Trends
Outdoor Living Trends Summer 2023
Macramé PATIO UMBRELLA, Must Société, mustsociete.com
Trends
Outdoor Living Trends Summer 2023
We’ve been hot on the trail of this season’s top trends to enhance your patch of paradise, whether it be a balcony or a big backyard.
Here are our top 12 picks for refreshing your outdoor space in large and small ways.
01 MEDITERRANEAN MOOD
Bring a touch of Mediterranean style to the patio. Spaces for lounging and dining are a must and are enhanced by natural materials and the colours of the Riveria – the azure coastline of Èze, the ochre of Provence, the terracotta of Sorrento. Essential elements include herringbone bricks in soft shades like aged clay; sand-coloured micro-pebbles in the garden; and outdoor tableware in vibrant patterns.
02 LIVE THE GOOD LIFE...OUTSIDE
Designing outdoor living areas in similar ways to indoor spaces isn’t a new trend, but it’s intensifying this year. Look for tech products made for outdoors, such as movie screens and speakers. As well, the line between indoor and outdoor furniture is blurring even further now, with comfort and indoor styling driving the design of outdoor collections.
OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS, HomeSense, homesense.ca
Sterna PLANT HOLDER, $329, Article, article.com
Olena OUTDOOR RUG, 5' x 7', $229, Ruggable, ruggable.com
03 SUMMER OF COLOUR
Make grey (like January) a distant memory. Colour is the easiest way to update your outdoor living space, but think beyond accent cushions. Why not opt for a red table or a canary yellow chair? Or try this year’s hottest hue: green. Earthy colours also blend in beautifully for a softer mood. It’s really your choice!
OUTDOOR FURNITURE, Article, article.com
04 MATERIAL MATTERS
Sustainably sourced durable teak is a perennial patio favourite, especially in sleek modern iterations. We also love Sunbrella waterproof fabrics, which are UV and mildew resistant and easy to clean. Opt for recycled-plastic rugs and rechargeable LED bulbs, which are more eco-friendly and just make sense.
05 ON FIRE
Nothing says summer like sitting around a fire with family and friends, grilling up a feast or toasting marshmallows under the stars. Think beyond the traditional gas barbecue and consider expanding to alternative methods of cookery, such as a pizza oven, smoker, outdoor fireplace or firepit, or even a traditional charcoal grill. If you have the budget and space, an outdoor kitchen is still a hot commodity.
Homerun FIREPIT, Rona, rona.ca
Karu 16i Multi-Fuel PIZZA OVEN, $1,099, Ooni, ooni.com
Homerun’s Garden of Eden FIREPIT, $184, Rona, rona.ca
NewBury FIREPIT TABLE, $648, Home Depot, homedepot.ca
06 ROOM FOR MORE
Giving structure to your backyard will make it more like a room. Modular panel systems let you design privacy screens, built-in benches and more. And “indoor” materials like solid surfaces are often durable enough for outdoors, too, and make the backyard feel like an extension of year-round living spaces.
Dekton’s Onirika Daze SURFACE, Cosentino, cosentino.com
07 HANG IN THERE
The swish swing is – you might say – on the upswing! Whether a hammock, platform bed or chair, if it’s suspended, it’s 2023’s hot seat.
Bali COLLECTION, Bouclair, bouclair.com
08 HOT POTS
Potted perennials and tropicals bring colour to the patio and also enhance the decor. Lavender in modern containers give a contemporary feel; put the same plant in a classic urn and you’ve got the perfect accent for a traditional terrace. Similarly, tropicals can be mixed in with other annuals, or go for a more minimalist modern look by potting them individually.
Pink Star calathea PLANT, $30, Rona, rona.ca
09 GROW SLOW
Slow gardening is all about bringing a mindfulness to your horticultural pursuits. It’s about growing your own food and gardening with plants that do well in your area. Slow gardening is the opposite of a high-maintenance approach to achieving perfection in the garden. Rather, the practice encourages you to enjoy the nurturing aspect of caring for plants (and the planet), and relaxing into gardening and gardens: planting vegetables and herbs to engage the senses, growing a strawberry patch for that mouthwatering burst of flavour once a year, and opting for a rake over a noisy leaf blower. Sounds good to us!
LANDSCAPING, Topia, topia.ca
10 TLC FOR MOTHER NATURE
To help the birds and the bees along, grow flowers, native plants, fruit trees, and shrubs with berries. Choose plants that bloom at different times to provide a steady diet for pollinators. Collect rainwater, mulch, and keep the soil healthy with compost.
11 TAKE THE PLUNGE
Tiny city lot? A mini plunge pool lets you make a big splash for a smaller cash outlay in a constrained space. Most plunge pools are less than 20 feet by eight feet, with a flat bottom around five feet deep. Perfect for a quick dip on a hot day.
Mova POOL, 12' x 24', Club Piscine Super Fitness, clubpiscine.ca
12 BOHO CHIC
Want to bring some tropical island vibes to your backyard? Boho chic gives a beachy look with elements like a fringed or macramé patio umbrella, romantic floral prints and rattan furniture (go for resin versus natural rattan if you want it to stand up to our not-so-tropical weather), then order up a margarita and chill.
Dune’s Hometrends LOVESEAT WITH OTTOMAN, $798, Walmart, walmart.ca
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