How many times have you watched an interiors program or read an article in a design magazine and come across those famous words: “How to bring the outside in?” The standard advice typically involves installing a pair of bifold doors and popping a few mature cheese plants about the place. Personally speaking, however, I cannot stand houseplants—especially the cheesy kind. And I have never seen the appeal of having a retracting wall that opens out onto a stamp size patch of decking; sorry, but give me a good old-fashioned back door and window box full of something jolly any day of the week.
Still, the truth is that—like so many of us—I live in a rented basement gardenless flat (or as I prefer to call it, “subterranean”) and so the concept of bringing the outside can seem like a daunting and unrealistic prospect, especially for the likes of house-plant-hating, city-dwelling tenants like me. But with the weather now finally warming up? Let’s face it, we all could do with bringing some of the outside into our homes—and to my mind, there’s no better way of achieving this than through a few well-chosen pieces of furniture.
Nothing screams outside-in more than a carefully placed bamboo chair or a rattan side table next to a floral-print-covered armchair with the sunshine streaming through a half-open window. Choosing the right piece of furniture or upholstery can instantly transport you to a classic English garden or sail you across the Mediterranean Sea to a palazzo in Naples (or simply roll you down the road to your local park). No need for big-budget concertina doors or those dreaded cheese plants. With just a bit of imagination and a little flair, by the time you’re done you’ll have so much outside in that you’ll practically be living in the great outdoors.
When I was growing up, my mum had this fabulous set of 1970s low-level bamboo shelves that sat underneath a window in our sitting room, adorned with books and various trinkets. I’ve loved anything bamboo ever since. For me, cane furniture conjures up visions of elegant terraces with tea tables and 1920s reclining sun loungers. (Nothing could be more archetypally “outside in” than rattan furniture, in my opinion.) It’s also enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent years, with homeware brands like Soane Britain championing British weavers and a revival of interest in the work of Gabriella Crespi. But it was on a recent trip to Milan, when I got to visit the grande dame of all things rattan—the famous workshop of Bonacina—that my love for the material was truly cemented. Their collection dates back to 1889 and includes sensational pieces by the likes of Gio Ponti, along with a whole host of 20th-century design icons.
But the great thing about cane furniture, of course, is that you don’t need pieces crafted by design icons to bring that outdoorsy feel to your home. I have found countless pieces of bamboo furniture at boot sales and junk shops; they’re the sort of pieces that turn up when you least expect them to. Try and look out for pieces on the smaller side that won’t dominate the space: I have a bamboo chair in my sitting room by my window that does the job perfectly, for example. Bamboo furniture, in my opinion, generally works best by windows, as once they’re opened, it’s like having your own mini terrace. Remember to look out for any damage, as rattan furniture has a tendency of unraveling if it gets snagged. And a final tip: Always check underneath your chairs for any nasty surprises. I can t tell you the amount of chairs I’ve fallen through because the seat pad was rotten.
Speaking of seat pads, what better way of bringing the outside in than with a good old-fashioned splash of floral? I would tend to either keep it to a minimum, or go absolutely all-out Laura Ashley stark-raving mad. Maybe it’s just a little cushion on your bamboo chair, or if you fancy really going for it, pick something with a simple frame that’s easy on the eye before you chuck on the chintz, like a slipper chair or something without arms. (A fussy chair and fussy fabric together is a no-no.) It’s worth considering the scale of the print, too: larger, more expressive florals tend to work best on fully upholstered chairs and sofas, whereas chintz patterns work well on seat pads and cushions. Best of all, there are endless places to pick up an old-fashioned floral piece on the cheap. For me, it’s the Berwick Street bargain bins in London’s Soho, and although it pains me to admit it, good old eBay is a safe and fruitful bet. Easy scrolling, happy shopping.
Alternatively, anyone who knows me knows I am massively into metal and wrought iron furniture—basically anything that looks like it belongs on the set of a Tim Burton film. My pal and long-time collaborator Barnaby Lewis makes the most extraordinary furniture and one-of-a-kind homeware pieces out of metal, with one of his many specialties being hand-forged roses. A bunch of those are the perfect antidote to any cheese plant—and are sure to last a lifetime.
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Finally, a nod to a wrought iron garden gate is always a fun way of bringing the outside in. It could be a vintage wrought iron two-seater garden bench under the window, or even one of those fabulous plant potting tables which make for surprisingly great consoles. Metal plant stands are another clever way of bringing your garden inside; what I like about them is they bring height and intrigue to a room, allowing the eye to travel freely. (Plus, quite frankly, tall things in a room just look good.) The very best thing about plant stands? You don’t even have to put plants on them to make a statement. Although I have been known to pop the old pot of daffs on one or two, even if they’re technically not a houseplant. And certainly not a cheese plant.
