Patio furniture from 50 years ago looked like it belonged distinctly on the patio and nowhere else: heavy wrought iron pieces cast in flower and shell patterns, steel or aluminum stamped chairs and gliders, tubular frames with rough woven webbing that would fray in long threads and hang sadly like broken spider webs after a summer rain (ah, the good old days). This was patio furniture designed to be colorful and kitschy and fun in a manner that seemed right at home, only at home, on the patio.
While some of those past furniture trends are making a comeback today as retro chic, the real trend found in modern patio furniture showrooms (and the finest homes and resorts around the world) centers around the idea of bringing the “indoors” outside. That is, creating a complete living space outdoors with many of the same elements previously found only in your comfy living room or den.
Sectional Couches
We’re talking comfortable outdoor couches with deep seating cushions, multiple layout configurations to rearrange your space as desired, stain and fade – resistant fabrics available in a myriad of colors, and frames constructed of luxurious teak, stainless steel, man-made woven materials. If you thought outdoor furniture couldn’t be nap-worthy, think again.
Coffee & Console Tables
Hey, you’ve got to have a place to put down your drink and your tablet. Forget shaky little folding patio side tables of the past. Consider a handsome glass-topped coffee table, console table, and side tables to go with your new sectional outdoor couch. Your guests will appreciate not having to hold their drinks in their laps.
Outdoor Rugs
Nothing ties a room (or patio) together like a good rug. Constructed of materials specially designed to resist fading and allow water to pass through, modern outdoor rugs come in every shape, size, and theme. And there’s nothing like walking onto your patio barefoot and feeling the soft pile of a rug under your toes.
Wall Art
There’s a lot of outdoor metal wall décor on the market, but if you’re looking for something a bit more sophisticated, consider a framed outdoor art print. Using special waterproof inks and canvases, our artists have created vibrant prints that resist fading and don’t need to be protected by an overhang or covered porch.
Fire and Heat
It used to be enough to sit around a simple wood-burning fire pit and stare into the flames and contemplate your life: Am I truly happy? Should we buy that car? If I move my chair to the other side will the wind change direction and blow smoke in my face anyway? Now with the invention of propane fueled fire tables and advances in radiant heat technology, you can contemplate the universe in comfort and leave the smoke behind.
