Latest trends in outdoor furniture - also made in Tanzania

Smarten up your outdoor space – the latest furniture and deco ideas here. The new darling is dining al fresco.

Dining, lounging, sun bathing: creating a beach & country feeling on your terrace, in the backyard or your garden not only adds space but a renewed appreciation of nature to your life. In Zanzibar’s tropical climate, outdoor living is a given - even if perpetually challenged by heat, mosquitoes and other creepy creatures. “There’s nothing better than a sunset on your own terrace in Tanzania and even more so in Zanzibar”, knows Elmarie van Heerden, founder and owner of The Greem Room furniture company in Dar es Salaam. Even in post-Covid Europe “climate change has turned balconies into living rooms, too”, says Marianne Clichy, an interior designer from Paris. Here some fresh looks for 2022, from close to home and abroad.

#1 Dining al fresco

In previous years outdoor sofas brought the living room out in the open, in 2022 everybody’s darling is the outdoor dining room which invites you to socialise in fresh air. Weatherproof, elegant tables and upholstered armchairs steal the show from indoor tables. A beautiful African alternative are foldable safari chairs – just add extra pillows and consider a repaint. ”If space is limited, an outdoor sofa with side tables can double up as an eating and entertaining space”, suggests Elmarie von Heerden. ”Some clients love to eat al fresco year round in our warm climate.”

#2 Comeback of the sunbed

Is sunbathing still popular in 2022? Apparently yes. “It could be the longing for the familiar and loved ones that makes us relax on classic sun loungers in these turbulent times”, says designer Clichy. Many new sunbeds in natural or high-tech fabrics are on the market, but prices for quality brands are steep. A simple Zanzibar string bed topped with a foam layer in a washable white or dark blue plastic cover and fluffy white pillows is an alternative – but has to be kept superclean at all times, not to look tired. The same goes for a traditional carved bed either with mosquito netting or white linen curtains to substitute a chaise longue.

#3 Outdoor cocktail 

Show your creativity by mixing materials; aluminium is hot and does not rust. Compliment bamboo chairs with a metal bench and a solid stone table – very much the “in”-thing. Think baraza! “Locally grown teak is our favourite for pieces to stand the test of time and weather”, says van Heerden. When it comes to “outdoor software “soft cushions and covers with UV resistant fabrics together with woven deep seating are the most popular”, the designer knows. All Green Room furniture is handmade in Dar es Salaam and can be customised to fit any space.

#4 Jiko deluxe

The trend towards outdoor dining poses a whole new challenge for storage space. In Fumba’s Horizon duplexes, for example, an outdoor kitchen is part of the deal, complete with a sink and a counter to place an induction cooker. A stylish sideboard and a fire bowl are must-haves for your 2022 terrace.

By Andrea Tapper