Townhouse terrace
For town dwellers, furniture can be sleeker with a modern elegance that suits the urban surroundings. Compact dining and seating sets are ideal for decked areas, while modular sofas fit snugly in a corner. Look for multifunctional items that can be turned from sofa to daybed, for instance, to make the most of a limited space. “I think modular furniture sets are a really clever way to make your outdoor space more flexible,” says Sue Jones, co-founder and creative director of Oka. “You can create a long, comfortable sofa for lounging or separate the seats for a more sociable setup. For something more compact, you cannot go wrong with a classic bistro set, which works for patios and balconies alike.”
Another increasingly popular solution is to place a dining table and chairs beneath a rectangular open arbour in order to create a smart and adaptable outdoor area with an all-round holiday feel.
When it comes to selecting materials and finish, it is important to invest in longevity wherever possible, as Juliette Thomas, founder and director at Juliettes Interiors, confirms: “Glass, marble and sealed ceramic tops are always firm favourites in terms of durability and looks. They take whatever the weather throws at them. If you want solid wood, teak weathers beautifully and will last for up to 50 years with very little attention. Traditional rattan is not weatherproof so look instead for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) synthetic rattan. Today’s modern materials look just like the real thing. Avoid cheap PVC as it quickly becomes brittle and is a false economy. Chair fabrics should be water and UV-resistant to avoid mildew and fading or choose an open-mesh fabric like Textilene.” ■