Ever since the parlor became a fashionable part of the American home at the turn of the 20th Century, the sofa has been the “go to” piece offurniture when it comes to comfort.
So it shouldn’t be a great surprise that the sofa has moved recently beyond the great room to the great outdoors. Today, sofas are just as popular on American patios, porches and decks as they are in the living room.
Of course, you can’t exactly take your old sofa and set it outdoors. It will quickly mildew and begin to fall apart. That’s because they aren’t made to be weather resistant, let alone all-weather.
Thankfully, manufacturers have taken note of this trend and have created sofas that are perfect for the outdoors. They’re not only virtually indestructible, but stylish and sophisticated too.
One of the keys to selecting the right sofa or sofa sets for the outdoors is picking the right materials. If you’re looking at wood, you can’t go wrong with a teak sofa. It is virtually maintenance free. Cast aluminum and the classic wicker are also good choices.
Fabrics are another important consideration. Unlike interior sofas, exterior sofas need to be covered in fabrics that won’t fade in the sun or mildew in moisture. Fabric isn’t an area that you want to cut corners on, since a damp or moldy sofa will get little if any use. Fortunately, the newer fabrics used on outdoor sofas are very weather resistant.
The same can be said for the cushions themselves. The outdoor sofa you choose should have exterior grade foam in it. Otherwise, it will eventually become saturated with the dreaded mildew and your investment in fine outdoor furnishings will be lost.
If you’ve bought outdoor furniture for the home and garden in the past, you probably have visions of furnishings made of garish white PVC pipe. Nothing could be further from the truth these days. Today’s outdoor sofas, along with ottomans, chairs, tables and coffee tables, are as stylish and contemporary as their interior counterparts.
As such, the transition from indoors to outdoors is becoming increasingly blurred. Thanks to the popularity of entertaining outdoors, you can find an outdoor sofa or sofa grouping in just about any style — ranging from contemporary and traditional to classic. Many even mimic the designs of indoor sofas, only with an outdoor twist when it comes to materials.
Expand your living spaces with today’s outdoor sofas, tables, ottomans and chairs and you won’t be disappointed. Their versatility, all-weather design and style bring the comfort of the indoors to the great outdoors, increasing your living space and allowing you to enjoy your home in new and exciting ways.
