Cynthia Nixon’s Patio Shows Why Orange Is The New Gray

For as long as I can remember, the majority of outdoor furniture has been neutral. Perpetually bathed in gray, black, and white, these pieces usually feel more functional than stylish. However, Cynthia Nixon’s orange outdoor furniture shows why this is quickly changing.

The actor shared an adorable shotof herself enjoying salad on the patio of her Montauk home with her cat, and we couldn’t help but notice the smattering of burnt orange chairs across the wooden space.

Although the color evokes boldly patterned rooms bursting with ’70s florals, Cynthia’s patio furniture idea is surprisingly subtle. From the rounded chair like these from Wayfair in the background to the simple wood and metal pieces, each offers a satisfying glimpse of color (that just happens to match Cynthia’s Zabar’s apron). They are the perfect complement to her wooden table.

In addition to looking stylish on the actor’s porch, experts also believe that decorating with orange is in line with emerging outdoor furniture trends. Homes & Gardens spoke with designers to get to the bottom of the look’s appeal and how to recreate it.

We found that one simple reason for the newfound popularity of orange as a back porch idea is technological advances in fabrics for outdoor furniture.

David Harris, Design Director at Andrew Martin explains: ‘Long gone are the days of slippery nylon cushions and covers. Now, there is a whole host of luxurious and well-designed fabrics that can be used. Outdoor weaves and eco digital prints all perform incredibly well against light and fading, and they can withstand a shower or two as well! We shouldn’t have to compromise when using fabrics outside.’

Outdoor Orange Edit

Furthermore, the use of burnt orange taps into the larger ’70s revival happening in the interiors space. Google data shows a 22% increase in searches for ’70s interiors’ over the last three months. From curved silhouettes to dark wood to modular furniture, the conventions of the groovy decade are back en vogue. Now, the colors of this era are bleeding in as well. Cynthia Nixon has long been a fan of the retro tone, and her patio shows why it’s worth expanding this trend to the outdoors.

Hannah Thistlethwaite, interior expert at Heals, explains: ‘When we think of 70s interiors, warm, earthy tones come to the forefront. Rich oranges, earthy browns and olive greens are staples in this retro color palette, and these are the colours you’ll want to inject into your home.’

Better yet, it’s easy to subtly integrate Nixon’s color palette into your home. Hannah advises: ‘You don’t have to go crazy and paint your walls, instead, drip feed these cosy tones into your home with soft furnishings and textiles. Accent cushions, throws, and rugs are perfect for bringing some colour into your space. When doing so, keep larger furniture neutral to keep things feeling fresh and balanced.’

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Cynthia Nixon is ahead, but the data shows that burnt orange outdoor furniture isn’t going anywhere. This spring, instead of neutrals, we are tapping into this bolder shade. Homes & Gardens’ curation of beautiful ’70s pieces from Soho Home is a great place to get started with emulating the look in any home.

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