The Best Way to Get Through Winter: Refresh Your Outdoor Space Now
Your chair cushions are in need of reupholstering.
Updated Oct 11, 2018 11:46 PM
In partnership with
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
The past year has shifted our relationship with the outdoors. Even city residents surrounded by concrete have found solace in connecting with nature, whether it’s on a makeshift fire escape balcony or by taking a quick walk through the park. Elsewhere decks, patios, and backyards have become yearlong hangouts, outfitted for everything from family dinners to socially distanced drinks with neighbors. “In a time where making everyday moments matter, embracing outdoor space as an expansion of life’s pleasures—milestone moments, a beautiful meal, morning coffee or tea—carries significance,” says designer Neffi Walker.
Making those moments feel special, and personal to you, has become a top priority—and doing so requires pieces that are both stylish and functional. Inspired by nature’s beauty, Perennials’s forthcoming Villa del Sol collection emotes the sense of escapism we are craving from our own homes. Leaving muted shades and monochromatic prints behind, Walker shares three inventive ways to reinvent your outdoor space with the brand’s new offering of colorways, patterns, and fabrics.
Personalize a Bistro Set
“Small things can make a big impact, especially when playing with color,” says Walker. For those with limited square footage, she recommends investing in a bistro set that’s compact enough to fit on even the tiniest of balconies. Since most on-the-market options are sold without standard chair cushions, Walker suggests reupholstering your own version to lend a strong visual accent—and a punch of personality. Perennials’s Palmetto fabric adds instant texture by pulling in warmer-toned hues from primary colors found in tropical climates, offering a cool contrast to a metal, wicker, or wood table and chairs.
Opt for a Statement Rug
Backyards are no longer exclusive to gardening, children’s play, or pets. They’re an expansion of your home style, and Walker encourages seeing a patio slab as a blank canvas, using bolder colors to command attention and create a strong foundation. A large statement rug in a performance fabric can ground the surrounding furniture and decor. To omit the stress of expected spills and inclement weather, Walker suggests Perennials’s fade-, stain-, and mildew-resistant drop stitch Tide Pools rug, “not only because of the captivating use of color, but because of its ideal durability,” she explains.
Put Plants Everywhere
Arguably more of a lifestyle choice than a trend, having plants makes everything feel better. “COVID-19 has widened the aperture on plants, regardless of space size; several people have either gotten their first plant or added multiples to their home,” says Walker. Use a printed textile, like Palmetto in Smoky Quartz, as a tea towel or scarf and tie it around the base of a plant pot, branch, hanger, or basket to add a personal touch.
