April 4, 2023, 3:37 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Sofa, table, grill: Many balconies and terraces are fully equipped for us to live comfortably outdoors on warm days. But the garden industry has even more ideas for outdoor living spaces.
Do you only sit outside in the summer? Or do you already live on your balcony, terrace, and in the garden? There’s a trend to transform a cozy seating area into an entire outdoor living space.
What Is an Outdoor Living Space?
“Increasingly, if space allows, two areas are being designed: the dining table with comfortable chairs for hosting family and guests, and a lounge area with comfy sofas or wide armchairs as a cozy retreat,” says Christine Scharrenbroch, spokesperson for the Association of the German Furniture Industry.
And then there’s the garden kitchen. “Outdoor cooking is becoming popular with weatherproof kitchens made of stone and stainless steel, featuring gas or charcoal grills and refrigerators, preferably with a roof,” reports the furniture expert. “This is supported by mobile carts that bring accessories outside.” The outdoor kitchen is often complemented by what’s already in the garden: raised beds and pots with herbs and other plants that can be harvested.
Also interesting: How to Achieve a Relaxed Terrace Design for Any Budget
Relaxing on the Daybed
If you have more space to furnish, you can enjoy a summer siesta on a bed. Specifically, a daybed. These are “comfortable, extra-wide outdoor beds, often with a fixed roof or in a shell shape with a fold-out sunshade,” says Scharrenbroch. “Hanging chairs are also trending.”
Clearly, it’s all a matter of space. Many don’t have room for a large additional outdoor living area. But a mini sofa or a cozy armchair, a small separate dining area, and a grill are a good start for lounging, cooking, and dining outside in the summer. And even for a home office in the fresh air, all you need is a balcony table.
Ultimately, it also depends on how this area on the balcony and terrace is designed to be called a “living space.” Much has changed in recent years. The era of shapeless plastic chairs and uncomfortable loungers is over. Instead, you can buy comfortable and stylish outdoor sofas.
And you can easily find weather-resistant sideboards, end tables, as well as rugs and lights specifically for outdoor use. The fabrics and materials are much more robust and can withstand rain and UV radiation, for example. Learn more about the benefits of outdoor rugs here.
Also interesting: Build an Outdoor Sofa from Pallets Easily Yourself
Fresh Design in Outdoor Furniture
The most important thing: “The furnishings for indoor and outdoor spaces are becoming increasingly similar,” says furniture expert Christine Scharrenbroch. “Many pieces of furniture no longer show whether they are made for indoors or outdoors.”
Both indoor and outdoor furniture currently often feature a reduced, simple design. The sofas stand on delicate legs, and their often visible frames are slender. Just like indoor furniture, garden furniture now has a softer design language with more curves than edges and corners.
Overall, it’s about feeling comfortable outside. “For relaxing, there are now upholstered chairs in generous shapes, cozy lounge beds in XXL, or seating islands that enclose their users like nests,” according to the trend analysis of the garden fair Spoga+Gafa for the 2023 season.
The seating areas, on the other hand, are often minimalist. “Simple tables and chairs made of aluminum or chrome-plated metal combine functionality with straightforward design and high durability,” say the trend analysts of the fair.
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Natural Tones and Bright Accents
Even the colors of furniture for indoors and outdoors are becoming similar: While many outdoor furniture manufacturers still like to advertise with bright colors for the outdoors, the more subtle looks are being purchased. Scharrenbroch: “Light and dark gray tones, as well as earth tones like beige, remain the most popular.”
Bright colors are usually just accents—especially on cushions and decorations. Even a single piece of furniture in the overall combination, such as a small side table or an armchair, can set this color highlight.
The trend toward more coziness and homeliness on balconies, terraces, and seating areas directly in the garden has reached a peak, according to Frank Reinhardt, trend analyst for the garden fair Spoga+Gafa. “The design and material quality is consistently very high in all price ranges,” says Reinhardt.
Interior design trends always take a few years from their first appearance at fairs to actually being found in many households. Now, this is the case with the outdoor room, says Reinhardt. “The second living room, which we’ve been talking about for several years, has definitely arrived.” And from it, entire outdoor living spaces are gradually emerging—if there’s space on the balcony, terrace, and in the garden.
with material from dpa