Let’s take a walk through the latest outdoor trends at Italtile. We’re seeking out fresh inspiration for fresh air living!
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Be it a patio, or a deck, or a tiled courtyard, we’re picking up that every exterior space is being transformed into an enhanced functioning area, rather than just being a braai spot or a weekend party place for families. What’s new is that people are seeking everyday comfort in this arrangement and have plans to up this outdoor game. We’re wild about what we found, so we present the top trending 2021/22 outdoor living ideas.
The Outdoor Kitchen.
This is not the braai area, people. This is a whole new ballgame, and it’s going to be huge. This space could be as small as a satellite kitchen with an electric or gas grill and a pizza oven. Or it could be The Full Monty, with storage areas, a wine chiller (it’s a full body yes from us), sinks, gas hob, eye level grill and a refrigerator. Natch, your outdoor kitchen is under cover, but it’s open to the air. This is the moment your patio or lapa has been waiting for. And we’re thinking low maintenance, high fabulosity AIX stone-look tiles – slip-resistant – for wall and floors. And countertops. In warm or cool neutral tones, Aix creates seamless elegance that’s chip-resistant and stain-resistant, so it can take some action.
All Italtile’s Slip-Resistant Outdoor Tiles are designed for safe and stylish living, so if you haven’t settled on a stone look, browse the collection for more outdoor ideas. Then we’re thinking a stunning Franke sink situation – like the gorgeous Basis Onyx Black double sink, twinned with a Tivoli Varano Black and Chrome Sink Mixer.
The Edible Garden.
With 5 stars for sustainability, the edible garden is a future-forward idea. Quite apart from looking good, it is fun to plan and rewarding to harvest. It’s also an incredible way to introduce children to spend more time outdoors and learn first-hand how the food they eat arrives on the table. You might also find that your little broccoli-haters turn into proud veg-lovers once they’ve planted, watered and picked their own food! We’re certainly not going to attempt to teach you how to design and prepare your ‘greens’ garden – there are many brilliant websites, like janesdeliciousgarden.com – but we can suggest that you consider Italtile’s stunning new-age In2Out pavers to lay between your beans and spinach when you get going. These all-weather, all-terrain 2cm stunners have a surface that’s smooth to the touch when dry, but reacts with water to create friction.
The Outdoor Shower.
What a refreshing idea! Whether you want a dedicated spot to sluice off after a swim, or a spa-worthy outdoor oasis that rivals your indoor bathroom sanctuary, there are so many inspirational looks to moodboard. We’ve seen awkward alleyways repurposed into romantic, boho-chic, under-the-stars shower spaces, with pretty patchwork underfoot (we’re thinking Pavimento Antiqua with its darling washed out blues, or the elegant achromatic Black and White Patchwork. Add a few string lights and water-loving pot plants to complete the look.
Of course, Scandi simplicity also works a treat, and if those forest vibes are your décor go-to, how about creating a sauna-style shower stall with Exence honey-toned oak wood looks.
Showerheads? Well, seeing as we’re looking at an au naturel shower, what about the Almar Emotion Square Black Showerhead. Designed to make you feel like you’re standing in the rain, but engineered to slow the flow.
Spiritual Spaces.
Hard lockdown taught us that if life stops you from going outside, you can find peace ‘inside’. Thankfully, we’re all venturing outside more and more, getting back to nature. Here’s where we find our inner peace, and have those quiet, deep-down conversations with ourselves. We’re seeing the rise of garden sanctuaries for yoga.
We’re also loving the emergence of the garden labyrinth – a circular path which is walked in meditation, till you get to the ‘centre’ of yourself. How beautiful is that?
Outdoor Technology.
We’re high-fiving the weatherproof tech that’s enabling all our indoor conveniences to go outside, including outdoor music systems and outdoor TV. Pretty smart.
Au Naturel Palette.
This airy, relaxed summertime moodboard never goes out of fashion. In fact, we spent most of September singing along to Italtile’s Ode to Neutrals, celebrating the rise of 2021’s most comforting canvas, along with the new Sanctuary Trend.
Neutral tones and organic textures are huge right now. And depending on your taste, you can go full rustic, cool contemporary, or pared down modernist. Get the au naturel look outdoors with Natural Stone Cladding, or how about some island vibes with terracotta-toned Teano and its elemental, tribal patterns.
Bohemian Rhapsody.
Boho chic is bursting onto the outdoor scene, with rich colour and pattern, outdoor rugs, Bali umbrellas, outsize macramé hanging chairs and twinkly lights. Go full pattern on pattern with the Sole Mix Luc range by Ceramica Sant’Agostino. And then kaftan your way through summer!
The Swimming Pond.
Around the world, swimming pools are going back to nature as we city slickers learn better ways to live sustainably. In extreme cases, some folk have chosen to give their pools back to nature 100%, and with careful guidance from professional landscapers, they are coaxing the growth of actual-factual, authentic wetlands in their gardens. If a more natural and waterwise garden is calling you, we suggest you speak to the gurus over at the South African Landscapers Institute. Drop them a mail at info@sali.co.za to reach out to a specialist.
Not everyone’s ready to go full wetland yet, but if you’re looking to dip an eco-chic toe into a more sustainable pool, take a look at the enormous range of Pool Mosaics. No matter what colour you choose, it’ll be green.
Industrial Goes Outdoors.
Once the sole domain of the warehouse conversion, pared down, bare-bones looks are moving outdoors, too. To get that clean-cut, architectural look and elevate your outdoor vibes with some modernist edge, why not consider Nox with its muscular, oxidised metal drama. Nox brings the second-life aesthetic of weathered metal to outdoor floors and walls.
The Blissed Out Balcony.
Welcome to the new backyard. The little balcony goes big. We’ve spent so many months distancing ourselves from The Covid Contamination that we’ve replaced our street side café, terrace bar and outdoor bistro time with home equivalents. The best examples of ‘the home bistro’ are on apartment terraces and balconies, complete with mini hanging gardens and herb patches, outdoor lights, lanterns, a mirror to open the space and cute-as-a-button bistro furniture. Even a tiny WFH desk situation. In fact, the little balcony has become another room.
The benefits are many – privacy, height, amazing vistas across the burbs, a sense of space, and all the natural light and vitamin D. Balconies provide the brackets to a beautiful life: opening with the best views of sunrise, and closing with your very own private sunset. Weatherproof furniture and accessories are an essential (speak to our friends @hausbyhertex), along with slip-resistant tiles. Of course, a little extra privacy in the form of screens or a tilting umbrella.
Indoor-Outdoor Flow.
This is a trend we’ve been behind for quite some time: choosing the same style of tile to flow from the interior to the outdoor area. Top of mind here is the ever-popular Spazio EcoTec range of beautifully varianced screed look tiles, with safe and stylish slip-resistant outdoor options for easy, breezy, barefoot-pleasey patios and poolsides. They’re mindfully manufactured by Italtile’s Ceramic Industries partners, who are pioneers in the field of end-to-end eco practices.
Getting out is an adventure. We’re here to ensure you enjoy every minute of the journey, with no fear or remorse. Chat to Italtile about your choices online, or speak to a design-certified sales consultant instore.
“A garden should make you feel you’ve entered a privileged space – and it seems to me that the gardener must put some kind of twist on the existing landscape, turn its prose into something nearer poetry” – Michael Pollan: Second Nature.
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