Patio Furniture News by Ann Auker
One of the largest areas of growth in the patio industry today has been the emergence of the “Outdoor Room”. Outdoor rooms are no longer the rage, they’re the norm. It’s a proven fact that up to 75% of consumers use their outdoor areas (patios, decks, porches) as an extension of their indoor living area. That’s the thought process behind the outdoor room. Consumers today are spending more time at home and the best way to enjoy a “staycation” is make better use of their outdoor living area. You can make an outdoor room your own personal get-a-way without actually going away. People today are spending more time entertaining and relaxing than ever before and we are dedicated to helping our customers get the most out of their outdoor spaces!
Another outdoor accessory that is popular is the outdoor fire pit. Seating groups are hugely popular and fire pits are the perfect center piece for an outdoor seating area. Fire pits come in a variety of sizes, styles and colors in either propane or wood burning and can be a matching or coordinating accent to your seating set. Propane fire pits are easy to light, less messy, can be safely used on a wooden deck and are perfect for creating a little ambiance to your setting. Wood burning fire pits take a little more work and require a consistent wood source but generally radiate more heat than the propane version. Also, who doesn’t like roasting marshmallows or hot dogs over an open fire? Homecrest Outdoor Living is our custom fire pit manufacturer and we can help you design a fire pit that fits your space as well as your individual style.
Other accessories we carry for your outdoor room include zero gravity recliners from Lafuma, ultra-plush hammocks from Hatteras Hammock, outdoor rugs from Treasure Garden and lanterns and fire tables from Terra Flame. We also carry a wide assortment of outdoor throw pillows for your seating pieces, non-breakable outdoor dinnerware and durable, water resistant furniture storage covers.
Other changes you will see in the patio department focus on outdoor accessories. Shade products (market umbrellas, cantilevered umbrellas & awnings) are a staple to our patio department. The newest trend in shade products includes a surge in sales for cantilevered umbrellas and a decrease in the sales of the traditional standard 9’ market umbrella. With larger outdoor living areas & the threat of skin cancer, consumers want better coverage from the sun’s harmful rays and cantilevered umbrellas and awnings fill that need. We have increased our selection of cantilevered umbrellas in the gigantic 13’ octagon, the smaller scale 10’ octagon and this season we added a 10’ square size. We are also excited to be a K.E. Durasol awning dealer and our sales associates can help you customize a retractable awning that is perfect for your outdoor area.