Landscape & Urban Design Issue 21 2016 | Page 34

Colour Creating the Perfect Outdoor Space Injecting colour & personality with outdoor furniture to create impact into the outdoors to create the impact manufacturer, dothe check to make sure it is different stylesbut from manufacturer, but the same to colour usually a number do check makewhich sure it is the has same colour and name. Thehas effect can actually look like which usually a number and name. The a carefully curated look collection of gorgeous effect can actually like a carefully curated junkyard particularly if close attention collectionclassics of gorgeous junkyard classics is paid to the particularly if chair closelegs. attention is paid to the Dramatic gardens and landscapes really boil down to a successful combination of three elements; texture, contrast and of course, colour. colour. Naturally, Naturally, this this does does not not stop stop at at the the planting, planting, with with hard hard landscaping, landscaping, art art and and water water all all potential components to be thrown into the potential components to be thrown into the mix. mix. But a quick ‘open gardens’ tour soon reveals But amany quickoutdoor ‘open gardens’ touroften soonseriously reveals that spaces are thatdown manyby outdoor spaces are often seriously let the poor selection of furniture let down by the poor selection ofgot furniture within them. Perhaps the budget spent before that element or the within them. Perhapswas thedecided budget upon got spent brief studiously ignored however theor choice before that element was it, decided upon the of furniture and ignored in particular the colours, brief studiously it, however the choice should always of the the weaponry used of furniture andbeinpart particular colours, to make a desirable impact. should always be part of the weaponry used to make a desirable impact. Some outdoor furniture manufacturers such as the Lyon-based Fermob (so much more Some outdoor furniture manufacturers such these days than the ‘iron manufacturer’ that as the Lyon-based Fermob muchchoice more of its name derives from) offer(so a wide these days than the ‘iron manufacturer’ thatin standard colours, virtually off-the-shelf (23 its nameCombine derives from) offer a widestyles choice of it 2016). this with diverse and standard colours, virtually (23 in powerfully enables a wideoff-the-shelf variety of options 2016). Combine with diverse styles and it to mix and matchthis or contrast with the planting powerfully enables a wide variety of options and landscaping scheme. to mix and match or contrast with the planting But to use it?scheme. and how landscaping Perhaps easiest But how the to use it? and safest option of all is to choose furniture of one colour or a even monochromatic blend ofsafest different shades. Perhaps the easiest and option of all Dramatic effects can still be achieved with this is to choose furniture of one colour or a even approach. But to carry it off successfully and monochromatic of different shades. really add to theblend outdoor space, the colour Dramatic effects cantostill achieved with this choice really needs bebe bold and preferably approach. Butshade to carry it offthe successfully not a neutral unless rest of theand really add to the outdoor space, the colour space is a riot of colour. choice really needs to be bold and preferably not a neutral shade to unless the If your client wants play the saferest withofcolour, try mixing different chair styles of the same space is a riot of colour. colour. Often a colour pallet is available across many different styles from the chair legs. However, more adventurous souls can opt for a combination of colours just as you would However, adventurous souls can in a bed ormore border. If you still want to opt playfor a combination of colours just as you would safe, choose darker neutral shades such as in a bedoforrusset, border. If you want play shades greens orstill greys forto the table safe, choose ifdarker shades such as (particularly large)neutral and then use the colour shades russet, greens or greysfor formaximum the table wheel toofcombine chair colours (particularly if large)colours and then use the colour impact. Analogous or complementary colours well as thecolours palettesfor maximum wheel towork combine chair manufacturers use are oftenordesigned to work impact. Analogous colours complementary together. For instance, allpalettes the colours within colours work well as the the Fermob palette canoften be found in nature. manufacturers use are designed to work They are refreshed every with one or two together. For instance, all year the colours within new ones and thus itcan is not difficult ensure the Fermob palette be found in to nature. that the furniture sits beautifully at home in They are refreshed every year with one or two its space. new ones and thus it is not difficult to ensure that the furniture sitsmuch beautifully at home in In winter time when of the brighter its space. natural colour has gone, the furniture is then a beacon of hope to remind one of spring and In winterbliss timeto when much of the brighter summer come. natural colour has gone, the furniture is then Use your furniture partners much a beacon of hope to remindexperience one of spring and as you would summer bliss a toplant come.nursery to advise what works well in specific spaces and ask them to create 3Dfurniture visuals ofpartners the combinations you. Use your experiencefor much as you would a plant nursery to advise what Using coloursspaces throughout your space works the wellright in specific and ask them to will make an ordinary scheme a great one. create 3D visuals of the combinations for you.