By Sevenja Gernoth
Experts agree that your outdoor spaces should feel like an extension of your home, therefore patios, balconies and gardens are fast becoming important everyday living areas of the home, and should exude the same style and detail as your interior decor does.
In terms of which materials are best suited for exterior furniture, due to its strength and rustresistant properties, stainless steel is one of the most practical and cost effective choices for the framework of outdoor furniture, but moulded polyethylene and polyurethane allow for the exploration of innovative sculptural forms.
Wooden furniture, particularly teak, will always be fashionable, “especially as teak contains its own natural oil which protects it against harsh elements,” notes John Slijpen of Indofurn. With large emphasis being placed on reducing our carbon footprint, many are opting for environmentally-friendly and recyclable materials.
The idea of modern outdoor furniture is that it should be beautiful and functional but come with minimum maintenance requirements. “The consumer should generally adhere to the manufacturers’ maintenance instructions,” suggests Hans Ilse of Outdoor Lifestyle. Wooden furniture does require some TLC, and depending on the type of wood, it may need to be oiled once in a while to keep it in top condition. On the other hand, John recommends not treating teak furniture but rather letting it weather naturally and only giving it an occasional wipe-down.
Beautiful outdoor furniture pieces such as mosaic tiled coffee tables, ceramic vases, scatter cushions in UV-resistant fabrics and stone sculpturing add glamour to any outdoor space, and what could be better than lounging on a contemporary double-sized day bed enjoying the beautiful South African sun?
