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After NOVA unveiled its innovative new garden furniture range at the opening of its 44,000 sq. ft. Experience Centre in June, we asked product designer Charlie Pritchard to share his knowledge about the materials trends to look out for over the next 12 months.
“At NOVA we’re lucky to have a team that harbours a lot of knowledge and expertise,” says Pritchard. “So, we’re keen to share our information with the wider market as well as assist our customers in choosing items that will resonate with their audience.”
Rope
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Because it works well in a variety of gardens, rope is the emerging material to get really excited about. “Rope softens harsh metal framework without the dated reputation of rattan,” says Pritchard.
While rope has a higher price point in the market, especially when paired with weather-resistant cushions most commonly associated with outdoor fabric ranges, it is incredibly durable and fully weather-resistant. This means it is set to be popular with UK consumers seeking a low-maintenance solution.
Wood
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Wood is back. After its popularity dwindled due to low-maintenance furniture options becoming more readily available, Wood is enjoying a new lease of life in the form of teak, acacia and eucalyptus.
“Natural soft tones and materials are coming back,” says Pritchard. “There’s a big focus is on soft materials. That doesn’t just apply to patterns, but textures too. These woods fall into the category of offering a softer look and feel to the garden.”
Aluminium
“For aluminium furniture, a new trend seems to be using elements of cast aluminium profiles, to allow a more natural shape to be formed,” says Pritchard. While aluminium tubes can be quite limiting for shaping furniture, this new trend will increase flexibility, which should drive aluminium sales.
Aluminium is also helping to give rattan a new lease of life. A new popular trend for rattan is a hybrid mixture of vertical or horizontal weave with a modern, exposed aluminium frame. “This is bringing rattan up-to-date with the rest of the industry favourites,” says Pritchard.
Mixed materials
A mix of materials such as aluminium with wood detailing or aluminium with rope weaving is also rising in popularity. These mixed materials help to make an outdoor space flow and feel more natural, rather than standing out as blocks of grey that look and feel out of place.
Sintered stone is a particularly popular choice for tabletops as it can be formed in a variety of sizes, colours and patterns, helping to break up harsher materials.
Get in touch
Because every retailer is different, NOVA offers a bespoke shopping experience at its Experience Centre. NOVA will help retailers hand-select ranges that are relevant to their customers and suit their unique offerings.
“By spending time with our customers and getting to know what has worked for them before and their business model, we can help them choose successful ranges,” says Pritchard.
You can book a visit to the NOVA Experience Centre by visiting www.novaoutdoorliving.co.uk
