As late spring begins to blend into early summer the signs of a return to outdoor dining are already starting to appear in hospitality businesses everywhere. For cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars the improving weather heralds the opening of pavement, patio, terrace and garden areas to customers looking to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.
For many businesses this is the ideal time to make a change when it comes to replacing your tired old commercial outdoor furniture in favour of a fresh, new look. As one of the UK’s leading suppliers of outstanding contract furniture we are delighted to present our ideas on what promise to be the top 9 design trends for outdoor commercial furniture in 2017.
1) Bring the Inside Outside
This year will see the continued rise of the design trend for a seamless transition from interior to exterior. Gone are the old notions of a distinct difference between indoor furniture and items which will see use outside. Plush seating and tables which wouldn’t look out of place in any dining room are making their way out into the fresh air. Where plain wooden benches once ruled, patios and gardens are now seeing the arrival of sofas and easy chairs, enabling customers to enjoy a meal or drink in the same comfort as those inside.
2) Beachside Bliss and Calm Coastal Colours
It’s not surprising perhaps that we instinctively associate summer and relaxed dining with being by the sea. Memories of long, relaxing beach holidays and that unique sense of serene contentment that comes with an ocean connection are maybe why the trend for coastal colours is seeing a comeback for 2017. Calming blues combined with nature inspired commercial furniture are ideal for generating a fresh, inviting outdoor dining or hospitality area. Wood, cork and natural fabrics help to provide a warming element which will encourage diners and drinkers to relax and unwind.
3) Expect the Unexpected!
For those businesses looking to bring a little more vibrancy and a sense of experimentation to your outdoor dining area 2017 is the ideal time to be bold with your choice of colours and commercial furniture accessories! Bright tones, exciting patterns and unexpected textures are all trending well in the top designer’s studios, with pillows and cushions being an especially good way to inject some much needed life and colour into an otherwise uninteresting seating arrangement. In terms of commercial outdoor furniture try extending this theme by choosing elaborate designs, paired with unusual materials, to create a lasting visual impact!
4) Go Retro…
Ah, retro…the old trend that is somehow always new. It could be argued that design, like fashion, is not a linear progression but actually a revolving wheel with retro placed squarely in the centre. Retro themes for outdoor contract furniture are an almost constantly popular choice with both hospitality businesses and customers alike – from the nostalgic feel of a 1920’s speakeasy bar to the fun kitsch of the 1970’s it’s no surprise that a design that harks back to yesteryear will always find a warm welcome with clientele. For 2017 some commercial outdoor furniture trends are moving firmly toward the natural, woven rattan and wicker inspired styles of the 1970’s.
5) …With a twist!
Going one step further with the whole return to retro woven trend is the introduction of bold new colours for rattan and wicker outdoor furniture. While remaining true to the retro styling and construction the cheeky injection of a dash of unexpected colour matches well with the ‘Expect the unexpected’ trend already outlined above. As such an exterior dining area arrangement can still reflect a retro feel but with a more contemporary twist. Mixing the occasional brightly coloured chair or table in with a host of darker, more traditional commercial outdoor furniture is a clever way to draw the eye.
[products_slider title=”Latest Commercial Outdoor Furniture Designs” per_page=”12″ featured=”no” latest=”no” best_sellers=”no” on_sale=”no” orderby=”date” order=”desc” layout=”with-hover” category=”outdoor-furniture, ” ]
6) Naturally Attractive
The urban-chic look so popular in 2016 is firmly out of favour in 2017, with outdoor contract furniture trends for hotels, pubs, cares and bars seeing a return to the ever-popular natural look. Stark, post-urbanisation concrete furniture is being hastily dumped in favour of the much more welcoming use of wood and other natural materials to provide a warm and friendly feel to exterior dining and drinking areas. Teak in particular is an excellent material for outdoor furniture, aging beautifully and acquiring an attractive weathered look over time.
7) Vintage Tables & Chairs
Carrying on from last year the use of vintage style tables and chairs continues to be a big design trend for outdoor commercial furniture in 2017. Distinct from the ‘retro’ trend this is more about classical elegance as demonstrated through the clever use of natural stone and simple metal finishes, including colourful ceramics and glass. One item in particular is seeing a huge upsurge in popularity for hospitality businesses: the mosaic table.
In line with 2017’s vintage outdoor furniture trend dainty tea garden tables and chairs are also seeing something of a renaissance.
8) Bohemian Hhapsody
Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that a decade which saw British mega group Queen’s seminal rock anthem is once more casting its influence over commercial furniture styles in 2017. Bohemian colours and styles are in favour in a range of hotels, restaurants and bars, with deep rich reds and oranges – accompanied by plush, opulent fabrics – reflecting the free artistic expression so evocative of the period. Earth tones and subtle golds are also on the rise. Outdoor wooden commercial furniture with a whimsical or handcrafted appearance is likewise strongly tipped to be a big thing this year.
9) Distressed Designs
While the stresses and strains of running a successful hospitality business might leave you looking a little careworn – take heart: 2017’s last design trend is toward outside commercial furniture which looks as attractively distressed as you do…
Washed out, worn wood finishes and a visible grain – accompanied by neutral pastel tones – are a great way to convey a feeling of timeworn, rustic charm to your exterior dining or drinking area.