Buyer’s Guide
It’s time to take it outside, with fresh alfresco pieces for dining, relaxing and socialising,
Outdoor furniture.
Selecting the ideal table, sofa or day bed for an outdoor area requires just as much careful thought as you’d put in to buying furniture for inside your home. After all, the desire for comfort and luxury doesn’t simply stop at your back door or balcony.
“The lines between inside and out are becoming blurred,” says Susan
Tait, creative principal at Tait. “The durability of today’s outdoor furniture makes it perfect for use inside, too.”
Buyers are moving away from stiff, traditional-style outdoor tables and towards lighter-looking, low-slung styles that are modular and offer flexible seating options. “Sunloungers are being replaced with more relaxed armchairs and ottomans, which can be separated and used in various configurations,” says Melbourne landscape designer Ian Barker.
Flexible furniture, especially when it comes to outdoor seating, is always going to be a good investment, adds Mark Curtis, design consultant at Sydney landscape design firm Secret Gardens. “Outdoor lounge areas are often more frequently used than outdoor dining furniture, which has a certain formality to it,” he says.
The first rule of thumb when shopping for outdoor furniture is to ensure any new pieces complement the overall style of your home. After that, you need to consider comfort, durability, price and scale. With few of us owning a home on a quarter-acre block these days, manufacturers have modified their collections to encompass the more compact outdoor spaces in apartments and townhouses.
Across dining and lounging pieces, the latest styles offer lightweight, easy-to-move aluminium frames and fine-woven wicker in striking new textures and colours. “Sophisticated colour palettes of navy, terracotta and green are strong this season, plus you’ll see lots of elegant pieces in black and white or cream,” says Tait. Metallics, mid-height dining settings and ceramic tabletops are also popular, as are timber pieces with a light-as-air aesthetic that’s a million miles away from the heavy outdoor furniture of the past.
Many new pieces are clever interpretations of classics: tried-and-tested shapes updated with fabrics in fresh colours, lighter woods and the latest stains. But if a traditional look is more your style, look to solid timber. “Personally, I’m a fan of teak,” says Barker. “It stands the test of time and you can’t beat the silver tones when it’s allowed to age naturally.”
Before you buy, consider where your furniture will be positioned, how exposed it will be and how much maintenance it may need. “With proper care, timber outdoor furniture is naturally resistant to the elements and can look good for years,” says Abby Cardow, national product and marketing coordinator for Harvey Norman. “Synthetic rattan and wicker-effect furniture is durable and stylish. Aluminium furniture requires next to no maintenance. It’s also worth noting that the lifespan of all outdoor furniture is increased when you buy and use an appropriate cover for it.”
Ultimately, both love and logic will probably determine your purchase. “Look for pieces that suit your personal style,” says Barker. “Invest in quality pieces from reputable brands that deliver on their promises and they should stand the test of time.”
‘IT ’S WORTH NOTING THAT THE LIFESPAN OF ALL OUTDOOR FURNITURE IS INCREASED WHEN YOU BUY AND USE AN APPROPRIATE COVER FOR IT.’ ABBY CARDOW, HARVEY NORMAN