Don’t Be Colour-Shy
Taupes and neutrals have ruled the backyard decorating world for years, and are sure to sell at similar levels in the years to come. But it also finally looks like bold and bright is back in style this summer. The key is not to match every piece in your backyard by buying it all in the same bold hue. Instead, you’ll want to find pieces that pop against the more neutral items you already own. If you have wicker furniture in a natural wood stain, for example, pick a favourite colour in a bright shade to upgrade your seat cushions or throw pillows. A bold pattern in the same colour family would also work great for mixing and matching the cushions and pillows For all of these pieces, make sure you’re choosing colours that come in a weather-friendly fabric – since bold and bright is the intended look, you’ll want to make sure that the colour doesn’t fade in the sun and that it maintains its cheery appearance as the summer wears on.
Bring the Indoors, Outdoors
More homeowners are now embracing the idea that their outdoor space can feel just as comfortable in a room inside their house. One way to bring the indoor vibe outside is to cover your outdoor furniture in a fabric that will make your guests do a double-take. These tartan patterns, for example (available via Prestige Decor), may look like the upholstery that belongs inside your house, but production methods have now progressed to the point that companies can offer intricate patterns for fabrics on outdoor furniture as well. Another interesting take on bringing the indoors outside is to invest in a weather-friendly, yet stylish lighting fixture for your backyard. If you have any kind of coverage for your back porch or patio, keep an eye out for a lighting fixture made of wrought-iron or other weather-friendly metal. The idea of a nice lighting fixture outdoors will really elevate your backyard space and make guests feel completely at home. If you have a gazebo or framed space, you might also consider hanging drapes in a weather-friendly fabric that can be drawn closed for shade during the day, or to keep bugs at bay at night.
Look for Furniture Made with Natural Materials
Wicker, rattan and straw-looking materials are all thoroughly back in style for backyard furniture. Rather than the painted styles that we’ve been seeing in recent years, manufacturers have simply been staining their wicker furniture for weather durability and leaving the pieces in their natural wooden state. It makes sense, too, to leave the wood looking as natural as possible for an outdoor space, helping to blend the indoors and outdoors to create a stylish backyard spot to spend time with guests. To complement any wooden furniture pieces you have, we recommend mixing them with pieces made of natural-looking or weather-worn metals, like wrought iron and pewter. Pairing a metal-based table with your wicker chairs will help to ensure your space isn’t too matchy-matchy, while also making sure that the pieces complement each other.
The Beauty of Imperfection
Hygge was the word we couldn’t get enough of for a few years when it came to design trends. This Danish word, translating roughly to “cozy,” is all about getting comfortable indoors by emphasizing the use of natural materials and the need for great lighting to create a homey, calm environment. Now, decor blogs and magazines can’t get enough of the Wabi Sabi trend, a design philosophy imported from Japan that emphasizes the beauty of imperfection. On the same note as the natural-looking materials noted above, rough-edged and natural stones are making a comeback in both gardens and patio setups alike, and an “undone” look for landscaping is becoming all the rage. Wabi Sabi is the art of embracing the wild, unkempt look of nature – letting your garden grow a little over your pathways instead of trimming it perfectly, and finding wood and rock with rough edges to decorate are both great ways of adopting this trend.