Modern Furniture Brings the Indoors Outdoors

by | July 15, 2013 2:34 pm

Fashion Meets Function

By Nick Candeloro

[1]

After years of being an afterthought, outdoor furniture has become a priority for homeowners looking to create their own personal oasis at home. The ability to entertain in a stylish backyard is now as important as having a top-of-the-line kitchen or large ensuite bathroom. To keep up with this growing demand, the outdoor furniture industry has found new ways to use different materials to create an array of well-designed, durable and exciting furniture, just as attractive and stylish as their indoor counterparts.

Outdoor furniture designers have finally been able to make a name for themselves in the same way as indoor furniture designers. The days of simple plastic table and chair designs and colourful floral-patterned cushions are gone. Today, outdoor furniture options are seemingly endless, and with the re-emergence of various trends, there are now thousands of ways to dress up your space and to truly make it an ‘outdoor room.’

A myriad of materials

There are a wide variety of materials being used to manufacture outdoor furniture, allowing design and creativity to be even more prominent. While pieces are made using everything from tubular aluminum, wood and wrought iron to stainless steel and wood-plastic composite (WPC), the three most popular materials are cast aluminum, resin wicker and extruded aluminum.

Cast aluminum

Still one of the most popular categories used in the North American market today, cast aluminum furniture offers a wide range of designs with an array of styles, from modern to traditional. It can add sophistication to any outdoor space; with the addition of some beautiful seat cushions, the completed look can be quite striking.

[2]Aluminum offers the look of cast iron, while remaining rust-resistant, lightweight and virtually maintenance-free. However, be careful with lower-quality aluminum sets; metal preparation and paint quality make a huge difference in the furniture’s longevity. If these are compromised, corrosion may set in and affect the surface and finish of the pieces. Look for products that use paints with ultraviolet (UV) inhibitors to ensure they can withstand many hours in the sun without discolouration or blemishing.

Weight also plays an important role in the quality of cast aluminum furniture; however, the heaviest set is not necessarily the best. Modern manufacturers are able to adjust weight content to keep prices lower. If engineered correctly, the weight may not affect the strength and durability of the furniture. That said, higher metal content does tend to make a stronger product. Look for quality finishes, good weight content and a proper warranty.

Resin wicker

Also known as all-weather wicker, resin wicker is as popular as cast aluminum, and has dominated the ‘conversation’ and ‘deep seating’ furniture categories in recent years. It has contributed to the resurgence of outdoor cushions and comprises some of the most comfortable furniture made today. Designs range from modern to traditional; resin wicker can also be combined with other materials, such as stainless steel and wood, to produce unique looks.

Resin wicker is made of a durable, weather-resistant and long-lasting synthetic material. However, given the popularity of this material, the range of quality levels is vast. As a result, you need to be selective when purchasing this furniture.

The most important factor to look for is a wicker fibre with a high UV rating, as this allows the furniture to withstand long hours in the sunlight and cold weather without fading or breaking. Most new fibres on the market wear well in hot and cold weather conditions; however, make sure there is a good warranty in place and you purchase the furniture from a reputable specialized retailer. Also look for furniture with an aluminum frame. This will ensure a rust-free subsurface, while making the furniture lighter and easier to move around your backyard.

Extruded aluminum (‘wood-look’)

[3]Extruded aluminum is quietly the fastest-growing furniture category since resin wicker penetrated the outdoor furniture market 10 years ago. In the extrusion process, a material is pushed or drawn through a die to form a shaped hollow length of metal, which then gets cut and welded together to produce furniture. The engineering allows for a durable, long-lasting and clean-surfaced product. The design caters to furniture collections with modern looks and clean lines.

In the outdoor furniture market, designers have used this process (and some simple styling) to produce furniture that resembles wood. The paint finishes on these pieces are typically hand-done to give the metal’s smooth finish some texture and distinction. The finished product has the simplicity of wood furniture with the sophistication of cast aluminum pieces. This unique look caters to those who are seeking an alternative to ornate casting.

Since it is fabricated from aluminum, wood-look pieces are virtually maintenance-free and rust-resistant. Also, given the adjustments manufacturers can make to the aluminum content of the extrusion, this furniture is also available in a range of prices. While comparison shopping, remember the thinner the extrusion, the less strength and durability the pieces will have. Look for extrusions with minimal bend and finishes that have proper UV protection. As well, keep in mind that extruded furniture needs drain holes (hidden out of sight, of course) that allow drainage from condensation and winter outdoor storage. Without these holes, the extrusion may expand and crack like a frozen water pipe. Quality manufacturers take the necessary approach to ensure proper drainage.

As the ‘wood-look’ category grows, so does the diversity of its furniture designs. Creative designers are constantly thinking of new ways to showcase the spoils of this manufacturing process. Most specialty outdoor furniture retailers will display a wide selection of this furniture. Take a close look at it if you’re in the market for something new, simple and different. You’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Picking your pieces

[4]Once you’ve narrowed down the material type you prefer, it’s time to start picking the perfect pieces. When it comes to modern collections, the choices are more varied than they have ever been. Long gone are the days when manufacturers focused only on tables and chairs. The growth of the outdoor furniture market has created a selection of pieces for everything from dining to conversation to relaxation.

Conversation seating

Conversation seating, also referred to as deep seating, has been the most popular category of outdoor furniture in the last five years. This category can successfully bring the comfort and look of a living room to your backyard. The idea is to choose a combination of club chairs, sofas and loveseats to produce a perfect conversation arrangement that allows an easy exchange of words and laughter. Add a coffee table (perhaps with a built-in fire pit) to complete the space. There’s nothing quite like sitting around an open flame on a cool summer night with a drink in hand.

Motion seating

The simple swivel dining chair has never really excited most people; however, the influx of motion conversation seating is set to make a huge splash in the Canadian marketplace. Long a popular choice among U.S. consumers, motion seating is just starting to make inroads in Canada, with only a limited number of retailers showcasing the designs.

Touted by some as the ultimate in conversation seating, motion pieces typically rock or swivel for added comfort. Imagine four motion club chairs around a fire pit, or two motion club chairs strategically placed to let you take in your favourite backyard views. If you opt for motion seating, be sure to look for pieces with quality components, to ensure the motion mechanism will continue to work, even after years of use. A good warranty from a reputable retailer is a good indicator of long-lasting quality. [5]

Sectionals

Sectionals have made a big splash in the market over the past four to five years, coinciding with the increased interest in conversation seating. The sectional is an excellent choice to maximize your outdoor space, allowing you to choose individual components (or modules) for your specific space and needs. As such, sectionals are well suited to smaller spaces and give your backyard a trendy and modern look. Add a front ottoman to a sectional to create a chaise lounge for you to relax and stretch your legs. The ottoman can also be separated from the sectional and used for additional seating, similar to a bench.

Dining

Dining sets are always in style and are still a very important part of the outdoor space. With so many options for table size and chair design, the combinations are endless, from sleek modern configurations to more ornate traditional designs, in almost any material, including stainless steel and teak. Resin wicker dining sets are very popular and can serve to soften a backyard with a lot of hardscaping, while cast aluminum pieces add sophistication and can enhance a modern space. No matter what material you choose, odds are you can find the perfect design to help enhance and highlight your backyard esthetic.

Daybeds

[6]The daybed is another relatively new addition to the outdoor world, one that used to occupy the realm of wishful thinking. Imagine lounging on a large round or rectangular daybed, covered with a retractable fabric canopy or loose fabric drapery. As these grandiose pieces, once dismissed by retailers due to their size and relative impracticality, continue to gain popularity, more designs are flooding the market. Remember, however, that adding a daybed to your oasis will require sacrificing a good chunk of your outdoor space—though some would say this is a small price to pay for the ultimate in relaxation.

Chaise loungers

Chaise loungers are another popular choice, especially as an accent to a backyard pool. These backyard staples are well suited to any outdoor space, similar to dining or conversation sets. Also, if chosen wisely, chaise lounges can be among the most comfortable pieces of outdoor furniture in your backyard. There are also seemingly limitless design and material options.

Enjoying your outdoor room

With so many options to choose from, outdoor furniture can truly help you ‘bring the indoors outdoors.’ Though the choices may seem overwhelming, a little knowledge and some comparison shopping will help you find the pieces you need to create your ideal outdoor room, where you can relax and enjoy the best summer has to offer.

Nick Candeloro is partner and product specialist at Southport Outdoor Living, a backyard product retailer located in Vaughan, Ont. For more information, visit www.southportoutdoor.com[7].

 

Source URL: https://poolspatios.com/homeowner/modern-furniture-brings-the-indoors-outdoors/

---