Casual living spaces have grown from basic patios used during warm weather to extensions of the home itself. In 2023, the outdoor furnishings industry reported $50 billion in revenue, 35 percent of that in the U.S. market, according to Statista. TikTok users viewed outdoor living videos 14 million times in December 2023 alone — a sign folks continue to prioritize outdoor design.
At Winter Market 2024, a panel of outdoor designers discussed this trend of evolving casual furnishing design. Ryan Williams, owner of Artisan Design Sudio in Atlanta, and Lori Miller, founder and principal of LGC Interiors, a commercial design group based in New York, shared their insights.
Casual Furniture Quality Continues to Improve
While outdoor furnishings were traditionally built to withstand the elements, they often sacrificed comfort and design. The COVID-19 pandemic created demand for casual furniture that used better materials and focused more on “casual” than “outdoor.”
“We did see a large push during the pandemic for higher-end, better quality outdoor goods and people willing to spend more money on those goods because of the importance of the outdoors really being part of their home,” Williams recounted.
This is increasingly true in the commercial space, where hospitality and event venues need exquisite and durable pieces that leave lasting mental impressions on their guests – not marks on their legs.
“We can finally find the high-quality, long-lasting products that everyone wants, to give them more space, and more time outdoors,” Miller said.
Innovative Upholstery Fabrics
As time spent outdoors extended to more seasons and longer hours, people realized that the cushions they were sitting on were just not that comfortable. Worse, they held too much moisture, rendering them unusable for days after a rain shower. Now, manufacturers produce innovative fabrics that meet durability needs and evolving luxury demands.
“Every club and every resort we work on, one of the big changes they want is more outdoor living and for us to integrate performance fabrics with fabrics that work with the double rub,” Miller explained.
Even more than the upholstery, the cushions have improved. Companies have innovated softer, more comfortable cushions that still hold up to the elements.
“The outdoor cushions for so many years were just the hard foam. You were lucky if it drained. But now you sit on these cushions that are outdoor and it's amazing,” Williams said. “It feels like an indoor sofa and so that's a huge advancement.”
Image: Outdoor Interiors
Seamless Transition Between Indoors and Outdoors
Higher-quality furnishings outfitted with more resilient upholstery enables integrated designs from inside to outside. In fact, outdoor living spaces have become part of the overall building and renovation plans.
“Our clients want to live outside,” said Williams. “Now, on new construction, we're seeing as much emphasis put on a new sunroom, patio and covered porch as there is on the inside of the house.”
Designers are searching for casual furniture that matches the functionality and design qualities of indoor home furnishings. Pieces like modular sofas or kitchen islands are making their ways to outdoor spaces.
“The furniture is interchangeable; it doesn’t matter if it’s indoors or outdoors anymore, just as long as it looks pretty,” explained Williams.
As outdoor living expands and demands evolve, so too does the casual furnishings industry. Homeowners and commercial venues are seizing the chances to maximize their real estate, and designers are finding inventive ways to breathe new life into casual living spaces year-round.
Casual furnishing designers and retailers can source a wealth of product inside AmericasMart in Downtown Atlanta. The campus is now home to the ICFA’s Casual Market and hosts two sourcing events each year. Summer Casual Market Atlanta runs July 15-18 (overlapping with Atlanta Market, July 16-22) and Fall Casual Market Atlanta spans September 16-19, 2024. Buyers can shop an unmatched selection in the casual and home categories and access the largest mix of gift product in the country.
Register today to attend Atlanta Market, July 16-22.
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