by Catherine Adams
outdoor furniture beautiful enough for the indoors
Outdoor furniture has come a long way since the lawn chair. “If you go back 30 years, manufacturers made folding deck chairs that you put into storage for half the year,” says William Esch, owner of Patio and Hearth Co., in Albuquerque. “Now outdoor furniture is something to enjoy year-round, and not just outside.”
Today the difference between indoor and outdoor furniture is more subtle. Outdoor furniture is just as attractive and comfortable — with the added benefit of durability — thanks to the development of new high-performance fabrics.
“Performance fabrics are big right now,” says Skye Westcott, senior vice president of Merchandising and Design for Ballard Designs. “Performance fabrics started in the boating industry, and have exploded into the interior side of things. When you walk up to a piece of furniture, you’ve no idea you’re looking at outdoor performance fabric. It’s soft and luxurious, only it won’t fade or stain.”
Lauren Blaskie, manager of Brand Research at Sunbrella, agrees. People want “soft, design-forward performance fabrics for both indoor and outdoor spaces,” she says. “Beautiful fabrics that feel great and also perform against every element that makes a house a home, whether family meals or messy pets.
“For example, our Chartres fabric utilizes our chenille yarn, providing all of the performance attributes you know and expect from Sunbrella with superior softness and comfort for indoor use.”
New Mexico boards early
New Mexico got on board the indoor/outdoor crossover trend earlier than other parts of the country, says Esch. “Southwestern homes have a lot of combination space: spaces that serve dual duties, like a large covered patio area with wide French doors that open onto the family room. We have the weather, the space, the architectural style” to support the combination indoor/outdoor lifestyle found in earthy Pueblo Revival homes.
“Now outdoor furniture is something to enjoy year-round,
and not just outside.”—William Esch
As for other trends, “recycled materials are big right now,” Esch says. “We’re doing a ton of business with our Breezesta Poly Outdoor Furniture line. It looks just like wood, but is made from recycled milk jugs.”
Meanwhile, “from a global perspective, we continue to see a focus on cultural influences, such as mindfulness and sustainability,” says Blaskie. “Sunbrella’s unique, hand-spun looks and novelty yarns add a personal, lived-in feel — from a peaceful and cozy porch swing to a bright and welcoming patio set.”
“We’re definitely doing a lot of wovens. Resin wicker or true wicker has expanded into different [more contemporary] types of seating options,” says Westcott. “We’re also seeing more performance rugs, what used to be known as indoor-outdoor rugs. You can basically clean anything off of these rugs, so people use them in high-traffic areas like family rooms, children’s rooms and under kitchen tables.”
In general, outdoor furniture sales are up as people spend more time quarantining at home. “They are looking at new ways to utilize space, whether it’s a veranda in a backyard or a nook on the front porch,” Westcott says.
She anticipates this might continue post-quarantine. Now, more than ever, there’s simply no place like home, indoors and out.
resources
Ballard Designs
Patio and Hearth Co.
Sunbrella
