Home design: Take it outside  

The Four Seasons rope sofa and armchair from Jardin de Ville offers plush comfort in a plum colourway.  Photo by Supplied

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The tulips have started poking up after what felt like the longest hibernation ever. So too has another spring staple: patio furniture. And, like early-spring flowers, the furnishings are fleeting.  

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“Shop as early as you can,” says Toronto-based designer Tamara Robbins Griffith of Kerr + Field Interiors, “because these things sell out quickly and our season is short.” 

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Her advice reflects a broader surge in demand for outdoor furnishings. According to Grand View, a market research and consulting company, the Canadian outdoor furniture market is seeing growth — projected at 6.7 per cent through 2030 — setting its value at US$3.46 billion by the end of the decade.  

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That’s partly been sparked by a fundamental shift in how consumers view their outdoor spaces. Terraces, the report notes, are as adorned as living rooms now, laden in accessories associated with interiors: pillows, blankets, rugs and lighting. Larger items such as sofas, chairs and tables have become as aesthetically pleasing and comfortable as their indoor counterparts. The cushions are deeper, there is built-in storage and the profiles are softer. 

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Cozey’s Shinuk Collection, shown in Sage Brush, is modular and can be configured; the modules have hidden storage. Photo by Supplied

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This year, Robbins Griffith has noticed “more mid-century-inspired outdoor pieces, with string details that are a bit softer and add a nice texture. There’s also a lot more curved and rounder edges, similar to what we’ve seen in interiors.”  

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To wit: Jardin de Ville’s Four Seasons rope sofa and armchair, with its soft-lined, powder-coated aluminium arms and back. The ropes have been treated to prevent cracking and fading, and the pieces come in various colours, including a warm plummy brown, a hue trending indoors, too. 

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Before buying any outdoor pieces, Robbins Griffith recommends making a plan. “Ask yourself, what is the priority? Do you want a little bit of dining and a little bit of lounging or is one more important than the other?” 

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Walmart’s Westmount Gazebo and Hometrends sectional have a crisp silhouette. Photo by Supplied

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On the lounging front, wicker is a cross-hatched powerhouse that continues to be hot in the sofa-set category. Praised for its durability against the sun and rain, the material is easy to wash down with a hose. Rattan, conversely, is a natural fibre that looks similar to wicker but frays faster. 

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“We’re always listening to customer feedback, as well as tracking what’s resonating culturally, and the wicker-weave aesthetic has had a strong, sustained moment,” says Frédéric Aubé, the founder and CEO of Cozey, the Canadian brand known for its modular sofas in a box. 

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Customers start by choosing a frame colour like Sand Dune (oatmeal) or Sage Brush (green), then pick a configuration: with arms or without, as a sectional or a sofa for two, three or four. There is also hidden storage in each module. 

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Home Depot Canada’s Hampton Bay Arcadian Six-Piece Set has a simple frame and a breezy feel. Photo by Supplied 

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Their Shinuk model is boxy, while the Mistral Collection has a sleeker vibe and offers storage. The sofa and chairs are aluminium, the underside is airy and the modular units can be stacked, which makes them easy to store.