I recently shared my top tips for creating a sexy summer outdoor space with the lovely people from realestate.com.au. Take a read of the article below! Plus, drop me a line if you’d like some help creating your ultimate outdoor room. I’d love to work with you.  

  The right soft furnishings take an outdoor room from drab to fab – but it’s hard to know which items to splurge on. Lauren Keenan, the interior stylist behind Sydney-based styling firm Find It. Style It. says because soft furnishings in outdoor rooms are exposed to the elements, home decorators need to be smart. “Sun, rain and wind can all take their toll on fabrics, causing fading, mildew and general wear and tear,” Keenan says. “I always recommend clients invest in a couple of classic outdoor cushions that they really love. “While they may cost a little more to begin with, specialist outdoor fabrics will definitely stand the test of time much better. Then you can supplement with a few more affordable, on-trend items.” Keenan says her “go-to” outdoor brands include Tait, Escape to Paradise and Basil Bangs. “I love Tait. I could have one of everything! They’ve nailed the cool Palm Springs meets-industrial style,” she says. For cushions, Keenan shops at Escape to Paradise. “They have a whole range of outdoor cushions in lots of great colours and patterns. I especially like the tropical prints, which add a bit of fun to an outdoor room.” Basil Bangs has lots of soft furnishings in bold colours. “The fabrics are excellent quality. I have had some of their cushions on my own outdoor setting for a few years and they still look new,” Keenan says. It doesn’t all need to be high-end, though. “Throwing in a couple of inexpensive cushions can really help mix things up. Just remember, they won’t wear quite as well as your ‘investment piece’ cushions,” Keenan says. “You can also change up small pots or accessories you might have on your outdoor coffee or dining table. This is a great way to create a new look. I’m always finding small, affordable pots at places like Adairs  and Freedom. I’m also a little bit obsessed right now with the range of pots at Domus Botanica.” Trend-wise, Keenan says there are two popular looks for summer; Palm Springs and tropical. “Palm Springs style is all about mixing classic features like stripes, with geometric patterns and pairing up pastels like icy blue with a bright pop of orange or hot pink. Of course, there’s also lots of white to keep things feeling fresh and light. The tropical trend is about creating a luxe, resort feeling. “There are lots of cushions available in botanical prints like palm trees and leaves. Colours include all shades of greens, plus navy and neutrals,” she says.   Original article by Erin Delahunty for realestate.com.au