Garden Furniture Design and Style today owes a great deal of credit to cultural influences around the world. European examples that have continued to inspire new design elements can be traced back to Roman times. France, and Paris in particular, is a treasure chest of great examples of metal decorative antique ironwork and flourishes even today on everything from grand entrance gates, balcony embellishment, and the quintessential bistro chair.
Teak is probably the first wood that comes to mind for most people when thinking about garden furniture. It too, has a long and rich heritage, owing much of the design history to Asian roots. Thailand,Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, along with close by India, all have had much impact on the design and evolution of teak garden furniture. Today, the most exciting designs in teak are those that retain the best of the past and move toward a more modern approach as our lifestyles change and evolve.
Germany, Denmark, and Italy are all creating exciting new garden furniture today with innovation in synthetic materials, wood, and metal. Design inspiration in the natural world is a great source of influence with everything from eco influences such as leaf pod chairs to wave loungers. Still, is is common to see them paired with very traditional styles, making for a more interesting look than every before.
The American contribution to the world of furniture design is probably the most eclectic. Drawing from influences all over the world along with bits of Americana, today’s American garden furniture designer is turning out designs with their own innovation. Fabric and frame improvements make living outdoors more practical than ever.