Patio Inspiration: Upholstery Ideas for Outdoor Furniture

Patio Inspiration: Upholstery Ideas for Outdoor Furniture

There’s something about a well-appointed patio. With the right elements – and, of course, the right weather – a garden in central London can let us drift off to some Mediterranean grove, sun-soaked and breeze-cooled, smelling of citrus and florals.

A damp, misty back garden in in the heart of the country, entrenched in its own moody atmosphere, can become a moody retreat from the chaos of life, provided there’s a warm fire and a comfortable, dry spot to curl up in.

A balcony in bright sunshine but a cool March breeze can feel a million miles away from the world below, and the pull of the rest of the day’s tasks, during an hour well spent over coffee and cake.

In other words, we love to go outside. Home is the retreat, but the outdoors is the refresher we all need to feel new again. Here are some ideas for your patio.

Choose textiles that take you hundreds of miles away…

When you step out of the French doors and the fresh air hits, there is an inevitable sense of being transported elsewhere, but why not lean into that power and create a patio that represents a complete shift away from the indoors?

Trailing plants that offer privacy, water features that create ambiance, and paving slabs that draw in every bit of heat from the air, all represent the makings of an escapist patio, but when it comes to your textiles there is even more scope for exploration.

Many parts of the world are represented through textile. Organic abstract patterns put one in mind of the Kuba region of Central Africa; patterns reminiscent of traditional block printing techniques pioneered in India, where abstract and floral motifs so often combine, prove equally as transformative for the imagination.

Textile is one of the most powerful tools for any decorating project, and the patio is no exception. Plus, it needn’t feel like a hard-wearing fabric in order to be hard-wearing. Our performance collection combines beauty with both comfort and strength, which makes designing a luxurious space in the back garden that bit easier.

…Or the most traditional textile choice for any British garden

There are few sights as quintessentially British as the Ticking Stripe. While ticking fabric was originally considered to be a very utilitarian fabric, used to keep mattress stuffing in place in the 18th century, it’s arguably most recognisable as the hardy, colourfully striped fabric found up and down the country often on deck chairs, windbreakers, and other lawn furniture.

While, in more recent years, it has been warmly embraced by interior designers, ticking fabric’s durability makes it a very wise choice for the garden, where the British elements tend to put furniture through its paces, even in the summer.

The Ticking stripe is a beautiful-yet-subtle choice, which will evoke memories of summers gone without feeling gimmicky. These fabrics tend to feature one thicker stripe, flanked by one or two thinner stripes in the same (or a complementary) colour, which prevents things from feeling too posed or formal.

Like all our fabrics, they are also woven from natural fibres, like cotton and flax, which means that, in spite of their hardwearing natures, they’ve got a lovely, sumptuous texture.

Add in a few extras

When the weather is right, we can easily wile away the best part of a weekend in the garden, gathered with friends and family. While the patio furniture will suffice most of the time, it never hurts to have on hand an armful (or two) of extra floor pillows and sheets to spread over the flagstones in case people want to spill over into the rest of the garden.

This is a particularly good idea if you are entertaining younger children, who prefer to have the freedom to spread themselves out, rather than sitting at the patio table with the adults. These ‘little extras’ are also good to have on hand for playing board games, picnicking, sunbathing and, come sundown, a bout of midsummer star gazing.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to embrace a more bohemian style, by layering mismatched cushions and sheets of fabric together to create a sumptuous island in the middle of the patio – or in a quieter spot on the grass.

The garden, while not the most obvious ‘blank canvas’ for exploring your love of textile and pattern, is actually one of the most exciting. While it is an extension of your home, it still retains an element of ‘the wild’, which offers you a little extra creative freedom. With so many colours surrounding you already, your list of options expands to ‘whatever you find beautiful, whether it matches the décor or not’.