Spring Outdoor Furniture Trends

By Heather Nette King

Heather is a Melbourne-based interiors stylist and writer for many leading interior titles and newspapers. We’re delighted to have her share with us the spring trends we’ll be seeing this year in outdoor furniture, along with helpful advice on how to find your own personal style.

New season’s style

Each spring, like a familiar embrace, those warm breezes eventually arrive and with them, the promise of spending more time enjoying life as the sunshine spurs us on to create beautiful outdoor spaces. And just as it is tradition to spring-clean your rooms indoors, the change of seasons is an excellent time to take stock of your outdoor ‘rooms’ and to start planning how to get the best use from them during spring, and then into summer.

Claire 3 Seater Outdoor Sofa and Claire Outdoor Armchair

What furniture trend will we see this spring?

This spring, the best outdoor lifestyle trends centre around creating spaces for family and friends to come together.  We will see super-long tables for celebrations and feasts; fabulously comfortable outdoor sofas that encourage long conversations; smart bar tables that suit even the most compact of balconies; and fire-pits that keep your friends warm and toasty even after the sun goes down.

Kace Outdoor Dining Table 300cm White

HOW DO I KNOW MY OUTDOOR STYLE?

When deciding how to style your outdoor spaces, believe it or not, the best place to start is by looking indoors! Homes that have a cohesive style from the front door to the back gate are always a stand-out, so if your home is contemporary and monochromatic, then take this look of urban sophistication outdoors with striking streamlined pieces in a minimal colour palette.

If your home is full of natural textures in an earthy palette, look for warm timbers, rattan and jute. If poppy colours are your vibe, then choose dining chairs in pink or melon. Interior purists will always love white-on-white, and this theme always looks fresh and inviting outdoors.

Harley 2 Seater Outdoor Sofa and Harley Outdoor Occasional Chair

I’ve bought the furniture, now how do I style it?

One of the most important things to remember when styling up your outside spaces for spring is to accessorise, and to create extra comfort through layering.  This is the part when you can really emphasise your style through your choices of complementary pieces.

For a beautiful natural look, add loads of baskets — they can be used as planters, storage for fire-pit wood, cushions, towels or throws. Cane lanterns (either hung or placed on the ground or a tabletop) will add more than just a glow to your space. Jute rugs can be laid outside when the sun shines — they’re perfect for picnics, as well as for creating different zones for different outdoor areas.

Lovers of a sophisticated urban style can add a layer of nature to their outdoors with concrete planters, whilst side tables are a handy and stylish way to make your entertaining zones more comfortable. And no matter what your style is, comfort must always be top of mind, so choose cushions and throws to match your overall colour palette as the finishing touch.

So, as you see, no matter what your style is, remember that thoughtful attention to comfort — and layering — will not only celebrate and emphasise the style you love best, but also ensure you and your family and friends will enjoy the best of the outdoors when coming together this spring.

Summer Outdoor Wicker Sofa

More in-store at Early Settler

Come and visit in-store or online to check out the summer 2021/22 outdoor furniture collection. And don’t miss our furniture buyer’s favourites from the collection.

Heather Nette King is a Melbourne‑based interiors stylist and writer for many leading interior titles and newspapers. She has been the Melbourne Homes Editor of Sunday Life magazine for over a decade, and her work has appeared in many Australian and international magazines, including Inside Out Magazine, Country Style, Australian House & Garden, Real Living Australia Magazine, Home Beautiful Magazine, Vogue Living, ELLE China, The Design Files and The Interiors Addict. Her own home has appeared in Belle Magazine, and her previous home was featured in the international style bible, ELLE Decoration UK. Heather has created the visual imagery for many well-known Australian brands, and also works behind the scenes copy-writing for their advertisements and websites. Heather is currently renovating her family home in an iconic, heritage‑listed apartment block. Her hobbies are gardening, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and walking her beloved Golden Retriever, Dougal.