With the long winter and snow falling well into spring in many parts of the country, patio buying season has snuck up on many of us! However, there is plenty of the season left for those considering custom patio sets (think summer weddings, 4th of July and so much more!), and with our large in stock selection, you can get to enjoying your outdoor living space as soon as possible.

To get the best selection and the most enjoyment out of your set this season, it’s important to shop early. Read on to find out what’s new in outdoor furniture and accessories this season.

Color and Fabric Selections: Choices! Choices! Choices!

Similar to your big indoor furniture items, including sofas, loveseats and chairs, textured neutrals are trending in outdoor furniture, especially in wicker furniture and metal deep seating. Lighter base fabrics for wicker sofas and chairs are especially hot this season—more so than in previous years. The reason? Consumer confidence in outdoor performance fabrics such as Sunbrella and Outdura may be the answer. These fabrics are durable and easy to clean, making the lighter color choices more practical. Grey tones have also moved outdoors, following the indoor trend. Light grey to charcoal shades have been developed in a variety of textures and prints to work with the grey metal or wicker frame finishes.

While the main fabrics for outdoor furniture are stuck in neutral, accent colors are brightening up these sets and allowing room for personal style and preferences. Blue accent colors, especially dark to navy solids and combination stripes & prints, are very popular this year. Blues are a natural fit for the outdoors, however, selections aren’t limited to just these shades. This season, bright color patterns and prints can be easily added to outdoor spaces with toss pillows, throws and beach towels for your poolside area.

Comfort is Key

The demand for comfort in outdoor living is in the market again in 2018. As such, we are seeing cushions on everything, including dining chairs, wicker outdoor furniture and on metal frames. We are even seeing trends of pillows on traditional sling style patio dining chairs as they are used into the evening for entertaining outdoors, so comfort for guests is increasingly important to consumers.

Consumers need to be careful on these outdoor investments, as low price most of the time is equal to lower quality. Many 'bargain" cushions and pillows may only last for a single season, resulting in excess fading or deteriorations with normal wear and exposure to the elements, including sun, wind and rain. It’s important to watch tags for details about the cushions’ construction and care instructions.

Outdoor Dining Design

From grilled goods to outdoor cocktails, food and drink is at the heart of much of our outdoor living. Choose an outdoor dining set that will enhance your al fresco dining experience and suit your performance and style expectations. The outdoor dining trends this year focus on versatility and detail. We are seeing less pattern in dining sets. Instead, clean linear designs are reigning in popularity. Transitional to contemporary designs in better and best price points are currently big in this product category.

Table top design elements include a lot of different slat top table designs. Many of these tables are paired with dining chairs with an “x” back or slat back design. More outdoor dining sets now offer the options of stationary dining chairs, swivel chairs, swivel rockers and/or a bench, allowing you the selection to choose what works best for your dining and entertaining needs. In fact, many sets are being shown with three seating option at one table this season. Paired with outdoor extension tables options, these dining set designs accommodate friends and family for outdoor entertaining and more.

Whether you are looking for a simple 5-piece dining set for your family to have the occasional meal outdoors or a large extension table paired with swivel chairs and a bench to accommodate a large crowd, now’s the time to shop for outdoor furniture and accessories. With the wide variety of choices available this season, there’s something for everyone!

Need more help picking outdoor furniture for your porch, patio or poolside? Read our Patio Basics Buying Guide.