Outdoor in focus

The beauty of a well-put-together outdoor area isn’t simply the fact that you have an inviting space to soak in the sun; it also adds to the overall look of your home. That said, the opposite is also true: choose the wrong pieces, and you’ll probably opt to sit inside rather than venturing outdoors.

That’s why, before you even look at patio and poolside furniture, you need to consider your space. Forgetting to measure your patio is a rookie mistake, one with big impacts. It’s not only the size of the furniture that matters in this regard: you’ll need different pieces depending on whether you want to use the patio for lounging or if it is to serve as an outdoor dining room. You might even want to incorporate both functions in the same space.

Space considerations sorted, it’s time to focus on the furniture itself. All chairs are not created equal: they may look good, but that doesn’t mean that they’ll be comfortable enough for an alfresco lunch. Don’t be shy to try out the seat you have your eye on before you commit.

The quality of the furniture is paramount. If you have a covered patio, weather-proof materials may not be a necessity, but since the South African sun can be hard on furnishings, it’s worth investing in an all-weather cover. Ideally, materials that can stand up to the rain and sunshine take first prize, especially if you’re not  mad about maintenance. If you’re not averse to treating furniture seasonally and removing splinters, you can opt for wood. Otherwise, a powder-coated aluminium framework might be best, along with UV and colour stabilisers for synthetic weaves.

Talking trends

With the basics taken care of, you can have some fun with appearances. Not that it’s obligatory to invest in the hottest trend, of course: above all, your outdoor area should blend in with the overall look and feel of your home, so if you have favoured classic styling in all rooms, the season’s newest, freshest fashions might seem out of place.

Still keen to update your outdoors? Mia Delport of the Patio Warehouse reports that this is the year of the fully upholstered patio furniture set. She advises choosing a suite covered in Sunbrella – a fabric that boasts a five-year guarantee, and is so waterproof that furniture will be dry to the touch half an hour after rain.

Although tropical motifs (shades of green and leafy graphics) are still having their moment in interior decor, Delport says that minimalism is now key for the outdoors so, if you have your heart set on a pattern, choose something simple.

Alon Sachs of Mobelli Furniture + Living agrees. The beauty of fully upholstered outdoor furniture is that it has the plush look of indoor furnishings, which dovetails neatly with one of the key moods of the moment: creating outdoor living rooms. Sachs also recommends simplicity: he notes that although brown and white have been in the spotlight recently, the trend now is for greys – either in soft tones or darker anthracite, even black. If that sounds a little heavy and dull for a space that you think of as light and bright, you can add interest with detailing like deep buttoning and quilting.

The simplicity of upholstered pieces places more emphasis on the rest of the outdoor space. Sachs calls this trend ‘outdoor homing’, explaining that it is all about making the patio just as comfortable as indoor rooms. In fact, decor elements usually reserved for bedrooms and lounges have now made their way outdoors: patios are being dressed up with rugs, scatter cushions and other accessories. These simple touches elevate the patio from a space to park your loungers to an area that has real style and reflects your personality, Sachs observes.

Linked to this, outdoor areas are now being divided into zones – again, just as they are inside. Your open-plan lounge and dining room are a case in point; similarly, patios are being ‘zoned’ to create separate areas for lounging and dining. Sachs notes that using rugs is a great way to demarcate space.

‘Transforming furniture and furniture compositions will be a trend in 2019,’ Sachs continues. ‘Furniture that adapts to our lifestyle and that is suitable for smaller urban living spaces will prevail. This trend is also about being a co-creator of your own space as you build the furniture pieces to suit your current needs and adapt as you change or develop.’

Make it yours

One of the easiest ways to embrace this look is by using modular furniture, which can be adapted as your space evolves – add pieces, take them away, bring in chair backs, move side tables around, introduce a few ottomans.

You may also wish to echo the colour palette that dominates your interiors, picking up accent colours with scatters and throws. ‘This will soften your outdoor space and create a harmonious flow between the two areas,’ Sachs says.

Keep it classic

If you’re not convinced that the upholstered look will work in your home, why not return to the classics? Sachs says that wicker furniture will always have its fair share of fans – but, to prevent your patio from looking dated, consider pieces that are curvier and design-led rather than the more traditional boxy designs.

Perhaps more than any other room in the house, the outdoors is a space where function and comfort are just as important as style – an ethos embraced by this season’s key trends.