EL SEGUNDO HERALD March 22, 2018 Page 9
Top Trends To Inspire Your Outdoor Living
(BPT) - Outdoor living spaces rank first
among special function rooms desired by
consumers, according to the American
Institute for Architects, and so homeowners
are expected to be going all-in for the
outdoors in 2018.
Trex Company, a maker of premium
decking and railing, has gleaned insights
from contractors, homeowners and industry
experts to compile the following outdoor
living trends that will dominate this year:
Year-round enjoyment
Among the biggest trends is a shift away
from seasonality as consumers adopt more
of a year-round mindset, no longer restricting
outdoor living to spring and summer. Thanks
to new high-performance materials and
innovative design approaches, homeowners
everywhere are transforming their outdoor
spaces into multi-seasonal extensions of
their homes. For example, Trex contractors
have reported an uptick in requests for its
RainEscape deck drainage system by clients
looking to add multi-seasonal living space
underneath an elevated deck.
Minimal maintenance, maximum enjoyment
Just because people are spending more
time outdoors doesn’t mean they’re willing to
put in extra hours for upkeep. In fact, highmaintenance
materials like wood are seeing
a decrease in demand as people are opting
for offerings that deliver better performance
and sustainability.
Unlike wood, high-performance composites
resist fading, staining, scratching and mold
- and won’t rot, warp, crack or splinter. No
sanding, staining or painting is required, and
food and drink spills wash off easily with
just soap and water.
Comfy cozy
Among the hottest design influences right
now is “hygge” (pronounced hoo-gah) - the
Scandinavian term for a feeling of coziness
and comfort. This year, outdoor spaces will
beckon homeowners and their guests to
relax and rejuvenate with hygge-inspired
accents, from plush cushions and throws to
protective pergolas, cozy warming features
and outdoor lighting.
Residential goes commercial
While railing matched to the decking
remains popular, an increasing number of
homeowners are taking advantage of the
complementary decking and railing pairings
afforded by new railing materials in modern,
metal finishes, as well as sleek designs
inspired by commercial architecture. More
homeowners are inspired by outdoor spaces
they find in commercial settings, such as hotels
and urban rooftops, and want to replicate
those looks in their homes. A prime example
of this commercial-to-residential trend is the
growing popularity of horizontal railings
such as rod rail - a sleek, industrial look
that’s ideal for optimizing a panoramic view.
Hide and chic
With the increased usage of outdoor living
spaces comes higher demand for chic decor
and privacy. An easy design trick that adds
personal style and functionality, lattice
panels are perfect for enhancing privacy
and concealing storage areas or unsightly
views. With styles ranging from romantic
to deco, lattice panels can be integrated into
any outdoor area and applied to structures
such as arbors, trellises and gazebos, or used
as decorative wainscoting or deck skirting.
Fun and games
Kids are not the only ones who enjoy
playing outside. Outdoor play spaces for all
ages are on the rise, including everything from
swimming pools and embedded sandboxes to
regulation cornhole courts, horseshoe pits and
dedicated spaces for volleyball, badminton
and bocce ball.
Beyond yard games, electronics
manufacturers now offer televisions and
entertainment systems specifically designed
for the outdoors, taking into consideration
differences in lighting and outdoor acoustics.
Meanwhile, new storage options include
durable wall-mounted television and
entertainment centers that beautifully protect
pricey electronics from the elements, while
concealing all of the unsightly - and potentially
unsafe - cords and cables.
For more information about outdoor living
trends, go to www.trex.com.
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(310) 261-0798
Assoc Broker 31 years/Manager
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