Family owned and operated for 40 years, Casual Furniture World is an icon in the Triad area, with a polished sense of style and dedication to the customer experience. This savvy team is eager to guide you in making the most of your treasured outdoor living space – keeping time spent with family and friends a top priority.

As there’s still time to spruce up for summer (plus, July is the perfect month to think forward to fire pits and fall updates) in-house sales and design consultant Becky DeBruhl shares expert advice for launching a seamless outdoor space transformation. Offering complimentary design service at all three Casual Furniture World showrooms, or from the comfort of your home, a design consultation always begins with a question of focus – is outdoor dining your main mission or do you want stylish seating to gather comfortably with neighbors at the end of the day? What might be your typical number of guests for a night of entertaining? Are you all about the full grilling experience or casual bites and cocktails?

While your ultimate dream is a well-designed space that’s welcoming and functional, what you love in the Casual Furniture World showroom – or online – might not be well-suited for your current space. That’s where a “space plan” saves the day.

“Always be mindful of scale,” Becky shares. “I listen to what a client wants, and then I tell them what will fit! If their outdoor area is spacious enough, I may offer two or three scenarios.”

A crucial part of the design team’s initial services is creating blueprints and digital floor plans to help you visualize – and fully appreciate the space with which you have to work. Another early step in the design process is zeroing in on what’s your perfect view. Becky stresses finding a focal point for your outdoor setting – maybe it’s a beautiful wooded view, the lake or a fabulous outdoor stone fireplace. Then, curate a “conversation area” around that focal point with well-balanced furniture, a stylish rug and fun accents. Casual Furniture World collections can always be customized with only the specific pieces that work best for your space.

And, while it may seem obvious, remember to be mindful of traffic flow in your outdoor space, with an easy path for guests to move about – and go inside – as needed.

“Your outdoor space should flow from inside your home,” says Becky. “Keep the look consistent, and create your outdoor space to be a continuation of the unique ambiance you’ve created indoors.” 

With popular Sunbrella fabric and other acrylic options that can easily last a lifetime, color and style choices are endless. So endless, in fact, that Becky says she’ll typically narrow a wide selection down to two or three options for a client. For example, an aluminum sofa might come in 24 different colors which can be daunting. She’s a fan of staying with neutral textures, adding color with toss pillows or custom cushions. And, if you’re starting small and can only make a few changes this season, think along the lines of a pretty new rug, cool lighting fixtures or colorful blooming plants.

The popularity of outdoor cooking seems to increase with every season and can be as simple as a built-in gas grill in one of their outdoor kitchen islands, all the way to the investment of a fully equipped kitchen if the size of your outdoor space allows. Thanks to continuing advancements in outdoor heating accessories and our wonderful climate, outdoor cooking and dining has become basically a year-round activity!

Visit your closest Casual Furniture World showroom, or schedule a consultation online, so their professionally trained sales and design team can help you realize your vision for a new cozy outdoor space – not just for summer, but all year long! They are located at 1500 Hanes Mall Boulevard in Winston-Salem, 336.760.1766, in Greensboro at 3809 Lawndale Drive, 336.252.2640 and online at casualfurnitureworld.com. Hours are Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Sunday from 12:00 p.m – 5:00 p.m. You can also visit their showroom in Myrtle Beach, SC and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @CasualFurnitureWorld.