You might be ready for summer, but is your patio?
With warm summer days on the horizon, it’s time to prep your patio and porch for outdoor entertaining. The cold, modern concrete look is on its way out, as is wrought iron and plastic faux-wood furniture. This season, it’s all about natural materials, retro-inspired style, and cool, soothing colors. Here are the top trends you’ll be seeing everywhere in summer 2017.
Indoor Setups Outside
Get ready for the indoors to take over the outdoors in 2017! The number one trend this year is a seamless transition from your home to your outdoor space using outdoor rugs, ottomans and side tables, and layered blankets and throw pillows. “The backyard/porch has truly become an extension of your indoor space,” says Melissa Simon, Public Relations Manager at Pier 1 Imports. “One of our new favorite trends this season is decorating with furniture and décor that looks like it was created for the indoors.”
Fun Printed Pillows
One sure way to bring the indoors out? With splashy patterned pillows. Stores are offering more and more options for cozying up your backyard (these from One Kings Lane—also featured at the top of this page—are our favorites). The best part: They can easily be switched out as time passes and trends come and go.
Cool, Coastal Colors
“On the fabric side, some of our favorites this season include our soft coastal Maui blues, and ivory/bisque,” Simon says of the look pictured, “as well as this great new textured solid called ‘Carmela,’ which is like a woven faux jute.”
Retro-Inspired Furniture
Forget overly ornate wrought iron and plastic faux-wood furniture. “One of the big trends we’re seeing is the emergence of a retro feeling,” says Maureen Welton, Creative Director at Article, which recently launched an outdoor collection. “People are going back to natural, woven styles and crochet techniques that add texture to any space. What was popular in the ’70s—like rattan and wicker-inspired furniture—is making a comeback.” And it’s not just outside: We’re seeing rattan indoors as well.
Non-Traditional Colors in Woven Furniture
The woven trend goes one step further with this bold take. “We are loving the introduction of new, non-traditional colors in woven furniture,” Simon says. “We introduced a beautiful, distressed light blue color in one of our Coco Cove collection, which offers a fresh look for the season. We also offered a new Parchment color in our Sunset Pier collection. Both of these new colors mix well with the darker, more traditional hues typically seen in outdoor furniture.“
Natural Materials
Just as in gardening, the sleek, modern look of concrete furniture is out and natural materials are in. “The use of wood and natural materials, like rattan and teak, are perfect for more rural, rustic spaces,” Welton says. Plus, “Solid teak tables and chairs age beautifully outdoors, developing a weathered-gray look over time.”
Unexpected Florals
We know, we know: Florals for spring and summer? Not exactly groundbreaking. But this season, look for new, surprising ways to incorporate them, like these super-fun galvanized wallflowers from Pier 1.
Mosaic Tables
This is one vintage style we will be glad to welcome back. “Mosaic tables continue to be a huge trend for both dining and accent tables, in materials from natural stone, to ceramic and glass,” says Simon.
Source: 8 Outdoor Trends That’ll Be “In” for Summer 2017—and 3 That’ll Be “Out”
