Cabot’s First-Ever Outdoor Trend of the Year Brings WFH Life Outside
Now that spring is a few short days away, you’re no doubt looking forward to spending more time outdoors. In celebration of warmer days ahead, exterior wood-care brand Cabot has announced its first-ever Outdoor Trend of the Year for 2022, providing project ideas and inspiration for all of your outdoor design needs.
Unsurprisingly, this year’s trend is all about the outdoor workspace, as two full years of a worldwide pandemic has sparked the need for practical, aesthetically pleasing green spaces wherever you can find them. So whether you’re working on your laptop while enjoying some much-deserved fresh air or taking on a DIY project or two, Cabot’s recommendations will help you make the most of it.
“We know our customers enjoy and value time spent outside and take immense pride in creating outdoor spaces that extend the livability of their homes,” said Cabot’s associate brand manager, Jose Gonzalez, in a statement announcing the news. “Cabot offers products to not only protect exterior wood but to help beautify outdoor spaces using wood stain colors and opacity that suits your style.”
With that in mind, Cabot offers up three three projects varying in size, style, and budget inspired by the 2022 Trend of the Year, as well as the perfect exterior paint color for all three picks. First up, the outdoor desk, which Cabot suggests should include wheeled legs for easy transport. A great indoor/outdoor pick is the 17 Stories Portable Desk ($103.99) from Wayfair, which doesn’t have wheels but is fully waterproof for conference calls al fresco.
The pros at Cabot also recommend setting up an outdoor cafe or dining space for post-work relaxation by adding a pergola-style roof and partitions. Lastly, the brand suggests investing in a shed, like one from Studio Shed, as a more permanent outdoor workspace — especially if it’s complete with a door, work surface, and electricity. As a separate room away from your home, this shed lets warm breezes in and wet conditions out. When organized well, you’ll actually enjoy maintaining it.
If you’re stuck on a shade choice, they recommend Pewter Gray, a warm, weathered gray that looks fresh and modern when used outdoors. It’s available in a Cabot Solid, Semi-Solid and Semi-Transparent exterior wood stain, and gets a near-perfect 4.5 stars out of five from nearly 500 happy Lowe’s shoppers for reviving decks, patios, and porches alike.