Fortunate enough to have an outdoor living space in your home? Whether it’s a small outdoor balcony or a blend of decks, pools and expansive gardens, creating a luxury outdoor living environment that you can retreat to requires a number of essential considerations.
1. The unpredictable Australian climate
Whatever your challenge, ensuring your outdoor furniture is truly made for your climate is critical. Your chosen pieces should withstand the harsh elements that we are accustomed to here in Australia. If you are buying outdoor lounges, that should include the cushions!
Make sure the fabric is 100% solution-dyed acrylic so it will not fade after one season of being outdoors. Brands such as Sunbrella, Agora and Dickson Constant all provide a 5-year ZERO fade guarantee. Do not invest in fabrics that are made from Olefin. They are a cheap substitute many outdoor furniture stores sell to maximise their profit margins but they minimise the longevity of your outdoor furniture setting.
When you buy designer pieces for your home, ensure it has been specifically created to stay outdoors in all weather. It is an investment that pays off for an ever-welcoming zone to kick back and instantly relax in. Not to mention how beautiful your outdoor space will always look.
Our furniture collections are uniquely designed to endure the beautiful, yet sometimes challenging Australian climate.
Our Teak collection thrives on Sunny days.
2. The delicate balance between size and space
Another essential consideration is the size of the furniture. Too big or too small will always feel wrong and subconsciously awkward. Opt for customisation of size to ensure everything is perfectly balanced and made for the space. Outdoor daybeds can take up vital and essential space around a pool if too big; outdoor lounges and dining furniture can look underwhelming and more practical for your entertaining needs if they’re too small.
The Osier Belle team is passionate about creating outdoor spaces as bespoke as they are beautiful. We offer free design consultations so that you have comfort in knowing your new outdoor pieces will be the perfect fit for your space.
3. Choose high quality, eco-friendly materials that will last
When deciding on materials, be brave and mix in a combination of wicker colours, fabrics, timbers and pop in some concrete for a contemporary nod. This shows confidence in your styling and distances your outdoor living vibe from that ‘one-stop-shop’ showroom look.
If you’re buying timber, make sure it is of excellent quality; ask to see the certification and ensure all materials used in the design of your furniture have been verified to ensure it has not been felled from illegal plantations. Ensuring your new outdoor furniture is ethical as well as beautiful is a must. Ask to see photos of customer settings that have been outdoors for at least one year so you can see for yourself how their outdoor furniture withstands extreme weather conditions.
At Osier Belle, we source the highest quality materials from leading brands that we trust.
4. Style with pillows that are functional and hard-waring
Continually storing outdoor cushions is not luxurious or indulgent, just frustrating and time-consuming – not to mention, your outdoor lounge furniture looks dejected and half-dressed when not in use.
The covers should be easily removable. This is a design feature that can be easily overlooked when buying but is essential when cleaning your outdoor furniture cushions. Check the cushions are also machine-washable and guaranteed not to shrink otherwise you will resist washing them which is unhygienic and may become unsightly.
Check out some of the ways you can accessorise your outdoor space with Osier Belle.
5. Set the mood with clever lighting
Finally, mood lighting can transform any space into an enhancing, magical place to entertain and relax in. Lanterns packed with fairy lights create a beautiful statement piece and, if you put on a timer, you never have to worry about them being on to welcome you home from a long day. Customised outdoor ceiling lamp shades mimic what you naturally have indoors, further labelling the area as an extension of the indoors. Clusters of candles are always a winner; who doesn’t like a romantic candle?
At Osier Belle, we offer free design consultations so that you have comfort in knowing your new outdoor pieces will be the perfect fit for your space. As all of our pieces are fully customised, we will work with you to choose the perfect mix of materials to create that elegant and unique look you desire. Book your free consultation with Osier Belle today.
