Working from home is here to stay. Even if it isn’t five days a week, many people are enjoying a hybrid option allowing them to spend more time in their homes and their backyards. Outdoor living took on greater significance during the pandemic, and it seems everyone was installing outdoor kitchens, outdoor fireplaces, firepits, and landscape lighting all with an eye on furnishing and beautifying outdoor rooms.
With this greater appreciation of our outdoor spaces came the desire to upgrade the furniture we’re using on a daily basis and for entertaining. If it’s time for you to upgrade your outdoor entertaining area, you might want to consider outdoor sofas, cocktail tables, firepits, large umbrellas, plants, etc., to transform your backyard into a true living and dining room area. When upgrading, consider more durable furniture and fabric, which will stand the test of time and use.
Don’t forget color and comfort! And color coordination between the indoors and the outdoors is essential. The Pantone color of the year is now being incorporated into outdoor furnishings. In addition, mixing and matching furniture and decorative pieces is more popular than ever. If you’ve already got a great outdoor set that you love, consider finding unique, complementary pieces that reflect your taste and design style.
Once you’re happy with your furnishings, look at your landscape and think about how it looks, as well as how it smells. It might be a good time to incorporate some flowers and bushes that add an aromatic interest. You might also consider sound; a water feature can add a calming effect from the running or bubbling of water.
Of course, you can also consider the addition of container gardens, edible gardens, and perennial gardens. The latest trend for these spaces is to incorporate each within the other; mixed gardens that take advantage of the colors and textures of annuals planted adjacent to perennials mixed with vegetables in portable pots and containers. Adding specimen trees in an outdoor space always adds an element of interest and surprise, particularly during peak blooming time, and highlighting those trees with uplighting always adds a bit of drama!
Looking for more shapes, textures, and colors? Consider pottery. There are so many interesting options that will enhance your outdoor scape and complement your furnishings.
The trend toward purchasing more neutral colors in furnishings in the recent past accelerated the purchase of colorful accents. Whether it be throw pillows, outdoor wall décor and paintings, or even tableware, the urge to light up the environment with pops of color is paramount to adding interest to an outdoor living space.
Down to Earth Living, celebrating its 52nd year, offers 12.5 acres filled with perennials, flowers, shrubs, and trees, with new arrivals coming in every week. The 10,000-square-foot showroom has a large and unique selection of contemporary, classic, traditional, and transitional teak, aluminum, and all-weather dining and deep-seated furniture. The center is open from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm every day and is located near Bergen County at 1040 Route 45. Visit www.dteliving.com or call 845-354-8500 for more information.
