ONE of the first items you buy once you have a home is the seating - whether it's the chunky lounge suite you have been eyeing, or a beautiful dining set you can't wait to enjoy a meal at.

Either way, seating is an essential component of your home, and it's often an indicator of your decor style.

Keeping it inside

There are so many trends at the moment when it comes to interior seating. Retro is still popular, and it seems many design houses are now looking further back for inspiration, as far as the glamorous 1930s Hollywood era. Consequently we are seeing an abundant use of wood, notably walnut, and leather.

Plush fabrics are also rising to the fore, such as satin velours in warm neutrals with accents of pastel mint, pink, apricot and peach - all working to recreate the glam nostalgia of the deco age.

Oversized and comfortable are key features in the latest seating trends. The combination of finely crafted timber and upholstery is also an important trend, particularly relevant as we look to the past for inspiration.

The latest flurry of interest in the art-deco period - due largely to Baz Luhrmannn's adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby - is relevant, as is the appeal of the mid-century period, thanks to the likes of the Mad Men TV series.

In stark contrast, we are seeing an alternative vision: a more progressive and forward-thinking take on minimalism. Furniture and lighting that is at its simplest, purest and most functional form.

Geometric lines, clean and pure silhouettes in crisp black and white make bold statements. And of course, there is also the combination of these two contrasting trends.

For example, a polypropylene shell with an upholstered seat and wooden legs is simple, and the wooden legs add a touch of class. Wool fabric is still a big on upholstered chairs - this also helps to reduce costs, instead of the usual fully upholstered chair with a leather seat and back.

Let's take it outside

We are fortunate to live in a country where the sun shines all year, and outdoor living is incorporated in a big way into our lifestyle. With this in mind, our homes are built with a natural flow from the indoors to the outdoors. Outdoor spaces have started to mimic their indoor compatriots.

Talking of trends in outdoor seating, we find using neutral and monochromatic colour schemes, as a foundation on which you layer colour and texture, always works best.

There is a focus on technologically-progressive materials such as waterproof leather that can be used outdoors or for upholstery in high-traffic areas. The developments in fabrics mean that upholstered items are receiving the attention their indoor counterparts enjoy. We're seeing fully upholstered and deeply luxurious seating and sofas in fabrics that can weather the outdoors 24/7. Outdoor leather makes for a luxurious option to conventional outdoor fabrics.

Take a seat

Seating is definitely a lifetime project that you invest in, as you will be adding new pieces as time goes by. When looking at buying outdoor seating, look at your space and decide what you are going to be using it for - dining, lounging or sunbathing - and then purchase accordingly.

Always take into account the traffic and maintenance of the space.

Customers are increasingly looking for longevity and sustainability in their search for furniture. Consider timber furniture, as good quality timber will outlast most modern-day materials, and can be bought from sustainable plantations.

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