When designing a new or renovated facility, there’s a lot of emphasis on office space, lobby furnishings, and creating a home atmosphere. Increasingly, however, organizations understand the importance of outdoor spaces to promote wellbeing and casual comfort.
Whether you need a brief getaway for a work meeting, want to offer restaurant patrons or resort guests a comfortable place to sit back and relax outdoors, or need to equip schools or municipal parks with rugged seating, you want furniture solutions that are both durable and comfortable.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the latest commercial outdoor furnishing trends and special considerations for the Upper Midwest, where the weather doesn’t always cooperate.
The weather in the Upper Midwest doesn’t always “play nice” with outdoor furnishings. Organizations may shy away from using furniture outside because they have no place to store it during winter or inclement weather, or may not want to deal with the hassle of covering it.
New, more durable materials make it possible to leave furnishings outside during extreme heat, snow, or freezing rain and require minimal maintenance. Sister Bay Furniture Company is a manufacturer of commercial-grade outdoor furniture that addresses these challenges during all seasons.
The company uses pure-grade high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for its outdoor furnishings. Unlike lower quality HDPE, which has visible pores on end cuts that absorb moisture and degrade quickly, pure-grade HDPE is a 100% solid material that won’t splinter, fade, or chip.
In addition to durable materials, the product designs have thicker profiles for greater structural integrity and are engineered to keep strong winds from blowing them over. UV inhibitors are an integral part of the HDPE, helping to prevent fading so furnishings maintain their color for years. Even the hardware is marine-grade to resist corrosion, and select products use mortise-and-tenon joinery for added strength.
About the only element of these outdoor furnishings that need to come in during inclement weather are upholstered cushions.
Source: Sister Bay Furniture Company
Does your organization have green initiatives? If so, it’s important to consider how your outdoor furnishings contribute to your efforts. The HDPE materials from Sister Bay Furniture Company are made from recycled plastic and sourced within a 200-mile radius of the facility, helping further reduce the company’s carbon footprint.
By selecting products made from pure, recycled plastics, businesses not only divert waste from landfills and oceans, but also contribute to LEED® goals under MR 4.1 and MR 4.2 for construction projects.
Moreover, choosing durable furnishings that simply last longer reduces the need for frequent replacements. This not only conserves resources but results in cost savings over time, too. Investing in sustainable outdoor furniture reflects a company's commitment to environmental stewardship, enhances brand reputation, and provides customers and employees with spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally conscious.
Interior design trends often replicate themselves in outdoor spaces. While you can choose from every color of the rainbow, natural elements and neutral tones are popular choices. Not only do they blend well with their surroundings, they’re also more versatile.
In particular, woodgrain finishes are on trend. However, real wood used outdoors requires extensive maintenance and is susceptible to warping, fading, rotting, and a host of other issues. HDPE materials can be made to look like mahogany, driftwood, walnut, and other tones without the downfalls of real wood.
If you prefer a pop of color, outdoor cushions, planters, or other accessories help create a pleasing aesthetic and can easily be switched out relatively inexpensively.
Source: Sister Bay Furniture Company
Public outdoor spaces like restaurants, golf courses, and resorts can customize their outdoor furnishings with their logo or other imagery to reinforce their brand. This growing trend enhances brand recognition and creates a cohesive and professional aesthetic throughout a property.
Custom-branded furniture serves as a subtle yet effective marketing tool, leaving a lasting impression on guests and reinforcing a company’s identity with every interaction. In competitive industries focused on customer experiences, integrating branding into outdoor furnishings elevates the ambiance while strengthening brand visibility.
Companies increasingly design versatile outdoor areas that cater to different functions, from casual lounge spots to full dining setups, all while maintaining a cohesive look. Fire pits can add warmth and ambiance, while coordinating elements like waste and recycling centers, beverage stations, and towel stations ensure both convenience and a pleasing look.
Comfortable seating doesn’t always require cushions — mesh and sling-back chairs made from commercial-grade materials provide both support and longevity. These materials can be replaced over time, allowing businesses to refresh their color schemes or update worn elements without replacing entire sets. Many of these furnishings are versatile enough for both indoor and outdoor use, as seen in museums incorporating memorial benches inside their spaces.
At Samuels Group, we specialize in space planning, furnishings, and design services to create seamless, functional outdoor spaces. Our team collaborates closely with outdoor design contractors to ensure that every element aligns with the facility’s architecture and overall aesthetic — both inside and out.
Designers, furniture solutions providers, and outdoor design contractors should work together early in the process to ensure furnishings and outdoor spaces integrate into the broader design vision and create a cohesive and well-planned environment.
Whether you’re refreshing an existing space or starting from scratch, our experts are ready to bring your outdoor vision to life. Contact the Furniture Solutions team at Samuels Group today to explore your vision and get ready for warmer weather.
