Americans are looking outside their homes more and more for quiet places to relax. 42 percent of homeowners think of their outdoor space as "an outdoor room," according to research by the American Home Furnishings Alliance. When asked to name the most important things about that space, 86 percent said "relaxing" came first. Sixty percent said it should be a place where family and friends can "hang out," and 57 percent said it should be "a sanctuary."
The modular gazebo, which is now more affordable than ever, may be the most sought-after place of refuge. Some of the best features are windows that can be opened and closed and screens that can be taken off.
A large sun lounger that can be covered with sheers for privacy or a canopy for shade is a more mobile option. It can be a comfortable retreat for one person or an intimate oasis for two. When the cosy corner of a covered porch isn't available for a porch swing, which is a symbol of peace and quiet, there are portable porch swing stands that can turn any place in the garden into a place to relax.
The colours are spa blues and earthy greens, and there are lots of references to Asian symbols of peace. The designer of Century Leisure's new Kyoto collection, Richard Frinier, says that it shows how much people want a place of peace and beauty. "The look is all about elegance, peace, and harmony."
Cheryl O'Brien, a residential architect, says that outdoor living is becoming more popular at all price points. Americans want more than just a few potted plants, even in cities where there isn't much outdoor space. These people will find designs that are stylish and useful for a small space in the sun. For city outdoor living, there are two-seater cafe sets, small drop-leaf tables, and even a mid-height bar with bar stools that raise a person's line of sight just above the typical balcony rail.
Among other things:
Hot and cold. Portable propane fireplaces made for outdoor living spaces are making it possible to relax and entertain outside for longer. Some of them have tops made of slate, marble, or fake stone. With coordinated seating, people can make comfortable conversation groups around the firepit in their backyards.
If the warmth of a fire doesn't bring people together, maybe an outdoor bar or a table in the middle of which is an ice bucket full of cold drinks will.
Cushion's new ideas. High-tech cushions still look plump and keep giving great support even though they don't lose their shape. New filling blends make clothes softer without making them less resistant to water. One company has added padded cushions to low-maintenance sling seating by making them out of a special polyester fibre that gets rid of water better.
A new outdoor fabric is made of polyurethane that looks and feels like leather but can breathe. It doesn't let mould, mildew, stains, scratches, or fading happen. Other new fabrics give outdoor furniture the look of silk and linen.
Easy on the feet. The same company that makes a high-quality line of hand-woven rope hammocks also makes a designer line of exclusive outdoor rugs made of soft cotton. Other companies make umbrella and cushion covers with braided textures, machine-woven patterns, and bright colours. All are resistant to mould and mildew, easy to clean, and won't fade.
Protection from Above. All lounge chairs, swings, and hammocks come with awnings or canopies to keep you out of the sun. New umbrellas can rotate and turn to block the sun's harmful rays at different times of the day.
Products that have been recycled get a second chance at life. There may be more to new outdoor furniture than meets the eye. Several companies take plastic bottles that were going to be thrown away and turn them into a polymer that is very strong and can be made to look and feel like wood. These poly-resin products won't mould, break, rust, splinter, fade, or lose their colour. Thai antique farm tools are used to make furniture that is almost as durable as modern plastics but doesn't look like it. Teakwood yokes, ploughs, sugarcane grinders, and waggons are all being used as sturdy outdoor furniture.
