There’s a superb choice of furniture and accessories which could transform even a drab, tiny space – with prices that won’t raise your temperature by turning the bank balance red.
Create some patio party razzmatazz with glow-in-the-dark furniture and vibrantly coloured gnomes, or be more demure with decorative wired pieces or classic rattan furniture.
And for outdoor decor divas there’s the ultra-fashionable ‘outdoor room’ look with swinging cocoon seats, coffee tables and canopied loungers.
“Over the years we’ve seen a move away from functional, utilitarian garden furniture as customers demand a lot more from their outside space,” says Nicola Gidlow, outdoor living buyer for John Lewis.
“People want a recognisable style, rather than random pieces, and a space which is tailored to their lifestyle and matches their interior taste.
“Also, what’s emerging strongly this season is a trend for creating settings which conjure a holiday, exotic atmosphere that probably reflects a trend to ‘staycation’.”
Rob Fairhurst, managing director at Outdoor Chic, says patios are fast becoming the new ‘play areas’ for adults.
