Page 38 - Designing Ways 261

OUTDOOR
LIVING

Patio & outdoor

living

by Stienie Greyling

tylish decking, trendy outdoor
furniture, lighting, plants and
Scushions are just some of the many
options available to create the perfect
patio and outdoor space.
Hours of relaxation and recuperation
or get-togethers with family and friends,
these are those precious moments when a
family and friends can live their outdoor
life to the full.
Outdoor furniture used to be defined
by its stark, uninspired, pragmatic
designs. Think white plastic chairs or
plain rattan tables that were guaranteed to
do the job and were entirely lacking any
creative flair.
Luckily times have changed. One of
the key design trends of recent years is the
breaking down of boundaries between
indoor and outdoor spaces. With no clear
distinction between the two, it is now
increasingly common to find outdoor
furniture that wouldn’t look out of place
in the living area.
Sleek designs, an increasingly wide
choice of materials and the recognition
that outdoor spaces are as important
as those on the inside of the home have
transformed the outdoor furniture
industry.
The key in this part of the world is to find
materials that are able to tolerate extreme

40 Issue 261 • dw