Beyond Rattan Garden Furniture: Three Outdoor Living Trends For 2016

In the modern outdoor furniture garden, there are very few items that can compete with rattan garden furniture. The versatile, visually appealing material has conquered the hearts of many a garden-owner worldwide, and this dominant spell does not seem likely to come to an end at any point in the near future.

Still, rattan garden furniture for itself does not a beautiful garden make. Successfully decorating an outdoor area goes far beyond simply strewing a few nice-looking sofas about and calling it a day. The visual impact of an outdoor area comes down to the harmony of its elements, and in that regard, it is important that home-owners know what to put around their rattan garden furniture to form a cohesive, visually striking whole.

In that regard, it may be a good idea for garden-owners to try and keep up with the latest outdoor decorating trends. These do not always directly relate to furniture, or even items per se, but minding them can give home-owners an idea of which direction to take their garden in, and how best to complement their stunning new rattan garden furniture set. It is with that in mind that the article below lists three outdoor decorating trends for the summer of 2016 and beyond.

Colour

Colour is one of the major trends for indoor furniture in 2016, and this is true for outdoor and garden furniture as well. The earth tones traditionally associated with outdoor decorating, and which most rattan garden furniture presents, are being complemented this year with splashes of colour, mostly through accessories such as cushions.

Chief among the colours proving to be trendy this summer are blue tones such as teal and aqua blue, which are thought to give an outdoor area a warm, inviting feel. Complementing a brown or grey rattan outdoor furniture set with blue or teal cushions will instantly draw the eye to that area of a garden or patio, thereby ensuring both items stand out and are duly appreciated.

On the other hand, Tuscan colours and excessively patterned accessories have come to be regarded as tired and passé, after dominating the outdoor decorating scene for several seasons. 2016’s ideal garden is colourful, yet far more understated than it would have been in previous years, giving off a cheerfully cosy feel.

Mixed Materials

While rattan garden furniture should continue to dominate the outdoor furniture hierarchy, the trend so far this year has been to mix materials, both within a single item or across the entire garden.

This trend is nothing new, and there have long been home-owners who have mixed iron, wood and rattan garden furniture and accessories; however, this year is seeing the trend be more pronounced than ever, and expand to single accessories themselves. Items which mix two or more materials are not an uncommon sight across western gardens this summer, and following this trend can help give an outdoor area that extra something which pushes its overall look from appealing to stunning.

In addition to this, the blending of styles within a back yard or patio is no longer frowned upon, and garden-owners are encouraged to let their imaginations run rampant. Mixing rattan garden furniture with iron lighting fixtures and wooden floors can, if done correctly, give a garden a highly unique and appealing look, so home-owners should not be afraid to experiment.

Continuity

Finally, many garden-owners have been attempting to establish a connection between their indoor and outdoor areas, by establishing a common pattern to link the two.

Ways to achieve this include using sliding doors leading from a dining room to the outside area, complementing colour schemes, the addition of an awning or canopy to the patio, or the combination of two or more of these. The ultimate goal, however, is basically the same: to ensure the act of going from the indoor part of the home to the outside appears seamless, and that both areas are visually connected, creating a whole.

These are only a few of the trends home-owners across the world have been following this summer, and should continue to adhere to for next season. Garden-owners looking for solutions to complement their rattan garden furniture might, therefore, want to consider any or all of them.