There was a time when spending time in the gardem meant enjoying the act of gardening, as well as the fruits of our own labor. The ritual of cutting grass on Saturday mornings, followed by a lazy afternoon in a simple hammock has yielded to hired help and full-scale outdoor rooms, designed to relax and to entertain. Forget the simple patch of grass. Today’s yards sport gourmet outdoor kitchens and waterproof TV’s.

Outdoor rooms are featuring a variety of groupings from deep seating sofas, settees and lounge chairs with stone coffee tables, designer rugs and outdoor lamps, nearby chat chairs and ottomans create cozy seating to watch the sun set. Trends in dining are moving towards including the entire family, extra large square, oval and extension tables allow dinner parties to move outdoors under the stars. Highly styled fire pits and fireside bar tables warm on cooler evenings while sharing a drink or catching up with friends.

Accessories are moving upscale along with the furniture. Acrylic is out, while ceramic and glass is the rage. Set your table or outside bar with your favorite martini glass, Italian ceramic dishes, mandarin sushi sets set upon beautiful placemats, napkins displayed with artistic style to complete your setting. The outdoor living trend is turning interior decorators into exterior decorators. As exterior decorators bloom, gardening evolves into “outdoor decorating”, decks and patios evolve into the “exterior family room”, and home and garden synergy becomes a key design goal. Exterior decorators are using high end fabrics to match with the latest “brand name” flowers and plants, exterior lighting that looks like fine table lamps, fine art and sculptures that are outdoor friendly, cozy couches that double as beds and containers adding spots of color throughout the yard.

See this article as well as others relating to outdoor trends in our Summer Newsletter.