Styling Guide: Outdoor Living
As longer days near, welcome seasonal ease with furnishings designed to match the spontaneity of spring and summer spent outdoors.
As we enter the spring season, the search for summer’s light enters our minds. No matter the climate of a city, on the first day of warmth after winter’s end there is a palpable energy in the air. Discover the guide to preparing your outdoor space for the season.
1. Define the purpose of your outdoor space
Whether your outdoor access leads to a spacious garden or petite balcony, the first question to answer when furnishing or styling a space outdoors is what your ideal purpose for the space will be. Will it be to entertain, or find a calm oasis alone? Do you have space to leave furniture out year round, or will you need to focus on stackable options? The best outdoor spaces are the ones that are used to their fullest, and your decisions will be clearer once you know the purpose of this sought-after respite.
From there, whether it’s outdoor dining or terrace furniture that creates a space to relax, stackable items like the Petit Rond Chair and Stool can help to save space and add flexibility; whereas the Table 57 offers a more permanent selection.
2. Choose furniture built to last (and withstand the elements)
The essential factor in determining whether a piece is meant to be used outdoors is its material: with metals and marbles able to develop a patina over time and be largely weather-resistant. The Tasca Series’ hand-brushed aluminum or the stainless steel of the Triangolo Chair will wear nicely when exposed to the elements, and develop character over time as they withstand the challenges of outdoor storage. What’s more, they are just as at home indoors—allowing for flexibility in spaces with minimal space.
Inspired by the local taverns around Portugal, called “tascas”, the Tasca collection is soft in texture with a smooth, rounded form that welcomes the user. The Tasca Chair, Stool, and Tables are designed in a lightweight, hand-brushed aluminum and made in Portugal in one of the country’s oldest metal furniture factories.
Sintra Side Tables, Triangolo Chair, and the 64 Plinth in corten steel offer more permanent outdoor items and additional seats and surfaces, whether for calm moments in nature or generous gatherings in the sun. On the patio of a bistro full of people or out front of an apartment to catch a moment of sun, these adaptable pieces are designed to anticipate and welcome the spontaneity of the season.
3. Build a cohesive material palette
Given the importance of material selection when furnishing an outdoor patio, a complimentary color and material palette will add to a sense of cohesion and purpose. Beyond the textures of Petit Rond and Tasca Series in stainless steel and metal, accents can be added in weathered corten steel in the 64 Bench or 64 Plinth, or through the sandstone or marble of Table 57.
For flexibility and a clean backdrop to let nature abound, the Petit Rond Series allows for a minimalist aesthetic to coexist with whimsy and a relaxed approach. An extension of the Petit Rond Series, Petit Rond Table in Large and Small expands the collection to a versatile, complete outdoor furniture system. To add to its adaptability, every piece—excluding the leather Chair and Stool cushions, which can add texture to the aesthetic balance at hand—is appropriate for use outdoors, in fully stainless steel composition.
4. Introduce texture and tableware for everyday use
Once your outdoor furnishings have been chosen, select the items that add texture to the space and set an inviting tone. Outdoor living inspiration can come from many sources, and the earthen material of Otto Ceramics is elegantly complimentary in an outdoors setting—as are 0405 and Isle Glassware for any table settings; complementing each other for an unassuming table of different pieces.
In Scandinavian outdoor space, flexibility is essential as the temperature changes throughout the day. Cushions for Tasca and Petit Rond Chairs and Stools can be added at the last minute for added comfort, and FRAMA lightweight towels offer napkins that introduce punctuations of color at the table. To set the table for friends and loved ones at a moment’s notice as the sun comes out, 0405 glassware, Ole Palsby cutlery, and Otto ceramics cover every essential. In case of added guests, Folding Flat Chairs and Table can be kept on hand and unfolded from indoors as new additions or occasions arise.
Find everything you need for Outdoor living at FRAMA
With warmer temperatures and more relaxed days, the lines between indoor and outdoor blur as design objects and furniture are moved between inside and out, without a second thought. Discover a collection that allows these transitions to happen with ease—not only season after season but year after year.
At FRAMA, we specialize in creating not just functional spaces but aesthetically beautiful, inspiring ones. Explore our inspirations and guides to embark on a journey of interior transformation, whether you're looking to update your bedroom, bathroom, living room,home office or kitchen.
FAQs–From FRAMA Community
FRAMA Styling Guides are designed for your space. With an approach that values honest design and human connection, addressing the challenges of everyday living can be done with ease.
Selecting the right furniture for use outdoors depends on choosing furniture in materials that can handle being exposed to the elements. Tasca, Petit Rond, and Table 57 are all designed with this in mind, and offer elegant designs that are meant to move outdoors with the seasons without worry about damage or wear.
FRAMA’s steel and aluminium furniture will develop a graceful patina over time if left outside—and offer a timeless finish that will complement any other furniture in your outdoor setting. The Tasca Series is designed for ease between outdoor and in, without having to concern yourself with additional weather protection.
To style a compact balcony or terrace, select items that suit a purpose—the best outdoor space is one that is used to its fullest. From there, stackable items like the Petit Rond Chair and Stool can help to save space and add flexibility.
To care for outdoor furniture through the winter, be sure to cover anything in a material that may be damaged by moisture or cold: anything wooden, for example. Remove all cushions from Tasca or Petit Rond Chairs and Stools, and any other textile-based accessories. As for metal items, these are designed to live outdoors year-round without concern.