Patio Furniture

For generations, our ancestors sought any shelter they could to get out of the elements. First a cave, then a primitive hut, and now expansive homes in the suburbs. Who could have guessed that our homes would become a seamless blend of indoors and out, thanks in part to outdoor patio furniture.

Today's outdoor patio furniture is as important to the design and décor of your home as the furniture in your living room. Your patio, porch or balcony has become an extension of the home itself. And thanks to the addition of folding doors, French doors and sliders, the barrier between indoors and outdoors is less noticeable than ever before.

Perhaps that's why outdoor patio furniture has taken on a new look in recent years. Gone are the days of clunky wood furnishings that look as if they were made in a high school shop class.
In their place are stunning designs that mirror the furnishings of your home, from comfortable sofas and loveseats to rockers and chaise lounges. Talk about stunning! Many of these pieces of outdoor patio furniture could easily transition right into your interior living spaces and not look a bit out of place.

Part of the reason for this is the new materials and new manufacturing techniques that have blurred the lines of what's indoor furniture and what's outdoor patio furniture. Soft fabrics that are weather and fade resistant have replaced the crunchy plastic fabrics of old and wicker, wrought iron, formed aluminum and new eco-friendly woods have captured the imagination of homeowners everywhere.

One of the reasons behind this explosion in outdoor patio furniture is that online stores have been able to expand the offerings far beyond what is ordinary available locally. This is especially true in the northern climes, where outdoor furniture is a seasonal item. Online, summer is year round and savvy shoppers can do their shopping well in advance of the warmer months, getting the most stylish furniture available at attractive prices.

When selecting furniture for your outdoor entertainment spaces, you want to see how it may tie into your indoor décor. If you have large windows, sliders or doors that open out onto your patio, deck or balcony, you may find that the two areas do in fact work together to create a singular look. As such, you may want to choose colors, fabrics and even the materials to match, contrast or complement.

Many of today's most stylish outdoor patio furniture comes in a wide range of finishes and fabrics and it's easier than ever to create a cohesive look between the indoors and outdoors, even adding complementary lighting which picks up the general styles of your home.

This is one of the most important things to keep in mind when choosing furniture, indoors or out. You want it to support the overall architecture look of your home, picking up and building on the overarching theme. While professional designers may be able to do the impossible and mix and match styles, the average homeowner should stick to what they know. In other words, you know what looks and feels right, both when it comes to indoor furniture and outdoor patio furniture.

You really can't go wrong if you stick with what you like. Mirroring the latest fashion magazines sounds good, but if you don't find it inviting, you may never use the space to its fullest advantage. As with your indoor spaces, the goal in decorating your patio, balcony, deck or porch is to extend the warmth and comfort of the home's interior while expanding your home's square footage in the process.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of numerous niche online stores that offer customers not only products, but information relating to furnishing and decorating indoor and outdoor living spaces. Whether you want to renew your deck or patio with an outdoor bench or create the ultimate living environment with patio furniture that is perfect for entertaining, there is a lot of helpful advice to take advantage of to make it happen. Click today and indulge your senses.

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