2022 is set to be another year where we make the most of our outdoor spaces, whether it's a BBQ with friends, time soaking up the sun in your favourite outdoor lounge chair, an apéro taking in the Swiss mountain views or an afternoon pottering and tending to your planters. It may still be a little chilly outside, but now is the time to get your gardens, balconies and terraces ready for Spring. We share with you here the top luxury garden furniture trends in Switzerland for 2022.

As a special early bird offer we are also offering 10% off all our garden dining tables, dining chairs and sofas. 

1. Industrial Outdoor Dining Tables and Sofas

This year we will continue to see the interplay between metal and wood in outdoor dining tables and sofas, which is not surprising given they look great together, and are both strong, durable materials that stand the test of time, not to mention a good battering from the Swiss weather!

A very popular combination is a powder-coated aluminium frame combined with solid teak, which brings real character to your outdoor space. This year we are seeing some really interesting outdoor dining table designs, for example the Suns Madre Outdoor Dining Table, shown above, with chunky aluminium cross legs and a solid oval top, or the Rialto Extending Dining Table where the teak ribs part allowing the table to extend.

2. Textiles 

There is nothing like textiles in the garden to make your outdoor space feel more like an extension of your interior living space.  Sofas have been around many years, but we are now seeing other entirely covered fabric furniture, as well as innovative textiles.  For example, the Antas Garden Dining Chair comes in a Sunproof fabric and fast dry foam, ensuring optimum comfort, protection from the weather and easy cleaning and maintenance.

This year we are also seeing coarser woven fabrics, giving great texture to your outdoor spaces. We love Suns Mixed Weave fabrics, which come in a variety of stunning colours, including soft green shown below.

The use of rope is also very popular, and again brings interest to your outdoor space.  Rope has long been used for maritime processes because of it's durability and resistance to the elements.  We have several chairs and sofa sets which use rope, for example the Avero Sofa Set. The rope is made of a premium acrylic quality, making it colourfast, wear-resistant, and weatherproof, making it a great choice for garden furniture.

3. All-weather cushions

We speak above about weather-proof fabrics coverings, but a real life-changer for us has been the use of fast dry foam in sofa and chair cushions, which means they can be left outside all summer. 

This high-quality foam has an open cell structure that drains water off easily and enhances air circulation. After a rain shower, your cushions will be dry in no time at all and, on top of that offer very comfortable seating.

4. Outdoor Daybeds

Outdoor daybeds offer indulgent relaxation and are a great multi-purpose choice.  They often accommodate more than one person so are perfect for social gatherings, as well as some 'you time' whether it be for a sunbathe, a few pages of your latest book or a quick nap.  We particularly love the Brafab Gonesse Day Bed Sofa, which in matter of seconds can be transformed from a corner sofa to a day bed.

5. Smart heating and Lighting

The right lighting and heat sources in your garden are not only useful, especially in Switzerland when the nights can get be dark and chilly, but also create a warm and cosy atmosphere in your garden. 

Outdoor lighting comes in the form of hanging pendants, fairy lights, table lights and lanterns and now you do not even need a power source to create light because there are some great solar charging options now on the market, for example Suns Kate lanterns which can be charged under the sun or with a USB, and offer up to 18 hours of light.  We also love the Jill hanging stand, which enables this light to be used as a floor lamp, as well as a lantern.

There is something very romantic about an open fire, but we have generally found firepits to be smoky and high maintenance.  There are some very realistic gas options now available, including the Savona Fire Pit Coffee Table, or the innovative Monte Vari Bar Table with an integrated fire pit.  These are easy to turn on and off, do not need time to heat up and do not produce any unwanted smoke. Suddenly, the alfresco apéro seems so much more enticing.

6. Outdoor Kitchens

There is nothing better than cooking outdoors with family and friends.  This used to be in the form of a standalone BBQ or pizza oven, but there are now  many full outdoor kitchen solutions, which look fantastic and make life a little easier. The Brafab Fornax kitchen is extremely versatile and offers a sink as well as cupboard storage space in various sizes.  You may want to consider a shelter, which not only creates the feeling of an outdoor room, but offers protection from the sun and rain. 

As well as outdoor kitchens, throughout the pandemic there has also been a trend for growing your own vegetables.  This is a great family activity, which can involve children of all ages.  We have had great success with courgettes, cucumbers, lettuces and tomatoes in Switzerland.  If space is of a premium many vegetables can also be grown in planters.

7. Sustainable Furniture

This is a big consideration these days and the furniture industry continues to develop more sustainable ways of sourcing materials and production. 

All our outdoor furniture is high quality and long lasting, which in itself makes it more sustainable than replacing it every few years. But, we are also seeing increased use of recycled materials in outdoor furniture.  We love poufs, cushions and rugs made from recycled PET bottles. The material feels soft like fabric, but is just as weather and moisture resistant as that former PET bottle.

We hope that these ideas give you some inspiration for your garden spaces. For more ideas you can view our full outdoor furniture range here.

As always, if you need further advice do get in contact with us at info@milola.ch or +41 79 155 87 19 for a no obligation chat.  We also have some of our outdoor furniture on display at our 'living' showroom in Blonay so do get in contact if you would like an appointment to come and visit us.