Housely
There’s nothing like being outdoors to relax, eat, or spend time with friends and family. Not long ago it was standard to display a few folding chairs on the lawn and kick back, but today’s outdoor furniture has taken exterior design and style to a whole new level. The thing to do now is create an outdoor setting filled with furniture and accessories that can rival even the most expertly styled interior living spaces. From home theaters, to outdoor bars packed with fire pits you’ll almost never know that you left the house to be outside.
We decided to come up with a list of five outdoor furniture trends that will dominate in 2016. We hope this helps you in your outdoor furniture search!
Fire Elements
Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces have been increasingly popular over the last few years, and in 2016 fire elements are taking a step beyond the standard outdoor fireplace or pit. Fire elements not only add practical warmth to an outdoor space — which can be invaluable on chilly spring and summer nights — but they also provide a beautiful visual element. Picture sitting around an outdoor fire after dinner and enjoying a glass of wine or a grown up marshmallow roast. When you add furniture that serves as a fire piece to your backyard, deck, or patio, it automatically becomes the centerpiece of the outdoor space. Open tables with fire pits filling the middle are becoming more common in outdoor living stores, as are organically made fire pieces. There’s no rule for how to create the right fire element for your space — as long as it’s sized appropriately and makes you feel more cozy and welcome, it will fit into your design plans. Some creative DIYers have even upcycled discarded wood planks and wine barrels into stunning outdoor fire elements. Fire elements work well for all design styles, from traditional to modern and minimalist.
Vibrant Colors
Neutrals have always been the go-to color for outdoor furniture, and it’s no question why: neutral colors blend in exceedingly well outside, look attractive, and are easy to use in any decor style. Neutrals are still king this year — particularly shades of gray — but the trend now is to throw in a punch of bold color to liven things up. Think putting a yellow and white chevron pillow onto a tan wicker chair or an aquamarine tablecloth over a black iron pedestal table. Bright yellows, orange, teals and aquas, hot pink, and reds have been especially popular. Adding a bit of bright color or interesting patterns here and there in pillows, accessories, and the like allows you to create a custom look for little cost. It’s also an easy way to give your outdoor space a facelift and take it from boring to gorgeous. If you’re a huge fan of color, this is the year to go all out and use it liberally. 2016 marks the year that it will be fairly easy to find everything from seating and chat sets to outdoor rugs and tables in interesting colors and patterns.
Photo via Kim Bartley Design
Rattan and Wicker
Most of us can remember a few decades ago when wicker furniture wasn’t just an outside staple but a popular material used for interior furniture. In 2016, wicker and rattan have taken on a stylish new flair — this isn’t the wicker furniture that you remember being in your parent’s summer home. You can still find the occasional piece in classic honey or light brown, but white, dark gray, and black rattan and wicker have been popping up in design magazines and on design store floors. Chairs, tables, stools, and outdoor sofas can all be found in these sturdy materials. Not only does this type of outdoor furniture last a long time and wear well, it’s super easy to clean, very comfortable, and versatile. Rattan and wicker furniture also meld beautifully with the trend of bringing natural and organic elements into living spaces both inside and outside. Each is also a genius way to add texture to your outdoor living space without adding additional accessories, which is perfect for those who prefer a minimalist look.
Picture via Lori Dennis
Seamless Blending
Whereas it used to be the trend to have an outdoor living space that was distinctly different from your interior spaces, more and more people are now aiming to seamlessly blend their outdoor and inside living areas together. This is why in 2016 you’ll see many patios, decks, and yards with furniture, styling, and elements that match the ones in the house’s interior. It’s especially common in homes where the outdoor entrances are close to living and dining areas or kitchens. Designers all over the world have caught on to using this design technique, and you can employ it no matter what type of outdoor living space you have. Even small terraces and tiny patios can seamlessly blend in with the rest of your home’s decor. Getting the look is simple: choose colors and materials for your outdoor furniture and accessories that mimic those found in your interior furniture and decorative elements. You can even use the same pillows outside that you have inside.
Photo via Highgatehouse
Mixed Materials
Perhaps one of the biggest outdoor furniture trends in 2016 is using mixed materials. Outdoor furniture made of both wood and resin has become quite common, and you can expect to see more stone and glass pieces this year as well. Teak and stainless steel or concrete are unexpected combinations that are turning up in outdoor furniture such as dining tables, side tables, and tea carts. This particular trend helps create a space that’s less stuffy and more casual and welcoming, avoiding the overly styled look that some exterior spaces tend to have. Combining different things to create a cohesive look may seem counterintuitive, but it actually works quite well.
The mixed materials outdoor furniture trend is ideal for anyone who likes to experiment and enjoys the contrast between vastly different things. If your aim is to create a more earthy outdoor entertaining space, using furniture with mixed materials is a good option. Mixed material outdoor furniture looks great, creates a modern feel, and is often easier to care for and keep clean. It also helps blur the lines between exterior living and entertainment spaces and interior rooms.
Photo: via Rikki Snyder
References
http://www.gardenandpatiohomeguide.com/emerging-outdoor-furniture-trends-in-2016/
http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/527666-six-key-outdoor-furniture-trends-2016
Lead photo by Benzfurniture
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