Get the word on Toronto’s hottest new patio decor

SUMMER ENTERTAINING is an experience, an atmosphere, a memory in the making. It’s a reason to transform your deck into an outdoor oasis.

This summer the hottest trend in patio furniture is indoor style with outdoor durability. As your nights indoors turn into nights out in the garden, you might wonder how to move the party from the living room to your patio. But don’t fret.

We’ll show you how to attain this summer’s ultimate trend: comfort in any space.

Deep seating has all the comfort and style of a living room, and it’s this summer’s trendiest addition to your patio.

These modular sets with seats centred around low-set coffee tables can be rearranged to suit your soiree, so it’s no surprise they are replacing stiff dining sets.

If you’re worried about the kids spilling ketchup or adults sloshing red wine on warm summer nights, opt for models from Woodard available at Deck and Dock (1200 Castlefield Ave.).

Their cushions are made with Crypton waterproof fabric that resists all kinds of stains and weather, which means you can leave them outside all year round.

Not all cushions are weatherproof, and most of us are likely to leave them exposed to the elements for a night or two. But to keep this season’s cool, new textiles lasting more than one summer you’ll need to store them in a cushion box.

Look for Kingsley-Bate’s teak chests at Sign of the Skier (2794 Yonge St.). They are silicon sealed, to keep your cushions dry, and even have hydraulic hinges to keep your kid’s fingers safe.

Designers are rethinking the standard umbrella for style and convenience.

Try an offset umbrella that hangs over so that you don’t have a pole in the centre of your party. New designs from Tucci,available at Sign of the Skier, are marine grade and won’t tip over, so you don’t sacrifice fashion for function.

Patio furnishing experts have a saying: “If it’s busy above, it’s quiet below.”

This summer,keep large furniture in muted colours and have fun with lights and bright colours overhead. Try pairing a vibrant umbrella with halogen clamp-on lights,available at Deck and Dock, to create a luminescent glow in the evening.

Another chic way to add ambience, light and a little romantic luxury to your patio is an outdoor firepit.

Natural gas or propane powered flames with stone hearths by OW Lee make for a cozy centrepiece to curl up by and can be found at Sign of the Skier.

Curtains are the finishing touch to this season’s trendy patio. Use them to add polish to your outdoor space.Or to create a private paradise in your own backyard, spring for an outdoor pavilion. They introduce a splash of colour, but be sure to have them made of fabrics tested for fade resistance such as Sunbrella, available at Deck and Dock.

 

Article exclusive to STREETS OF TORONTO