Now more than ever, we are seeing our clients and customers investing in their homes and outdoor spaces. We are proud to carry so many beautiful products to help you make the most of your outdoor spaces this summer. So, today we're taking the guess work out of shopping our outdoor collection and giving you all of the information you need to select the perfect outdoor furniture, rugs, lighting, and decor!
PHOTO: L.A. Project by Leclair Decor, photographed by Chad Mellon
1. DEFINE THE SPACE WITH A RUG
One way we love to bring a more sophisticated and refined feeling to outdoor spaces, is by grounding them with an outdoor rug. Though the aesthetics of your outdoor rug are very important, another essential element to take into consideration is the material! These rugs will be enduring the elements a lot more than your indoor rugs, we’ve put together some quick information about selecting the right rug for your patio:
POLYPROPYLENE
We LOVE a good polypropylene rug, especially for outdoor use! These rugs are still soft to the touch, but are able to withstand outdoor use much better than rugs made of materials like wool, silk, and viscose. It is the unique way these rugs are made that ultimately plays a key factor in making them perfect for withstanding heavy use and exterior applications.
Designer Tip: You’ll notice that many of the polypropylene rugs we carry are mixed with other materials. When selecting one for outdoor use, look for rugs that have a high polypropylene content (or that are 100% polypropylene) to get the most out of this material!
P.E.T
Looking for a rug that is as durable as can be? We’d like to introduce you to our good friend, the P.E.T rug! These rugs are made of eco-friendly, man-made fibers from recycled plastic bottles, UV-treated for fade resistance, and feature a soft, wool-like texture.
Designer Tip: if using P.E.T outdoors, be cautious of using it on outdoor steps or walkways as this material can become quite slippery when wet!
JUTE
This beautiful, natural material is another great one that you can incorporate into your outdoor living. Jute rugs bring a casual and organic feel to both indoor and outdoor spaces, and we love their versatility!
Designer Tip: When using jute outdoors, we recommend that you keep them in more protected and/or covered outdoor spaces in order to increase the longevity of the natural fibers. If you live in a humid environment, experience a lot of rain, or have pets, we recommend that you keep your jute rugs as dry as possible to prevent any potential odors that can happen when organic materials are wet!
CLICK IMAGES TO SHOP INDIVIDUAL RUGS, OR SHOP ALL OUTDOOR RUGS.
2. GET COZY WITH PILLOWS AND THROWS
We all love spending time in our outdoor spaces, whether it be with friends, family, or alone. And let’s be honest, we all try to start our patio season as early as we can and extend it for all long as we possibly can. A sure way to increase the number of days you get to spend in the outdoors is by making your space as cozy as possible. We recommend including lots of cushions and throws in your outdoor spaces so that no matter how chilly the evening gets, you can cozy up and stay outside!
Designer Tip: To really amp up your outdoor living spaces, consider investing in an outdoor heater or fire feature to ensure you stay warm and enjoy your patio for as much of the year as possible!
PHOTO: L.A. Project by Leclair Decor, photographed by Chad Mellon
3. LIGHT UP THE OUTDOORS
When thinking about designing an outdoor space, you may not think about lighting as a crucial consideration - but we’re here to tell you that it most certainly is! Though your lighting outdoors is much more dependent on the time of day as compared to lighting indoors, it is important to think about the kinds of activities you will require lighting for outdoors, and what kind of ambiance you want to create.
Designer Tip: We encourage you to really think about how lighting will elevate your outdoor experience. For example, if you have an area where you’ll be cooking outside you will want to include lighting from above to create a safe cooking environment. Or, if you have an outdoor living space that you want to feel more relaxed in, consider dimmer lighting options, like strings of lights or candles!
CLICK IMAGES TO SHOP INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTS, SHOP ALL OUTDOOR LIGHTING HERE.
4. INVEST IN FURNITURE THAT WILL LAST
Just like we mentioned with rugs, the pieces of patio furniture you select will be subjected to a lot more wear and tear than your indoor furniture. This means that these pieces should be investments in quality to ensure that you get to use them for many years to come. We recommend you spend some time thinking about how much wear and exposure your outdoor furniture will be subjected to, as well as what kind of climate you live in, before selecting the best materials for the pieces for your patio!
Designer Tip: We want you to rest assured that the pieces you invest in will last, so here are some of our favourite materials worth investing in for our outdoor furniture:
Teak Wood: Teak is a material that has been popularized in outdoor furniture for good reason. It is unique in that it naturally contains oils that repel water, prevent the pieces from warping or becoming brittle, and this same oil also helps repel pests. Teak stands the test of the elements incredibly well and is also very low maintenance as it does not require paint or varnish!
Eucalyptus Wood: Eucalyptus is another rot and insect resistant wood that is ideal for outdoor use, though best results are achieved with the application of sealant from time to time. It is incredibly durable and can be a more cost-effective option as compared to teak as it is incredibly fast-growing!
Olefin: Though it isn’t natural wood, like our other top contenders, olefin is a material that boasts numerous strengths when it comes to being used outdoors. Olefin is water-resistant, durable, is treated during production with UV inhibitors so it isn’t damaged by sun exposure, and is also resistant to mildew and insects...so you can understand why we encourage investing in olefin outdoor furniture!
PHOTO: L.A. Project by Leclair Decor, photographed by Chad Mellon
CLICK IMAGES TO SHOP INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTS, SHOP ALL OUTDOOR FURNITURE HERE.
5. WHEN IN DOUBT, BRING MORE PLANTS OUT
We recognize that our urban dwelling clients and customers likely don’t have the same kind of access to greenery in their outdoor spaces, so this one’s for you! Bringing greenery into living spaces brings new life to a design and can add colour in an organic and subtle way. Think about the kind of sun exposure you have in your outdoor space and begin looking for plants that will thrive on your balcony or terrace!
Designer Tip: When integrating potted plants or botanicals in vases, be sure to select options that are the right fit for your space. Thinking about the scale of a space will help you select pieces that will fit in seamlessly with your design and will make your outdoor living and dining spaces feel even more welcoming! This is also another great way to incorporate a bit of colour into the space that is noncommittal and can be changed seasonally!
CLICK IMAGES TO SHOP INDIVIDUAL POTS & PLANTERS, SHOP FULL COLLECTION HERE.