OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE


Gardens are reinvented Trend Bible’s Joanna Feeley says consumers will be looking to extend their living space outdoors in spring/summer 2012 .


Trend Bible works with retailers and brands to predict design and colour trends for the home interior and exterior market. Here founder Joanna Feeley shares the top outdoor and garden trends that will offer you opportunities in 2012.


BRINGING INDOORS OUT With a rise in sales of bi-fold doors and sunrooms replacing more traditional conservatories, the boundary between indoor and out is continuing to be blurred; gardens are beginning to feel more like outdoor rooms and sunrooms like sitting on an outdoor terrace. Furniture designers have responded to this new multi- functional environment by designing products made with enduring materials and finishes which mean they work for both indoors and out. We're increasingly seeing materials such as powder-coated metal in bright glossy finishes, and natural wood and stone come through for tables, chairs and planters. Permanent timber seating areas will become more popular for terraces and patios, covered in piles of colourful cushions during summer months to recreate a casual living environment outside. With homeowners short on storage, these indoor/outdoor products can be easily used indoors during winter months, yet are equally at home being left outdoors. With cramped indoor living space making it hard for people


to find their own personal space, we believe the garden becomes the natural place to expand. We have seen a rise in self-contained outdoor or garden ‘rooms’ like those provided by Atelier.* Furniture that is stackable, cushions that work indoors and out, tables on castors for easy maneuvering, candle holders and strings of lanterns are key items for this trend.


COLOUR SPLASH With a stagnant housing market, homeowners are staying and are subsequently stamping their own personality on interiors through high-impact wallpaper and strong use of colour for decorative accessories and even appliances like fridges and washing machines. Now we start to see this spilling out into the garden. For outdoor paints, we see a move towards vivid chlorophyll greens and pinks being used for outdoor furniture and planters to add a colour splash that works well against foliage. For fence treatments, and wooden outbuildings like sheds and playhouses, bold colour provides a striking backdrop for potted and creeping plants. We developed a story for our trend books called Palm Springs which explored this trend for interiors, mixing bold geometric patterns like chevrons and oversized florals with a 1970’s flavour, with leafy, oversized foliage and tropical bird of paradise plants.


DIYRetailer.co.uk | Garden & Hardware News | 23


Strong architectural form blends with loud pattern, exuberant florals and eccentric colour combinations that see aquatic teals clashing with bubblegum pink and jade green. We believe the home will be increasingly important through 2012, as consumers look to find a slower pace of life in a space that heals and rejuvenates. Outdoor space has a role to play as part of this, as we begin to comprehend the relaxing and healing qualities of nature through gardening, water features and simply being outdoors. For outdoor accessories, we think oversized floor cushions, large Moroccan style lanterns, floating lights and lanterns for ponds and wirework furniture will be important.


IN NEUTRAL Crisp summer white and soft grey neutral shades are set to be popular for summer 2012. Milky white and cream shades mix with soft sage green, powdery grey and natural taupe shades for external


door colours, sheds and summerhouses. Caroline Vaughan, woodcare marketing manager at Ronseal explains how they have interpreted this trend for their outdoor paint and woodcare directions. "With so many strong colours influencing outdoor garden accessories, it's refreshing to see this cool, clean palette working for fence and outdoor wood paints. It’s much easier to use for large areas of colour and creates a soothing and restful environment," she explains. Accessories for this trend have a vintage, well-loved appeal, with chunky recycled lime wash wooden furniture, printed canvas upholstery, and tarnished, vintage finish metal accessories. Keep an eye out for a more relaxed, natural approach here too, with gardens looking more meadow-like and less formal, with ‘green roofs’ for sheds and outdoor buildings encouraging


nature to take its course. *(www.atelierzone.com)


For more information, please visit www.trendbible.co.uk


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