The tulips have started poking up after what felt like the longest hibernation ever. So too has another spring staple: patio furniture. And, like early-spring flowers, the furnishings are fleeting.
"Shop as early as you can," says Toronto-based designer Tamara Robbins Griffith of Kerr + Field Interiors, "because these things sell out quickly and our season is short."
Growing Demand for Outdoor Furnishings
Her advice reflects a broader surge in demand for outdoor furnishings. According to Grand View, a market research and consulting company, the Canadian outdoor furniture market is seeing growth — projected at 6.7 per cent through 2030 — setting its value at US$3.46 billion by the end of the decade.
That's partly been sparked by a fundamental shift in how consumers view their outdoor spaces. Terraces, the report notes, are as adorned as living rooms now, laden in accessories associated with interiors: pillows, blankets, rugs and lighting. Larger items such as sofas, chairs and tables have become as aesthetically pleasing and comfortable as their indoor counterparts. The cushions are deeper, there is built-in storage and the profiles are softer.
Trends in Design and Materials
This year, Robbins Griffith has noticed "more mid-century-inspired outdoor pieces, with string details that are a bit softer and add a nice texture. There's also a lot more curved and rounder edges, similar to what we've seen in interiors."
To wit: Jardin de Ville's Four Seasons rope sofa and armchair, with its soft-lined, powder-coated aluminium arms and back. The ropes have been treated to prevent cracking and fading, and the pieces come in various colours, including a warm plummy brown, a hue trending indoors, too.
Planning Your Outdoor Space
Before buying any outdoor pieces, Robbins Griffith recommends making a plan. "Ask yourself, what is the priority? Do you want a little bit of dining and a little bit of lounging or is one more important than the other?"
On the lounging front, wicker is a cross-hatched powerhouse that continues to be hot in the sofa-set category. Praised for its durability against the sun and rain, the material is easy to wash down with a hose. Rattan, conversely, is a natural fibre that looks similar to wicker but frays faster.
"We're always listening to customer feedback, as well as tracking what's resonating culturally, and the wicker-weave aesthetic has had a strong, sustained moment," says Frédéric Aubé, the founder and CEO of Cozey, the Canadian brand known for its modular sofas in a box.
Customers start by choosing a frame colour like Sand Dune (oatmeal) or Sage Brush (green), then pick a configuration: with arms or without, as a sectional or a sofa for two, three or four. There is also hidden storage in each module.
Their Shinuk model is boxy, while the Mistral Collection has a sleeker vibe and offers storage. The sofa and chairs are aluminium, the underside is airy and the modular units can be stacked, which makes them easy to store.
Walmart's Westmount Gazebo and Hometrends sectional have a crisp silhouette. Home Depot Canada's Hampton Bay Arcadian Six-Piece Set has a simple frame and a breezy feel.
