Trends heating up in outdoor furniture this year

Just like inside decor, the furniture your clients use on the patio is important to potential buyers.

After a long, cold winter, we are all hoping warmer weather is around the corner. And what comes with warmer temperatures? Time spent outdoors. And updating outdoor furniture can have an impact on how your patio appears to other. AP’s Kim Cook reports a list of the hottest outdoor furniture trends for this year.

• Vintage modern and ultra-modern – Watch for midcentury modern styling in outdoor pieces to coordinate with this popular interior style, like chairs with marine-grade, leather-look upholstery and teak tables. Another popular trend is furniture crafted from brass, which you can leave alone to develop a patina or polish to retain the shine. Tailoring details on upholstery, elegant finishes, striking colors will also be popular.
• Global style –  Global elements stay as strong in outdoor furnishings as they are in indoors. Those Asian ceramic stools show no signs of disappearing, and are offered in more colours and patterns than ever, reports Cook. Look for Moroccan influence in lanterns, Mediterranean motifs in textiles and Silk Road accents like elephant-shaped tables, daybeds and handcrafted accessories.
• Flexible use – While dedicated dining areas remain popular outdoors, there’s also a trend toward “chat and chill” configurations of furniture. Indoor-style seating includes comfy lounge chairs and sectional pieces that can be grouped or separated, with ottomans, side tables and coffee tables that can also be used for casual dining. Watch for new, portable fire pits, bars and coffee tables, she advises.
• Color commentary – Deep indigo looks fresh and new, and so does coral. Dark blue looks nautical and preppy paired with crisp white, apple red or sunshine yellow, so think about mixing things up in a fun way by putting the brighter hues on the furniture pieces – such as a a wicker or Adirondack chairs – and the blues on accent pieces. Or get a more dressed-up vibe by keeping the pops of color on accessories while the outdoor space is anchored with darker-toned furniture. The natural neutrals – sand, mocha, charcoal, cream – stay strong for 2015. Their versatility makes them good choices whatever the climate.
• Rustic contemporary – “Echoing an interior-design trend, this look combines hand-hewn wood and stone (or facsimiles) and rustic touches like chicken-wire doors and weathered-look metals with contemporary seat materials and colors,” said Cook.