Bonus: They’re all responsibly made and easy on the environment.
When it comes to designing your outdoor space, you should approach it in the same way you would your living room—and give it just as much attention. Just as you would with the interior of your home, aim to create distinct rooms outside, each with a unique purpose and feel.
Whether you’re decorating a spacious backyard or a cozy apartment patio,
Rejuvenation is a go-to for everything you need for outdoor living. The retailer is committed to creating pieces that are mindfully made (NB: it’s part of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. family of brands—the only home retailer on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies list for the past four years). This means you can feel extra satisfied about that statement rug woven from 100 percent recycled-polyester yarn and sectional crafted from FSC-certified wood from responsibly managed forests.
To help you achieve patio perfection, Rejuvenation teamed up with the experts at Yardzen, the leading online landscape design and build service. While selecting the right furniture “plays a crucial part” in setting the scene, Kevin Lenhart, Yardzen’s design director, advises going beyond aesthetics and choosing outdoor pieces that will last season after season, giving you an Earth-friendly outdoor oasis.
Ready to start building your dream environment? Here, Lenhart offers his expert advice for picking the essentials, along with a few favorites from Rejuvenation.
No matter what type of outdoor space you’re working with, Lenhart stresses the importance of investing “in sturdy, comfortable” pieces that you’re confident you love.
“If furniture breaks down or you become tired of it, it gets replaced, which translates to more waste entering landfills. It’s better to buy something quality and hang on to it for the long run,” he says.
In addition to high-quality construction, Rejuvenation’s outdoor furniture get extra points for their use of FSC-certified wood, which guarantees that the teak comes from responsibly-managed forests that focus on conserving wildlife, protecting clean water, and being respectful of local communities.
Built using “super durable” aluminum and teak, notes Lenhart, this chair is the sort of piece that will give you years of good use. And with its attractive, mid-century-inspired style, you’ll happily continue to take a seat.
A durable, quick-dry fabric means this three-piece sofa won’t collect mildew or sun stains. And six plush cushions offer a soft seat for the whole fam to kick back.
Pre-treated with a water-based teak shield, this table is made to withstand outdoor elements while aging into a particularly alluring silvery patina.
Equal parts modern and classic, this perfect-for-your-porch cast aluminum favorite is painted and sanded by hand.
Keep your outdoor rooms glowing long after the sun sets by adding layers of light to brighten key areas and add ambiance to gathering spaces. A strong overhead light paired with wall fixtures is a must for the front porch—Rejuvenation’s Carson collection is a versatile favorite (it’s one of many lighting lines assembled to order at their Portland, Oregon, factory)—while path lights add illumination for safe navigation after dark.
“Other areas of the yard should be lit more intermittently,” recommends Lenhart. “A rhythm of darker and brighter spaces builds drama in the landscape.”
Arranging a handful of carefully-placed uplights near a rear fence or at the base of a tree is a simple way to highlight an architectural element or garden features. It’s a less is more situation, he says: “The fewer you use, the greater their individual impact will be.”
Lenhart appreciates the minimalist silhouette and contemporary style of these brass path lights. He suggests spacing them out every 15 feet or so, “tucking them discreetly into planting.”
Completely customizable with your choice of shade style, size, and color, this fixture—inspired by early 1900s industrial warehouse lighting—gets points from Lenhart for casting the beam downward, preventing glare. Choose an LED light bulb for greater energy efficiency.
The shining star of this sleek, three-blade porch ceiling fan: the inset LED light that uses 75 percent less energy and lasts 25 times longer than incandescent for a lifespan of 20,000 hours.
Add a bit of international flair with this hand-blown glass and brass shade, available in your choice of nine metallic finishes. Inspired by mid-century Danish designs, it’s assembled to order and finished by hand at Rejuvenation’s Portland, Oregon, factory.
Think of your backyard as an open floor plan and Rejuvenation’s planet-friendly outdoor rugs as the perfect way to define “specific zones within larger decks or paved areas,” says Lenhart.
Crafted from 100 percent recycled polyester (PET) and handwoven into an array of colorful designs, these rugs can anchor your space and make it feel even more cozy and inviting. The fun patterns add personality “especially when juxtaposed with understated paving,” adds Lenhart.
Plus, they are super easy to clean—just rinse them off with a garden hose as needed.
Lenhart likes not only this vibrant pick’s multiple hues, but also what he calls its “sustainability pedigree.” Crafted from 100 percent recycled polyester, he notes, it “helps to divert plastic waste from our landfills and oceans.”
Black and white and environmentally friendly all over, this handcrafted flatweave is fully reversible. Made from recycled water bottles, it only needs a quick rinse from the garden hose to be cleaned.
In good shape: The recycled polyester in this geometric design is incredibly durable—ideal for high-traffic outdoor spaces.
An architectural design in neutral hues, this piece is the perfect building block for a patio space. To further “emphasize this sense of an outdoor room,” suggests Lenhart, add a single large planter at the corners.
An assortment of greenery in all-weather pots and planters is the easiest way to elevate any outdoor space. Choose a handful of bigger planters versus several smaller ones to lay the groundwork for an inviting, habitat-supportive space. “A single large container creates impact up close and from across the yard,” says Lenhart. “It also minimizes clutter, leaving more open space for circulation.”
Then fill the container with plants native to the area. Not only will they thrive “with minimal fuss,” says Lenhart, they “offer unbeatable habitat value” for local pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies.
The size of this teak and aluminum piece—the extra large is 38” wide by 18” deep— provides the chance to compose a pretty plant picture. “Follow the spiller, filler, thriller formula,” recommends Lenhart. “One species to hang over the edge, another to establish a low foundation and a final one to command the scene, stretching upward to roughly twice the height of the container.”
A cool feature of this industrial pick: Its lightweight ficonstone material is frost-proof, making it durable enough to use outdoors year-round.
Naturally porous, the terracotta of this sleek pot promotes drainage and helps control temperatures, making it an ideal home for a variety of plants.
Go big outside your home. This ficonstone container is large enough to hold small trees like Desert Willow and Howard McMinn Manzanita, both of which will attract pollinator species, Lenhart says.
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