Spaces Perfect For Summer

With summer just around the corner, spending time outside and enjoying the warm sunshine, freshly cut grass, refreshing drinks and lounging by the poolside sounds heavenly!

Due to the harshness of the sun and unpredictable rain however, outdoor areas can be a little tricky to create, enjoy and decorate — they also require more consideration compared to interiors.

In this blog, we look into some key outdoor living trends and ideas that are emerging this summer, inspired by our natural surroundings.

Image: Weave Soulful Alfresco.

INDOOR MEETS OUTDOOR

Creating indoor connections with the outdoors is important. Not only does it provide beautiful scenery, it also allows us to feel less confined in our space and appreciate the beauty of nature and its lush greens.

To enhance a fluid living environment, large windows are a great way of bringing these two worlds together where it allows natural light. Clear sliding doors and extending elements such as flooring (decking) from the indoors to outdoors are also other ways of connecting these two areas, making it feel like one big space.

For these types of settings, we recommend featuring a lustrous sheer such as Sicily or Vanuatu. Sheers are perfect for adding a bit of privacy while allowing light to filter through for a serene, ethereal feel.

Image: The Design Files - Shopfront in Coburg.

Image: The Design Files - Warrandyte Sanctum Homes.

Image: Vanuatu Drapery.

BIOPHILIC DESIGN

Biophilic design is all about connecting back to nature through architecture and décor. During and after the pandemic, our want and need to connect with nature grew stronger where it enabled and required us to be more creative with our spaces.

Having a fluid indoor/outdoor environment is perfect for this style as it brings the outdoors into interior living and vice versa, allowing your home to blend more seamlessly into the natural world and embrace nature.

According to research studies, those who inhabit biophilic living spaces experience lower stress levels and positive moods due to the peace and tranquillity this setting provides.

For those who don’t have an outdoor space, you can always bring the outdoors indoor! Incorporating wooden elements, glass, artificial plants and flowers, and floral or botanical patterned fabrics such as Zanzibar, Harlowe, Amazonia and Nelma are some ideas you can use to create an indoor oasis.

Bringing earthy tones and textures for a natural aesthetic, it allows you to create spaces that provide a sense of calm, joy, comfort, and familiarity — those you would experience in nature.

Image: Homes To Love.

Image: Zanzibar Collection.

Image: Harlowe Collection.

Image: Copacabana Collection.

Image: Nelma Collection.

LOW MAINTENANCE ENVIRONMENT

Ultimate relaxation takes priority when it comes to outdoor spaces, especially when it requires minimal maintenance. This includes investing in seasonal vegetation and indigenous, native plant species so that gardens can truly thrive in their local environment and take care of themselves for the most part — making life a little less stressful for us. Pebbles and pot plants are also great options that are easy to maintain while still offering style and a neat aesthetic.

This idea/trend is to keep outdoor living spaces simple and minimal so that there is less time re-arranging furniture and tending to plants, and more time to relax and enjoy the sun.

When it comes to styling and planning outdoor areas, functionality should be at the forefront. Investing in fabrics, rugs and cushions that offer UV protection, easy clean properties, and anti-stain and mould resistance is a must. Not only does it allow the space to be practical, it also brings max-comfortability and interior style that can be enjoyed outside.

Perfect for decks, patios and alfresco areas (as well as indoors), the Andorra rug from Weave Home is hard-wearing and UV stabilised, making it ideal for outdoor areas. When paired with its complementing cushions from the Soulful Alfresco range — such as Paraiso — you can enjoy the beauty of an indoor aesthetic outdoors.

Image: The Design Files - South Coogee Home.

Image: Weave Home - Andorra Rug.

HOW FABRICS ARE EVOLVING WITH THIS TREND

In the past, there have been distinctively different looks between indoor and outdoor fabrics. Outdoor fabrics were often less stylish in appearance and texture due to environmental factors such as rain, dirt, mud, sun exposure and mould — they are more likely to be damaged.

As technology continues to advance, especially within Warwick Fabrics, interior trends and styles can be executed outdoors without compromising on fabric durability, meaning you can bring the beauty of the indoors outdoor.

If you’re interested in any of our outdoor fabrics, we offer a range called SunDec which is designed to create a beautifully coordinating environment that can be effortlessly maintained no matter the conditions. It also includes water repellency and microbial hygiene protection, making stylish outdoor living easier.

One of our latest collections that is SunDec is Senada — an outdoor collection that encapsulates a stunning combination of woven textures, muted, earthy colours that blend in with natural surroundings, and hand printed designs that are perfect for summer, providing an aesthetic that — in the past — would be more typically seen in interior design.

For more information on our SunDec range, be sure to check out our resource page here.