We recently attended the Salone del Mobile show – a luxury design and furniture expo in Milan.
The event was filled with cutting-edge designs and innovative outdoor products.
Keep scrolling for a breakdown of the most exciting trends and products we’re looking forward to incorporating into our clients’ yards.
When you’re ready to makeover your yard, click the button below to book a free design consultation call with our team today.
Shade Solutions
Adding shade solutions to your yard is essential if you want to spend as much time outside as possible. It allows you to enjoy your outdoor space – even when the weather isn’t perfect. But, that doesn’t mean you have to settle for a standard umbrella or a basic patio cover.
All-In-One Solutions
One of the standout trends we noticed is beautifully designed all-in-one shade structures. Adding a feature like this to your yard makes it possible to add a shade virtually anywhere in your outdoor without having to undergo construction to create an indoor/outdoor room. They can be easily integrated into an existing space and give you a lot of flexibility in where you want to add some protection from the elements.
Multi-Functional Products
Another trend is integrating multiple functions and features into a single shade structure. Many of them are designed with details like built-in lighting and seating, to integrated storage or fire pits. These products allow you to enjoy everything you need in one spot. And they make it possible to really maximize the functionality of your outdoor space.
Here are some shade products we’re excited about:
Pyramid
BY: GAGGIO
This patio umbrella with built-in LED light panels combines two elements—shade and lighting—into one. So you can enjoy shade and weather protection during the day and ambient lighting into the evening. It’s an interesting combination of elements.
Here’s another example of an umbrella with built in lighting.
Fess
BY: YAZZ
This all-in-one patio enclosure is fully customizable. And a unique way to add structure and shade to a yard without requiring construction to build out an indoor/outdoor living space.
Here are some more examples of innovative all-in-one patio structures.
Furniture
The right furniture can completely elevate the atmosphere of any yard and make it a place you want to spend as much time in as possible. From couches and lounge chairs to dining furniture and everything in between, getting the furniture right – in your outdoor space – is such an important part of great exterior design.
Statement Furniture Pieces
Sometimes, outdoor furniture can feel like an afterthought—especially when you have dynamic features like water elements or fire pits that are the focus in a yard. But, we’re noticing a shift toward statement outdoor furniture. Instead of simply blending into the background, these pieces are designed to stand out and enhance the design. They add unique style and personality to the outdoor space with interesting shapes and design.
Bold Colors & Shapes
We’re seeing a distinct move from neutral hues to more colorful design – especially in furniture. Bold color, unique shapes, and a conscious shift toward customizability are all making it possible to add excitement and personality to any space. We’re also seeing furniture that you can curate to fit in with your exact color palette, so it becomes a key element in creating a cohesive and visually dynamic outdoor space.
Here is some furniture we’re excited about:
This daybed is completely color customizable – so not only does it look great, but you can choose a color that will enhance your landscape design. Instead of choosing all neutrals for your furniture.
If you don’t have space for a custom daybed, a piece like this could replicate that feeling of being away from the rest of the yard, but with much less of a footprint. Also the texture is really interesting.
Habana Divider
BY: ISIMAR
This product is almost like a room divider – but it’s for the outdoors. And it just really makes the space unique.
Topos Sunlounger
BY: ISIMAR
This chase is so unique. The linework creates this intricate structure that’s fresh and exciting.
Understated luxury – that’s how we would describe this daybed. It’s so simple, but the soft, organic curvature of the wood instantly makes you feel relaxed.
Despite the futuristic look of this modular sofa design, it’s actually really comfortable. It’s a unique statement piece that would make any yard more interesting.
Lighting
When it comes to lighting, we’re excited by the artistic nature of the lights we saw at the expo. They went so far beyond being functional and utilitarian to create a statement themselves. From interesting shadows, playing with textures, materials, shape, and application, there are so many creative lighting solutions we’re excited to design into our spaces.
No Visible Light Source
An interesting trend in lighting is designing fixtures with no obvious light source. By concealing the light source, the fixtures feel open, airy, and subtlety add ambiance to a space. Lighting doesn’t just feel utilitarian; it becomes a big factor in what makes a space feel special.
Creating Shadow
Another thing we’re noticing is the play of light and shadow within a lighting element. It creates mystery and sophistication – drawing attention not only to specific architectural features, but to the entire space. From soft, dappled shadows to geometric shapes, the bold shadows cast by these modern light fixtures bring dimension and life to the landscape.
Here is some of the lighting we’re excited about:
These lights are hardwired for seamless integration. And with no visible light source, they cast a unique shadow that adds depth and drama to any space. It’s a design element that’s functional, but also artistic.
These lights wrap directly around the tree branches, creating the ability to highlight individual limbs and emphasize the architectural beauty of the tree. These would work well for any tree with a distinct shape, especially more sculptural trees. And they offer an elegant way to showcase landscape elements after dark.
We can picture these sculptural lanterns in an entryway – especially one that includes a water element. They’re hardwired for a seamless look and would cast some really interesting, dimensional shadows when added to an outdoor space.
The variety of light fixtures we saw was inspiring—from striking modern sculptural fixtures to elegant, understated luxury lights. Lighting is a key element in landscape design, and adding lighting like the examples below helps blend indoor and outdoor living. These lights would be perfect in a California Room or outdoor dining space.
These pathway lights are a simple yet elegant way to guide you through an outdoor space. They blend in with the design and greenery, adding interest without overpowering the space.
These sconces are designed to create this really interesting , artistic shadow. They would make a dramatic statement in any outdoor space.
These exterior lights are really unique – not just because of the colors. But because they’re actually made from a fine metal mesh material. And you can’t see the light source.
Materials
We’re always on the lookout for products that push the boundaries of design. And we saw so many examples of that in materials. From bold textures to vibrant, stand-out tiles, and everything in between, we saw a range of innovative materials.
Rich Color
Bold hues and rich color are making their way back into design – and this evident in the materials we are seeing. Whether it’s an interesting pattern or an interesting tone, there’s rich diversity in materials.
Texture And Tactile
Many of the materials aren’t just beautiful, they’re also sculptural and textured to create a tactile experience when you use them in an outdoor space. It gives an overall layered, dynamic look that can be used in so many different applications.
Here is some of the lighting we’re excited about:
This slab material has a ridged texture. It would make a really interesting backsplash – or addition to an outdoor kitchen or dining area.
BY: MIAMILANO
These tiles have a rough-hewn texture, that adds depth and character. It’s tactile and organic, and perfect for so many different applications.
BY: MIAMILANO
Bold patterns in both neutrals and vibrant colors would make a statement in any outdoor space. We love the playful nature of these tiles and could see them creating a really interesting feature wall in an outdoor kitchen.
BY: MIAMILANO
Micro mosaics like these add a subtle texture and a ton of interest. This is something we haven’t seen much (if any) of in the US market, but it’s something that would make an interesting backsplash or feature wall.
Transform Your Yard
We had an incredible time at the Salone del Mobile show, discovering the latest trends in luxury landscape design and innovation.
If you’re ready to transform your outdoor space, click the button below to book a free design consultation call with our tram today. We can’t wait to help you finally get the yard you’ve always wanted.
