Plastics with panache
Outdoor plastic furniture offers designer looks for a posh backyard
New-age Adirondack: Old-school seating constructed in a durable, marine-grade polymer with recycled resin
It’s not your grandfather’s plastic patio furniture anymore.
A whole new generation of boldly colored, designer styled chairs, loungers, tables and more has invaded the outdoor furniture scene in the past few years. From ubiquitous white stackable chairs to top-priced Euro-style signature pieces, outdoor plastics now run the gamut of cheap to chic and everything in between.
“The market started to shake up a few years back, but the true game-changing designs are new,” says Anne Robert, a founder of TheOutdoorStylist.com for international outdoor design trend watchers. “Amazingly, plastic designs are some of the most edgy out there now.”
Industry expert Joseph P. Logan agrees. “The most interesting styles we’re seeing in the [plastic] category are very sleek, modern designs,” says Logan, executive director of the International Casual Furnishings Association, High Point, N.C.
“Manufacturers are stepping it up and offering some beautiful designs.”
Plastics with sophistication
The initial wave of plastics came in what Robert calls “playground colors” like bright pinks, greens and oranges, but muted, more sophisticated hues are gaining favor with consumers.
“You see a wide spectrum from primary colors to pastels,” Logan says. “There are many more options in color than in years past, but neutrals are still very, very popular.”
Also popular is the ecofriendly footprint of many styles. Manufacturer Poly-Wood Inc., for example, uses a blend of high-density polyethylene raw materials that is more than 90 percent recycled content, including milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles.
The most daring designs tend to be priced in thousands rather than hundreds of dollars, but mass-marketers offer smaller selections of moderately priced options with a sense of style, Logan says.
Here’s a sampling of the newest looks for outdoor plastics:
· Telescope Casual’s modern Adirondack chair, available with or without ottoman, marries a frame of recycled marine grade polymer with a fabric sling offered in a multitude of colors and patterns.
· Ikea’s Arholma series mixes and matches sleek plastic rattan chairs, sectional pieces, tables and cushions in a classic brown and white color scheme. It’s easy on the budget too.
· Plastic deck maker Trex has launched a new line of stylish outdoor furniture fashioned from Poly-Wood. The Trex Outdoor Furniture collection features Adirondack chairs, ottomans, settees, sofas and dining sets in six neutral colors including classic white and charcoal black.
· Qui Est Paul, a high-end French manufacturer, creates ergonomic, sculpture-like molded pieces for those whose budget leans toward champagne rather than beer. The funky, colorful pieces would look equally at home poolside or in the galleries of a modern art museum.
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