The emergence of the outdoor living room continues to be a hot trend. The American Institute of Architects reports that the demand for outdoor living amenities was the top request of architects last year. What started as an upscale trend a few years ago is spreading to the masses. Designers and consumers alike, now have a new room to decorate, outside. Here are some trends to look for in 2007:

The Indoors is Going Outdoors: Consumers are demanding the same comfort, selection and fabric choices for their outdoor living rooms. You’ll see more deep seating and cushion options in outdoor furniture this year and sophisticated use of fabric trims, frame finishes and design details. Landscape architects, exterior designers, contractors and gardeners are having a heyday bringing design aesthetics outdoors.

More Choices for Outdoor Living: Instead of the same old table and chairs with a few lounge chairs, the choices for outdoor furniture continue to grow. Chat areas, with lower tables and chairs – and maybe a built-in fire pit – are a new option. Modular pieces that can be arranged in several ways are also going to be popular. Taller balcony height tables and chairs are perfect for smaller balcony and patio areas.

Hello, Color: Finally, we can move away from boring beiges and browns in the backyard! Color is the big story for outdoor furniture this year in fabrics and frame finishes. One of my favorite combinations is a chair in champagne metal finish with black fabric. It looks great with a granite tabletop. Or how about a lime green frame finish? Here’s the scoop on color trends:

• Red, in all shades, is a key color for ’07 – ’08.
• Colors that are softened to represent nature’s hues will be strong.
• Black and white will continue to grow in popularity.

The Greening of Design: More designers and consumers are interested in ecologically-friendly designs and products. Sustainable resources and environmental design will continue to grow in appeal and consumers will be less interested in purchasing disposable products. Sturdy, durable outdoor furniture with a long lifespan will be attractive to consumers.