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For many Canadians this summer, an escape to the great outdoors means heading out to the backyard, a patio, balcony or terrace.
A recent report produced by Deloitte Canada found that 35 percent of those surveyed are staying home this summer because they don’t have the money to travel or are using the funds for another purpose. A whopping 74 percent said that while they did plan to get away, they’d be staying close to their home region, citing the higher cost of food, gas and other travel expenses.
That tempered approach to adventure underpins several of the key outdoor décor trends this year. Instead of bold colour and dramatic flourishes, a safer look has emerged.
“Organic textures continue to be at the forefront,” says Jessica Cinnamon of Jessica Cinnamon Design,noting that natural finishes can be found in items made of “rattan, jute, stone, terracotta and wood.” Just as in indoor spaces, she says, these soothing textures can be incorporated affordably, through “decor elements like pillows, throw blankets, outdoor rugs and planters.”
Aman Than of Aman Than Interiors continues to see the theme of integrating “indoor and outdoor living spaces, creating a seamless transition between the two with more use of large glass doors or bi-folding doors connecting living spaces together.” While that trend is far from new, in the current atmosphere, its appeal can start to read like a way to keep the safety of home well in view.
A soothing undercurrent can be found in the palettes too. Colour schemes for summer 2024 include a continuation of white and light neutrals for a breezy feel. At Beauti-Tone, the 2024 Exterior Colour of the Year is a perfectly calm blue called Pacific.
Nature-inspired tones are also very much on-trend, ranging from sand, clay and moss to Benjamin Moore’s fresh Lichen Green.
It’s a look that offers comfort and a little escape, without feeling like a shakeup.