Outdoor entertaining is all about low maintenance for 2018, with pieces that look good and feel good, so you can just kick back in comfort with your friends over dinner or drinks while the kids or pets run wild.
By Lana Lounsbury
Hide the Boring With Area Rugs
Dash & Albert Lexington eco-friendly outdoor rugs come in sizes up to 10′ x 14.
If your patio isn’t as gorgeous as you’d like, you can always disguise that boring decking, concrete or even gravel with an area rug. They’re economical, easy to clean and compact to store in the winter. Polypropylene is the most common material, but I prefer PET rugs, which are made from recycled water bottles and can themselves be recycled. Durable, soft and landfill friendly, they’re perfect for adding a cozy yet stylish touch to the outdoors.
Trend Alert: Outdoor Sectionals
The stylish gold CB2 Le Reve sectional comes with ten throw cushions.
Sectionals have been trending big-time in family rooms for years, and now we’re seeing that trend go outdoors with multi-piece sofas. I recommend choosing metal-frame sectionals as they’re lighter to move around and don’t require as much maintenance as woven resin or wood, especially in our damp climate. I love the Le Rêve sectional. It’s so light, airy, versatile and pretty. All you need is someone to fan you with a giant palm leaf!
Pick a Fab Fabric: Au Naturel Drapery
Nothing is more luxurious and freeing for outdoor spaces than gauzy draperies that seem to dance in the wind. With so many outdoor fabric and hardware choices available, any pergola, tent pole or gazebo can be a vacation retreat. Drapery is also practical when it comes to shade and privacy, and it’s prettier than slat screens or roller blinds. Choose whites for a spa getaway, bold jewel tones for a beach-party zone or muted patterns for a Bohemian lair.
This article is from the May/June 2018 issue of YAM.