Retro Patio Furniture: Reliving
the old days
The rise of
retro patio furniture has been rapid in recent years. Its
appeal is multigenerational and the impact the furniture
has on your patio area is significant. Simply put, you
can transform a dull, unexciting outdoor space into a
funky ‘playback from way back!'
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You’d be hard-pressed to
find expert home decorators that can’t
see the benefits of incorporating retro
furniture in your patio
area.
Before going any
further, let’s have a quick look at the
origins of retro patio furniture. For
those unfamiliar with the background,
retro furniture refers to the styles of
the 1950’s through to the 1970’s. This
was truly a remarkable time in our
history.
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Countries changed from war-torn
regions to hubs of creativity and a newfound cheerful
inspiration.
This
expressed itself in the form of new furniture designs
characterized by new more modern materials such as
Formica and melamine. Loud prints were in and curvy lines
were favored. Many of these designs originated from
the USA,
but this ‘design revolution’ soon caught on in Europe and
areas in Scandinavia, resulting in a truly global event.
These
historic designs is now founding it’s way back into our
outdoor living areas with more and more homeowners adding
retro patio furniture to their
collection.
As with most patio furniture styles, the
choices and options are vast. For the most part, this is a good
thing, but can also leave you stranded on an island of
indecisiveness.
Let’s look at some of
the more popular
designs.
Hands down favorite when looking for retro
patio furniture is the ‘egg chair’. This is basically an
egg-shaped shell with a padded interior. The shell is
available in a range of different materials including,
but not limited to, fiberglass and a lightweight sturdy
aluminum frame. Depending on the rest of your patio
furniture, this can complement your decorative efforts in
a big way. If you have enough space, you can opt for the
two-seater, but can also stick to the smaller sized
version.
Many dealers also offer the 1960’s type steel,
retro patio furniture. These are popular for its ease of
maintenance and long-term durability. It creates a very
warm and fun vintage feel. This retro patio furniture
usually comes in a set of tables and chairs which can be
further decorated with period-type cushions. This can
additionally enhance the character that you wish to
instill in your outdoor area by choosing funky patterns
true to the style of the 50’s and 60’s. The same goes for
the egg chair. As its interior is padded, you can do a
lot for the theme of your patio by choosing a certain
retro type of cushion.
Alongside the tables and chairs, retro patio
furniture has also found expression in a range of
accessories suitable for the outdoors. This can be in the
form of lamps, patio string lights and
other decorative items. The idea with these accessories is
to further enhance the nostalgic feel of the area.
A Tip to our
readers. A Great way to find cheap retro patio furniture
and accessories is to also shop around in charity shops
or thrift stores. Chances are that you will find some
great items at a fraction of the price compared to the
mainstream retailers.
We understand that retro patio furniture is not
everyone’s taste. It’s something that oddly appeals to a
diverse audience. Maybe you grew up in the 50’s/60’s and
want some of your childhood memories back. Or perhaps
you’re from a younger generation and just simply have a
fondness for that era. No matter which ‘category’ you fit
in, there can be little argument that retro is back, and
it’s ‘back with a bang’. Furthermore, chances are that
the current trend will remain in vogue for years to
come.
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