Posted on: April 7, 2010
Lounge Lizards
Outdoor beds bring the ultimate in stylized relaxation to the backyard
By Dawn Klingensmith
CTW Features
Room service: An outdoor bed takes backyard lounging to a new level - and gives a homeowner something to brag about Image courtesy of SomersFurniture.com c/o ElaineWilliamsDesigns.com
Backyard lounging options not only used to be limited, but they also could be a source of embarrassment. Remember those chaise lounges with the vinyl straps that left imprints? And how exiting a hammock so often turned comical?
These days, the time-honored pastime of snoozing in the sun is a serious business. Outdoor chaises come with cushiony upholstery and hammocks come with canopies. But the most notable evolution is the backyard debut of beds, sometimes complete with headboards and side tables. It's not so much that people want to count sheep under the stars as they want to feel like they're on vacation while still at home, says Debbi Somers, president of Las Vegas-based Somers Furniture. "What makes you feel like you're on vacation? Either lounging around on the hotel bed or a chaise by the pool," she says.
Taking outdoor lounging to the next level is a sign of the times, arising from keener design sensibilities as well as the recession, says Durham, Conn.-based designer Sharon McCormick. "Stylistically, people are willing to take more risks than they used to. People are staying home more, too, and they want to stand out from their neighbors."
Consider Somer's posh, portable Cabana To Go, a wind-resistant, steel-framed outdoor room complete with recycled plastic or wood flooring, custom curtains, a chandelier, a round rattan bed with matching side tables and an ottoman. Rectangular outdoor beds that would look right at home in a master suite are available from companies like Sutherland Furniture, which offers a line inspired by Robin Hood. The Sherwood "looks like an actual bed. I can see it for a contemporary house because it has such sleek lines," McCormick says.
When choosing an outdoor bed, "Decorate the same way outside as you would inside," McCormick says. "You want it to tie in and have something to do with your architecture, and then tweak that to your taste."
Choose colors that tie in with your home's interior, or opt for natural shades to blend in with the surroundings. Use a bolder color for cushions and pillows and change them out seasonally, Somers suggests.
And for all you old-schoolers who want to stretch out but think beds belong inside, La-Z-Boy offers plush, soft, sink-right-in chaise lounges.