring life to your outdoor space after sundown.
