Even if it’s still chilly outside, rest assured that patio season is coming! You’ll soon be ready to start cooking out and hosting backyard get-togethers. Is your furniture up to the task? If your outdoor setup is showing its age, or if it’s high time for a new look, 2024 is a great year to make some updates.

As America's patios and decks are moving in new directions, there is the continuation of interest in sustainability and natural looks that comes with creative interpretations in materials, colors and style. Here are some trends to look for when you shop for 2024’s modern outdoor patio furniture.

Natural, Sustainable, Durable

These are the bywords for modern patio furniture construction! Sustainable materials include not only natural woods and metals but also polywood, which is “lumber” made from recycled plastic. Manufacturers continue to make polywood look more like wood from trees, with realistic graining and a wood-tone finishes rather than a patina or painted look finish.

Wicker, a popular choice for many years, is being overtaken by metals. Consumers are finding metal framing to be a better value and also are expressing a preference for clean modern lines that are hard to produce in wicker. Today’s frames are often sleek metals such as: steel, stainless steel and aluminum. Most metals are treated to resist rust for low maintenance and decades of use.

Natural woods are still a top choice, and teak patio furniture is made from the king of woods! Teak has a beautiful golden color that can be maintained or allowed to go grey according to preference. It is also impervious to moisture and has been known to last literally a lifetime. Acacia is another trending option, as is a special bamboo that is laminated in layers to increase durability and resist moisture.

We’re also seeing mixed media in outdoor furniture. For example, tabletops of painted glass, tile, wood or polywood might sit atop a metal frame. Another trend is polythene resin wicker woven on the surface of metal, wood and polywood frames. It’s tough in bad weather and has the natural appearance that everyone’s looking for this year.

Mid-Century Modern for the 21st Century

The up and coming generation of homeowners appreciates clean, sleek and unadorned lines in interior furnishings, and these characteristics have made it out to the patio as well. In a way it’s a reintroduction of the mid-century modern style, which reigned from the mid-1940s through the 1960s and has never entirely gone away. MCM furniture emphasizes simplicity and functionality and avoids anything that’s too ornate. Hence the de-emphasis on wicker and on overly elaborate wrought iron and wrought aluminum.

The move toward simple lines also shows up in cushions. The welts and piping that formerly outlined edges are disappearing. They’re being replaced by the waterfall or knife edge styles that wrap the cushion smoothly and seamlessly.

New Choices in Color

Until recently, most patio upholstery was either in neutral colors or vivid ones such as reds and blues. This year, lighter colors move to the fore! People are beginning to recognize how good modern performance fabrics are and how readily they can be cleaned and maintained. As a result, more folks are eager to choose refreshing summery colors such as pastel blues and greens and even shades of yellow.

More Options for Seating

In 2024, patio and deck seating isn’t limited to standard dining chairs and traditional lounge furniture. Homeowners are enhancing their outdoor spaces with creative seating options that everyone will be excited to try out!

For example, consider the egg chair swing. Named for its shape, it wraps the sitter in an elevated “cage.” Patios are also sporting slatted porch swings that hang from metal frames. When the patio is under a deck, you might see a swing suspended from overhead. In some backyards, you’ll even spot swings hanging from tree branches!

Many current styles of outdoor lounge furniture mirror the indoor versions with lower platform seating and sectionals with oversized cushions and adjustable components to help re-image spaces from time to time. Crafted in metal, poly-wood or wood frames, the groupings are found not only in commercial properties but also in residential settings.

On the other hand, some seats will be higher. Balcony height chairs can serve as companions to a higher table, or they might sit next to a deck rail and offer an unobstructed view of the yard. The high-top arrangement is excellent for parties where guests will be sometimes standing, sometimes sitting and sometimes moving around.

A 2024 Patio Done Your Way

For the person who wants a patio that expresses their unique taste and personality, 2024 offers more selections than ever. You can choose the most current colors and materials with this year’s clean lines and also add unique accents that make the design truly yours. Summer will be here before you know it, so now is a great time to check out all the new options that promise to make 2024 a special year for outdoor entertaining!