Innovative furnishings enhance outdoor living

Yards, porches and patios are extensions of our homes that serve as places to relax, play and entertain. Whether attached to an inner-city town house or to a cottage at the coast, however, if they’re tiny, they provide an obstacle to be overcome when it’s time to entertain.

Recently, I was at a friend’s beach house built in 1927. She barely has room on the porch for four chairs and tiny folding TV trays. But after years of struggling with how to feed guests comfortably, she has discovered that some of them just have to sit a few feet lower on the sidewalk side of the brick wall that forms the porch and put their plates and glasses on the wall.

People who live by the ocean must be concerned about the abuse outdoor furniture takes from the salt air. Teak furniture is popular, but many people don’t like the way the wood naturally turns gray and weathers. Dirt and salt accumulate on its surfaces, and it can be a chore to clean wood patio furniture.

Fortunately, trendsetters in outdoor furniture manufacturing have turned to better materials that are lighter in weight and more user-friendly.

“Technology is behind the evolution of the outdoor space, offering more flexibility to be creative, customized and multifunctional,” said Jennifer Dorr of The Veneman Group.

Stainless steel, glass, aluminum and high-end polymer substances are a few of the materials that have modernized conventional styles. This transformation has resulted in novel, eye-catching pieces such as the mosaic game-board table shown in the accompanying photo.

This handmade cast-aluminum chessboard-top table is available as shown or with a 42-inch square glass top. Tucked under the table are boxed cushions crafted of a fill that allows water to drain, making this a no-worry assemblage for outside use. Because this design allows for the stools to fit compactly right under the tabletop, it is a useful choice for the space-starved household.

Other ideas are stacking chairs that enable you to plan for eight but only take up the floor space required for one guest. Folding chairs are a bit more bulky, but if you have a slightly more generous storage area, they work well, too.

“You can create an outdoor living room where everyone will want to hang out by mixing seating designs such as sofas, chat chairs and swivel chat tables,” Dorr said. “Color can also expand an outdoor room. You can incorporate a dash of vibrancy with a colorful outdoor umbrella, ottoman or throw pillows to expand the space.

“Using neutrals as your base, add bold color for a more lively look that creates interest. Mixing and matching fabrics and patterns is an effective way not only to show off your personality, but to feel spacious in a once empty and uninteresting patio.”

The popularity of sophisticated and colorful outdoor-rated textiles adds the option of introducing lots of color and texture into an outdoor living room. Gorgeous patterns are available in all-weather fabrics that look good enough to be used inside, as well. Even outside, people are looking for indoor comfort and variety.

“Today’s pillows can move from room to room as an interior extension to the outdoor, offering homeowners unrestricted lifestyle looks,” Dorr said.

A variety of other products on the market also help to create an indoor feel to your out-of-doors room. Look for outdoor table lamps and floor lamps that operate by battery, throws made of durable fibers and pillows in all-weather fabrics.

Christine Brun is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of “Big Ideas for Small Spaces.”