A space for any occasion
Backyards, patios and decks are playing an increasingly important role in our lives and requiring homeowners to rethink their outdoor furniture.
By WP Creative Group
If you’ve been longing to kick back by a firepit or dreaming of dining alfresco, you aren’t alone. In 2022, more Americans than ever before are spending time outside — and they’re ready to invest in their outdoor living areas in order to do it. While people’s desire to expand their home into their yard has been going strong for well over a decade, according to the chief economist at the American Institute of Architects, there’s no denying that the pandemic has created a fresh wave of interest. In a recent poll of the home construction industry, 85 percent of experts agree that homeowners are willing to spend more on outdoor living spaces than before COVID-19.
“In our 45 years of business, we’ve never seen a surge like this,” says Kim Asner, head of product at Country Casual Teak, the country’s leading designer and manufacturer of solid teak outdoor furniture. “We weren’t able to travel. We weren’t able to go out and see friends and family or even go to work. Everyone was confined inside their houses, so we all just naturally spilled into outdoor spaces — maybe to get more space, maybe to get away. But then we discovered a perk, which is being in fresh air and enjoying nature. I think it’s a great way to live.”
Today, as homeowners race to buy outdoor furniture to outfit their patios, decks and lawns, experts are noticing a few key trends emerging.
Bringing the indoors outdoors
To a certain extent, outdoor living has always been about taking the elements of everyday life that can happen indoors — such as lounging and dining — and moving them outdoors. But necessity breeds creativity, and solitary pandemic living has caused people to look at their outside spaces in a new light. Some of the most popular requests these days include outdoor kitchens, family areas (complete with big screen TVs) and even showers. And, in a world where people work more from home than two years ago, it perhaps comes as no surprise that our backyards have become the new home office.
Designing these indoor-outdoor spaces requires little more than a multipurpose setup and rearranging your furniture. “It’s not necessarily about making a whole office but about creating a space where you can come and work,” says Asner. “It’s as simple as using a dining table as your desk and making sure you have a comfortable chair. Once you add cushions, rugs and lighting, it turns it into a completely different space, and it feels more inviting. You’ll want to spend more time there.”
Manufacturers such as Country Casual Teak are taking note, offering more stylish, boundary-defying outdoor furniture and accessories that will stand up to the elements, such as outdoor cushions with quick-dry construction, sleek teak bar carts and teak tilting umbrellas.
“I notice more and more furniture that isn’t obviously outdoor furniture,” says Asner. “It’s not your grandmother’s sling chairs these days. There’s a lot of material, fabric and cushion options that replicate indoor furniture. We have our Summit teak stacking lounge chairs, for example, which have a sling seat that are comfortable to sit in for a long amount of time.” Perfect for an extra-long Zoom marathon.
Designing a welcoming space for more people
As restaurants, movie theaters and other indoor, public gathering venues fell by the wayside in recent years, our backyards became our go-to place for socializing. According to a recent poll of home construction experts, 80 percent agree that homeowners most commonly use their outdoor living spaces to gather with friends and family, as it makes it easier for whole multigenerational families to get together and relax more safely in one place.
Many homeowners are taking this moment to expand, says Asner. “Outdoor spaces aren’t confined by walls, so people are building larger patios. One trend I’ve noticed is that customers seem to want bigger furniture to fill bigger spaces and entertain a large number of people.”
For this reason, bigger dining tables have become more popular. Charlene Kennerknecht, an interior designer and owner of Monarch Design, suggests Country Casual Teak’s Fiori 6-foot square teak outdoor dining table for a large group of guests. “In the fall, you can extend outdoor dining time by adding outdoor heaters,” Kennerknecht adds.
For those looking to maximize their square footage, Julie Friedman, landscape designer and owner of Exteriors Outdoor Styling, recommends opting for a lounge area. “I have a big family and we eat most of our meals outside at a U-shaped outdoor sectional and a teak coffee table,” she says. “A lounge area is very multifunctional. I’d pick a coffee table like Country Casual Teak’s Calypso teak coffee table, that has a transitional, multipurpose feeling to it. When there are less people, you can take the sectionals apart and use them in different groupings like a cozy reading chair that’s away from your entertaining area.”
Recreating a feeling of vacation back home
Outdoor living allows us to get in touch with nature and find pleasure in small moments, whether you’re relaxing in a teak Adirondack chair, drink in hand or catching up with friends around the BBQ grill. But for more and more people, this humble version of backyard bliss no longer cuts it. With travel being less certain, some homeowners have been looking to emulate resorts’ posh amenities and inspiring designs. After a period of confinement, our outdoor spaces have become sanctuaries of solace — and fantasy.
“That is what is most appealing right now — that people don’t have to ‘escape’ in order to escape,” says Friedman. “I think that people just want the feeling of being on vacation every day.” From wood flooring to tropical landscaping, Friedman says her clients are craving luxurious elements that are reminiscent of the destinations they love around the world.
“That’s something that I’ve personally invested in my property. I want my kids to feel like they are on vacation every day and don’t have to wait to go away for one week. Country Casual Teak is a perfect example. Their furniture makes you feel like you’re in Hawaii or somewhere on a tropical vacation, while incorporating their teak decking tiles reminds me of summers spent at the boardwalk or beach.”
All of this depends, of course, on one crucial factor — Is the buffet or table you’re eyeing available?
“Right now, the biggest trend of all is just what is in stock,” says Asner. “People are buying more of everything. People want to know, ‘What can I get today? What can I use now?’ Supply chains have struggled during the pandemic, and that paired with the huge increase in demand has caused really long lead times for pretty much all manufacturers. Country Casual Teak has always invested in stocking a large supply of furniture, so we’re working hard to keep as many products in stock as we can.”
The good news? There are plenty of stylish and functional products available on the market this season — you just have to know where to look.
Shop Country Casual Teak’s latest teak outdoor furniture collections here.
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