Compact Outdoor Furniture
Living is supposed to be easy in the summer time and fortunately there are a number of outdoor furniture companies dedicated to making that happen for you. Yards, porches and patios are definitely an extension of our homes and serve as places to relax, play and entertain. Last night I was at a friend’s beach house built in 1927 on the sand. Only these days there is a wide sidewalk and a narrow street immediately attached to the front porch before you get to the sandy beach. She barely has room on the porch for four chairs and tiny folding TV trays. After years of struggling with how to entertain comfortably, my buddy has discovered that some of the guests just have to sit a few feet lower on the sidewalk side of the brick wall that forms the porch and put their plates and glasses on the wall.
Even the tiniest yard, that can be typical of every kind of home from an inner city townhouse to a cottage at the coast, struggles when faced with expanding to meet entertainment needs. If you live by the ocean, one of the main concerns about outdoor furniture is the abuse it takes from the salt air. Teak furniture is popular, but many people don’t like the way that the wood naturally turns gray and weathers. The dirt and salt always accumulates on surfaces and it can be a chore to clean of wood patio furniture. Thankfully, trendsetters in outdoor furniture manufacturing have turned to better materials that are lighter in weight and user friendly.
“Technology is behind the evolution of the outdoor space, offering more flexibility to be creative, customized and as multi-functional,” offers Jennifer Dorr of The Veneman Group. Stainless steel, glass, aluminum, and high-end polymer substances are a few of the materials that have modernized conventional styles. This transformation has resulted in eye-catching and novel pieces such as the Mosaic game board table shown.
You can get this entirely handmade cast aluminum chess board top table as shown or with a 42″ x 42″ glass top. Tucked under the table are boxed cushions that are crafted of a fill that allows water to drain making this a no-worry assemblage for out side use. Because this design allows for the stools to fit compactly right under the table top, it is a useful choice for the space-starved household.
Other ideas are stacking chairs that enable you to plan for eight, but only take up floor space for one guest. Folding chairs are a bit more bulky, but if you have a slightly more generous storage area, they work well too. The popularity of sophisticated and colorful outdoor-rated textiles adds the option of adding lots of color and texture to an outdoor “living room.” Gorgeous patterns are available in all-weather fabrics that look good enough to be used inside as well. People are looking for indoor-like comfort and variety.
Notes Dorr, “You can create an outdoor living room where everyone will want to hang out by mixing seating designs such as sofas, chat chairs, and swivel chat tables.
Color can also expand an ‘Outdoor Room.’ You can incorporate a dash of vibrancy with a colorful outdoor umbrella, ottomans, or throw pillows to expand the space. Using
neutrals as your base, add bold color for a more lively look that creates interest. Mixing and matching fabrics and patterns is an effective way not only to show off your personality, but to feel spacious in a once empty and uninteresting patio.”
There are products out on the market that help to create an indoor feel to your out-of-doors room: You can locate a full menu of outdoor table lamps and floor lamps that operate by battery, there are throws made of durable fibers, and pillows in all weather fabrics. “Today’s pillows can move from room to room, as an interior extension to the outdoor, offering homeowners unrestricted lifestyle looks,” says Dorr.
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Copyright © Copley News Service. Used with permission.
