If you're ready to spruce up your patio for summer, take note of what's in — and out— this season. In Zillow Digs' 2015 Home Trends Forecast, design experts offered up three elements that will help raise the mercury in your outdoor living space, and what three should be put on ice.
The forecast uses a survey from leading designers as well as an analysis of the most popular photos on the site.
Get your daily dose of vitamin C with juicy citrus colors, especially lime green. The versatile statement hue punches up natural greenery and pairs especially well with other happy colors like tangerine and sunshine yellow. Expect to see it everywhere from throw pillows to umbrellas to vases.
If your current decor scheme is more “under the Tuscan sun,” it's time to update. “Khakis or yellow-based neutrals are out, as well as anything muddy or Tuscan-inspired,” says Zillow Digs designer Marc Thee of Marc-Michaels Interiors. Though warm in moderation, these colors feel heavy and faux next to the natural vibrancy and streamlined aesthetic of this year's trends.
For a blend of Mother Nature and outdoor art, consider a vertical garden. This sophisticated display is especially great for apartments and condos, where outdoor space is often tight. Bonus: Low-maintenance is the norm with vertical gardens, which do best with succulents, herbs and other easy-to-care-for plants. “Low-maintenance, native plants will be highly popular this summer, especially given the water shortages on the West Coast,” says Zillow Digs designer Christina Salway of Eleven Two Eleven Design.
Let your plants do the heavy design lifting though, because busy patterns and shabby chic furniture are so last season. Sleek, solid and streamlined are now the coveted key terms, both in color and structure.
And you can't forget about mood lighting. Hurricane candles, whether grouped on tables or lined up around patio perimeters, offer a soft, romantic glow and fit all budgets.
Lime green is going to be the hot color for summer.
