Trend Watch: Outdoor Rooms - May 2009

By Anne Harr

Over the last several years, many of the major flooring producers have been coming out with floorcoverings specifically designed for outdoor rooms, including area rugs, broadloom and ceramic tile. The trend, which has been building across all regions of the country and across a broad range of price points, is distinct from traditional outdoor flooring like decking and patio tile.

While outdoor rooms have been around in the form of screened in porches and sunrooms for many years, today’s outdoor room can often be a lavish extension of the home, including full kitchens and living rooms with fireplaces and entertainment centers. The trend for more Americans to stay at home and invest in their surroundings, rather than spend on pricey vacations, has stimulated great interest in backyard surroundings that create a luxurious and expansive atmosphere.

This trend is not exclusive to upscale homes. Today’s homeowners across the board are redefining their living spaces and creating outdoor rooms as additions to their homes and to improve resale value. In new home construction the inclusion of an outdoor room is increasingly commonplace. And with the slow housing market and current economic situation, many existing homeowners are staying put and investing in home improvements to make their current homes more enjoyable for outdoor entertaining and relaxing.

Jonathon Cohen from Stanton Carpet says, “It is the next natural evolution. People are taking the outdoor room seriously as an extension of the house.” He says that while outdoor products have stronger sales in warmer climates, they are growing in popularity nationwide. The trick is to design the room in a way that it is protected from the elements so that even in colder climates it can be used three or four seasons of the year.

There are many different types of flooring available for use in outdoor living spaces. Materials and furnishings must be able to withstand the elements. In colder climates, the choice must be able to withstand a freeze. It’s also essential to pay close attention to how and where the product is going to be used. For example, if the area is prone to wetness, it will need to have the appropriate slip resistance. If consumers are looking at rugs or carpeting, the selection must be specifically designed for outdoor use, featuring fade resistance as well as resistance to mold and mildew.

According to Crossville, the Tennessee based porcelain producer, the demand for outdoor living spaces has significantly increased in the last several years. Crossville identified the growing trend a few years ago and added to its existing products to include a more complete collection geared for outdoor use. Crossville has designed a brochure specifically for outside living called Hardscapes, which features all of Crossville’s products that are suitable for exterior use and includes a chart to help the consumer determine the appropriate applications and uses.

Crossville says that many consumers use the same flooring both inside and outside the house. The outside room becomes an extension of the home. The products are designed so that the look is the same but the outside tile will have a slip resistance not necessary for interior use.

This trend is not going away, according to ceramic and stone producer Daltile, which also began adding outdoor products to augment its existing product line a few years ago. The firm’s Beyond Interiors Exterior Collection of porcelain and stone is a complete line for outdoor use.

People are spending more time entertaining and relaxing at home and want their outdoor living spaces to create a design statement, and part of that statement entails creating continuity between the interior and exterior. According to Daltile, the natural look is still the most popular, but clean, contemporary designs are becoming more mainstream. Daltile says that often an identical or a complementary pattern will be used to go from the interior to exterior to tie the design together. There are often many windows or doors that open to the outdoor living space, deliberately blurring the line between the interior and the exterior.

Stanton Carpet’s Anywhere Collection is made of 100% UV stabilized polypropylene. It is fade resistant, won’t mold or mildew and can be cleaned with a hose. The collection resembles a natural sea grass or sisal and is a broadloom line, which can be cut and bound to customer’s specifications to fit any room size—or it can be installed as wall-to-wall carpet, where appropriate. Stanton says that as the trend for outdoor living has grown, the spaces have also increased in size and the standard 5x8 or 8x10 rugs aren’t necessarily what the consumer is looking for. While the Anywhere collection is designed for outdoor use, it is often used as an interior floorcovering as well.

Shaw has been making outdoor carpets and mats for years but has seen sales for outdoor products increasing in the last few years. According to Shaw, outdoor rooms are not only for the expensive custom homes but also for starter and midsize homes. While the spaces may not be as lavish, the trend is still strong and growing. From inexpensive outdoor mats and rugs sold at home centers to more expensive outdoor broadloom styles sold at independent retailers, outdoor products continue to be a strong segment and show no signs of letting up.

Terrazzo is another option for outdoor living spaces. It is one of the oldest forms of flooring and was extensively used in this country in the first quarter of the 20th century. Many of those floors are now being reclaimed and with the advent of epoxies in the last 20 years, terrazzo is seeing a revitalization. Paul Singh with North American Terrazzo says that it can be used anywhere and everywhere, and it is a durable option that is easy to maintain. Terrazzo is generally made from leftover marble, recycled glass or metal and can last for 100 years or more, and that long lifecycle can add to its environmental profile.

San Diego Marble & Tile’s Bill Barnhill notes an increase over the last five years in the use of the firm’s products for outdoor rooms, to the point where it’s almost a given for upscale homes. About three quarters of the time, the interior connects to the exterior with matching or coordinating products. Furthermore, many remodeling jobs, from affordable to upscale, include the addition of outdoor rooms.

Nourison, Oriental Weavers, Colonial Mills and a host of other manufacturers all produce outdoor products. Whether the customer wants a simple patio with a barbecue grill and a comfortable spot for hanging out or an extravagant living area with full kitchen and fireplace, there are styles and price ranges to meet their needs. Architects and designers working on custom homes or builders and contractors, and even DIY customers, have a full spectrum to choose from. Despite the economic downturn it seems that this is a trend that will continue to grow.

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