All the Comforts of Home – Outside

There are many times of the year when we talk about bringing the outdoors in by incorporating elements that remind us of the coastline we love and the natural materials we crave. Yet in summer in particular, it’s equally important that we bring all the comforts of home to the place where we spend the most time – outside! Fortunately, outdoor living has come a long way from plastic chairs and paper plates. Here are just a few of our favorite ways to bring what we love about our interiors outdoors. 

Performance fabrics. You can have beautiful upholstery outside that doesn’t look like it came out of a discount beach store. Sunbrella, which has long been the gold standard in outdoor performance fabrics, has some gorgeous patterns and styles in textures that feel soft to the touch. Your guests will never realize they are lounging on a fabric designed to take the heat – and still look as beautiful as the day you first placed it on your patio or deck.

Take the edge off. One of the hardest things to deal with about the outdoors has been its hard edges. With wood furniture, outdoor seating walls and pool decks not known as the softest and most relaxing spots around. We recommend starting with an elegant soft piece like this Del Mar sectional from Tommy Bahama. Take it to the next level by piling on some gorgeous pillows in a performance fabric like these beautiful Sunbrella versions.

Make a statement. Your exterior pieces should have just as much texture and character as those you choose to place inside your home. If you opt for durable materials and keep them sheltered, you and your guests might be surprised by what you can get away with outdoors – ask our designers to help you choose wisely. Linea by Bernhardt has an intricate top paired with an aluminum frame, making it a great option for some sheltered spaces.

Perfect reflections. Okay, we get the fact that you probably have a gorgeous water feature (pool, spa or fountain) that offers some beautiful reflective properties, but have you ever tried to check your hair in a pool reflection? Trust us, it doesn’t work well. Be the perfect host and add a strategically placed mirror somewhere in your wall décor or near a seating arrangement, Better yet, go out and add a sheltered large version – we love the lattice effect on this Tahira mirror and others that feature natural materials for a more casual look.

Anchor your space. We love adding rugs to outdoor areas to anchor seating arrangements and just make the outdoors feel more homey. Opt for bright patterns or traditional designs depending on the look you are trying to achieve. Don’t struggle to match your outdoor furniture with the right rug, stop by any of our showrooms and our designers will be happy to help you find the perfect anchor.

That’s really what outdoor spaces should be about – trying new combinations to create a relaxed space that will make your family and guests feel right at home – all summer long.