Patio Furniture Re-Fresh: What’s New
By Ann Lally
Photos Credit: Lloyd Flanders. “Reflections Line” outdoor furniture.
Now that a chill is in the air, it’s time to think about the state of our outdoor furniture. With this winter comes thoughts of living outdoors for an extended period and refreshing what we have after a long season of COVID. Furniture for the patio and terrace is in stores and on backorder, and its’s time to get the pick of the selection before Spring. All too often, the nicest styles are gone by the time a season begins. For now, however, seasons are irrelevant when it comes to entertaining during a pandemic.
This season, we are seeing greater emphasis on style, comfort, and color in outdoor furniture. The materials themselves have vastly improved. Chairs and chaise lounges look especially sleek and contoured, or deep and plush. Many have a sculptural grace that was not as noticeable before. Lighter materials such as extruded aluminum, painted a variety of sophisticated colors, look chic when adorned with weather resistant fabrics such as Sunbrella ®. Other frames, made of heavy-gauge aluminum, are handsome in enameled colors like mocha, vanilla or camel. And the detachable cushions in these new fibers and drainable fillings will resist mold if left outdoors in the rain. Teak is still a timeless and durable classic.
Another area of bright news for a patio or deck is umbrellas. The best part of many innovative designs is the large round or rectangular ones that have an unusually wide span and can shade an entire dining or seating area. Pretty colors can help redefine an entire area. Refreshing outdoor furniture helps bring the indoors out and encourage companionship nearby.
Available through specialty furniture retailers or interior designers
